Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

I don't think they make frets big enough to help me....:doh:
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

Eventually, I'd like to get my Ibanez SZ refretted with jumbo wire. I like the mediums, but the jumbo stuff just feels the best.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

I suck on all sizes of frets - I'm an equal-opportunity fret man
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

i like smaller frets on a scalloped board (goofy or not, but i am sure i have ideas on other things that are goofy to me too), like on my Ernie Ball. It feels nothing like large frets, although the concept might be the same, they feel nothing alike.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

Depends on what you mean by bigger: Wider or taller?

Taller frets will help you jet around the board faster because you don't have to press down as hard because the fingerboard isn't kicking you back out as much. Wider frets (assuming the same height) won't have any effect on your playing one way or the other, though they may affect tone since there's more metal right there. Wide frets look cool though.

+1 to everything said here.

I have a guitar that takes it to every extreme and I have to say I prefer large tall frets. I can use a much lighter touch and chording is a million times easier.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

i like smaller frets on a scalloped board (goofy or not, but i am sure i have ideas on other things that are goofy to me too), like on my Ernie Ball. It feels nothing like large frets, although the concept might be the same, they feel nothing alike.

+1

My Epiphone has medium/small frets and a scalloped fretboard, only from 12th and up. It feels better than my Ibanez with large frets. In fact, I use 10-46 on the Ibanez, 11-52 on the Epiphone and it feels almost the same. I'm considering scalloping the Ibanez too.

The point being, it's definitely not the same to scallop than to slap some big, wide frets on your axe. And honestly, the further my fingers are from the wood, the better. The green semihollow guitar guy here (can't remember the name, sorry) was saying that he had it hard bending strings with the tiny frets on his guitar. I HATE how that feels. How can anyone live with that is beyond me. Except for him because that guitar is an old jewel, of course... :D
 
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Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

All of my main players have Dunlop 6100s on them. Bigger frets will not make you play faster, but they WILL allow you to get every string by the balls. I like the bite of a large fret.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

I like really big frets
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:laugh2:
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

Kurdt Cobain used really small fret wire on his Mustangs. I'm wondering how much more comfy they are than the medium jumbos on Fenders. My Squier will probably be due for a re-crown in a year or so, and I'm seriously wondering about getting the smallest frets possible. Will they affect tone too much? And how much easier will it make the guitar to play?

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I think in a way we're both searching for the same answer.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

vintage to mdeium is my fastest range. I can play on any size frets... but Super Jumbo frets don't feel right to me. I really like the frets on my strat, if I can get anothe maple neck with frets like that for my next guitar I'll be happy.

Rock On ~ Kac
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

Kurdt Cobain used really small fret wire on his Mustangs.
He didn't really do that by choice. Kurt played vintage Mustangs, and they happened to be outfitted with tiny frets.

FWIW, I used to own a late 60's Mustang, and the combination of tiny frets and a small radius equals lots of fretting out if you bend.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

Kurdt Cobain used really small fret wire on his Mustangs. I'm wondering how much more comfy they are than the medium jumbos on Fenders. My Squier will probably be due for a re-crown in a year or so, and I'm seriously wondering about getting the smallest frets possible. Will they affect tone too much? And how much easier will it make the guitar to play?

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I think in a way we're both searching for the same answer.

Thin frets are not comfortable IMO, the low profile medium jumbos which I'm using are great for slides and feel better under my fingers. I'm interested in taller frets which are still wide - the 6150 size... I have played more then a few vintage fret guitars and own one- nothing easy about playing them.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

He didn't really do that by choice. Kurt played vintage Mustangs, and they happened to be outfitted with tiny frets.

FWIW, I used to own a late 60's Mustang, and the combination of tiny frets and a small radius equals lots of fretting out if you bend.

Odd, cause on his order for the Jag-Stang he asked for tiny thin frets. Though he didn't play his Jag-Stang that much.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

Odd, cause on his order for the Jag-Stang he asked for tiny thin frets. Though he didn't play his Jag-Stang that much.

I forgot about the Jag-Stang. What I meant was that anybody who plays a stock vintage Fender is using tiny frets. Definitely try them out before you dump money into them.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

...if it was set up right and the frets levelled properly, small frets shouldn't be any more prone to fretting out...

in fact if it was set up properly, even the radius wouldn't make it fret out too much, my 7.25" guitars won't fret out and have low action... well they can fret out, but most people's hands run out of bendy strength :D IMO it's alot to do with how the neck is shimmed...

maybe then you wouldn't have sold it though :D Still wish I bought it.

I dunno. small frets are more comfortable to me. The only percievable difference I feel between a huge ones and the SUPER low (not thin though) ones on my Mustang are that when I'm going up and down the neck, my fingers knock into big frets.

And I'm very bendy btw. :D

...In 66 only, Fender used a VERY low, but still wide sort of fretwire that's the absolute ultimate.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

I prefer 6100s which are like the biggest(both tall and wide) frets you can buy. It doesn't make things easier and you'll need to have a light touch so you don't bend the notes out of tune when fretting, but, once you have the control and the touch you can go faster(less friction) and you'll have way better grip for bends and vibrato.
 
Re: Do bigger frets helps you play faster?

I'm more of a w/e kind of person. Play whatever comes my way.
 
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