Bad fretwire?

[Dr. Jimmy]

Has any of the techs here who do refrets ever come across bad fretwire? I just had a Strat refretted by the same luthier who's done all my other ones in the past (he does great work, and is the only person I allow to do my fretwork).

I've noticed that these frets are denting REAL easily (you can see little nicks in the frets after tapping with the edge of my pick), and that after doing some heavy bending, it seems like the fret material is "crumbling" it almost feels like sand under my fingers, just a real scratchy feel.

I'm wondering if the fretwire was not made properly??? Anyone ever see something like this?

 

[Gary Ladd]

Re: Bad fretwire?

Sounds like your luthier went the el-cheapo route and bought some of that bargain-basement asian stuff...Sorry to hear your pain.

Rule No. 1 - ALWAYS ask to see the fretwire stock BEFORE work is begun :usa1:

Rule No. 2 - Only refret with stainless steel...nickel/silver is obsolete :blackeye:

 

[theodie]

Re: Bad fretwire?

Sounds like your luthier went the el-cheapo route and bought some of that bargain-basement asian stuff...Sorry to hear your pain.

Rule No. 1 - ALWAYS ask to see the fretwire stock BEFORE work is begun :usa1:

Rule No. 2 - Only refret with stainless steel...nickel/silver is obsolete :blackeye:

El Cheepo route, YES!

Rule #1, what do most non-luthiers know about fretwire by just looking at it?

Rule #2, nickel/silver is NOT obsolete! Stainless is good but, it isnt for every player and every luthier/tech.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Bad fretwire?

For what it is worth, I finally got a neck with stainless frets, and I don't think I will ever go back to nickel.

 

[theodie]

Re: Bad fretwire?

For what it is worth, I finally got a neck with stainless frets, and I don't think I will ever go back to nickel.

Not everyone likes them players and luthiers.

Folks, dont turn this into a popularity contest saying, "yeah, I love SS fretwire". I guess I make one comment that some dont like it and people feel the have to go on the defensive which usually turns into a popularity contest.

:smack:

 

[Gary Ladd]

Re: Bad fretwire?

El Cheepo route, YES!

Rule #1, what do most non-luthiers know about fretwire by just looking at it?

Uh, if it's a quality co. like Dunlop it comes in marked tubes...

Rule #2, nickel/silver is NOT obsolete! Stainless is good but, it isnt for every player and every luthier/tech.

I guess we'll have to disagree on that one

BTW, the reason some luthiers don't like SS frets is they don't know what they're doing and they're using the wrong tools :laugh2:

Gotta get with the times I say :usa1:

:banana:

 

[Dr. Jimmy]

Re: Bad fretwire?

It's the nickel type wire on a maple board. I have ss frets on a few rosewood boards and like it, but I think it would be too bright on a maple board.

I believe it was Stew-Mac wire and not Dunlop......

 

[theodie]

Re: Bad fretwire?

It's the nickel type wire on a maple board. I have ss frets on a few rosewood boards and like it, but I think it would be too bright on a maple board.

I believe it was Stew-Mac wire and not Dunlop......

There is nothing wrong with Stew-Mac wire. I have used it a number of times. It is possible it may be a bad batch.

 

[theodie]

Re: Bad fretwire?

Uh, if it's a quality co. like Dunlop it comes in marked tubes...



I guess we'll have to disagree on that one

BTW, the reason some luthiers don't like SS frets is they don't know what they're doing and they're using the wrong tools :laugh2:

Gotta get with the times I say :usa1:

:banana:

Using the wrong tools??? What is that supposed to mean? I dont use a different set of tools becasue its SS wire. There isnt certain tools designed for the sole purpose of working with SS wire. Yes, SS wire is alot harder and it is harder on tools. Another problem with SS wire for the luthier, it dosent bend quite as easily and at times it is hard for the ends to stay down due to that and memory issues.

BTW, look on this forum at some of the questions, now tell me if I handed someone a tube of wire, if it would still make a difference. I could throw any fretwire in a Dunlop tube.

 

[Gary Ladd]

Re: Bad fretwire?

Using the wrong tools??? What is that supposed to mean? I dont use a different set of tools becasue its SS wire. There isnt certain tools designed for the sole purpose of working with SS wire. Yes, SS wire is alot harder and it is harder on tools. Another problem with SS wire for the luthier, it dosent bend quite as easily and at times it is hard for the ends to stay down due to that and memory issues.

