Compression fretting with Bar Frets

[Nathan Peirson]

Hi folks,

I recently acquired an early Martin, possibly a model 17, somewhere around 1867 thru 1889. No serial number but stamped on the inside back brace and just below the ice cream cone style heel, Martin and Co New York. It has bar frets, as you would imagine. The action is pretty bad, about 11/64 at the 12th fret. Rather than have to mess with a neck reset with that tricky neck heel design, I wonder if I could alleviate some of the issue with compression fretting. That being said, how do you go about deciding what size frets and which frets to start with? Any info is appreciated. Thank you.

[Nathan Peirson]

Here is a shot of the straight edge in relation to the bridge. The straight edge sits on the 1st fret and not again until the 12th.