There are special tools available for SS fretwork, some recently developed, some long utilized by Suhr, TAG, Warmoth, USACG, etc...

BTW, look on this forum at some of the questions, now tell me if I handed someone a tube of wire, if it would still make a difference. I could throw any fretwire in a Dunlop tube.

If you're luthier is putting el-cheapo wire in a quality tube to fool you I think you've got bigger problemos than bad wire

There is nothing wrong with Stew-Mac wire. I have used it a number of times. It is possible it may be a bad batch.

LOL, if Stew-Mac let loose a "bad batch" I'd say that makes their stuff pretty low quality :6:

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Bad fretwire?

SOunds like your tech used some of the cheapo asian stuff....

Unfortunately, the only solution is a new refret with a quality wire, sorry.




fftopic:

Uh, if it's a quality co. like Dunlop it comes in marked tubes...

Dunlop, Stewmac, Luthier´s Mercantile and others all sell their fretwire by the pound (i.e. in coiled rolls) as well, and any tech doing a reasonable amount of refrets will have the most common sizes available in this form. On a roll it is nearly indiscernible from cheap crap by anyone without metallurgy experience.

Those boxes of 24 frets are for the hobbyist or for single orders of unusual sizes, and after 15 years I still can´t really think of a situation where the tubes with wire for like 5 axes or so make very much sense.

BTW, the reason some luthiers don't like SS frets is they don't know what they're doing and they're using the wrong tools :laugh2:

I don´t feel insulted even though I probably should. Either way, I´ve done numerous stainless steel refrets in the past, because I´ll do whatever the customer wants for the right price. But since you apparently have experience with this subject, I´m curious as to what tools you would recommend, (compared to a normal refret). Partly becasue nobody ever seems to be able to recommend anything specific, nor are any ever displayed at trade shows over here (that I´ve seen, at least), and I´d love to be able to charge a more reasonable price for SS refrets...

.....
LOL, if Stew-Mac let loose a "bad batch" I'd say that makes their stuff pretty low quality :6:

So, the QC guy (a human) making ONE mistake is enough to damn the manufacturer´s product? From this statement, I think it´s safe to assume that all of your guitar, computer, home entertainment, automotive, recreational, sports, and other equipment is either a: "pretty low qualilty" (because every manufactuer on earth has let a batch of lemons go at some time or another, and practically all still do today) or b: made by yourself from the base raw materials :laugh2:

*Side Note* Warmoth does NOT do fret dressing at all, which is the main part of any refret, and causes the most wear on tools. THe rubber cauls for pressing frets in are most likely identical, and that´s all they do (or they´re lying, which I highly doubt).

IIRC John Suhr uses a PLEK these days, and I remember reading something (IIRC on the MIMF) saying that the wear of SS frets on tools was one of the reasons for this decision...

<offtopic Off>

 

[jeremy]

Re: Bad fretwire?

if there are tools specifically for ss wire, please show me a link cause i havent seen any and would love to have some

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Bad fretwire?

i have a new Squier neck that i got from a repair shop with what seems like extra soft fret wire.... it dents real easy when the strings take a little hit.. i have some marks i need sand out of it already.... I know why i have the neck... factory 2nd

but i have bought some Stewmac wire by the pound and it has been a nice tough wire.... i will most likely buy another pound of their extra large wire soon too... i have the 2nd biggest they offer close to 6105.... it's said to be smaller then true Donlop sizes but hardly noticeable... Still it's a good wire.... no probs.... I still have a ton of wire from my first pound.... but i wish to get some bigger stuff as my tastes have changed over the years... i now like bigger wire, 6100 spec...

Sometimes i buy wire from Warmoth as well when i need a size for a one off neck....

i assumed that all the tools for refretting with common nickel frets are used for SS frets.... at least that is what i was told... it's just that the SS is harder on the tools.... i'd like to see these SS fretting tools as well....

 

[theodie]

Re: Bad fretwire?

To bad about the problem.Sounds like a tech that you trust,wonder if they where even aware of the fact thay they had a low quality alloy.
Stainless are strong but some people find that they have a 'pinging' sound.
Also stainless are a chore to dress,but good for aggressive players who wear through fretwire quickly.

+1

If the fretwire is that soft and cheap, the tech would have easily known while installing the wire.