Does anyone PREFER small frets?
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eschoendorff
New member
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
Looks like the frets in my strat. I had a tech put the biggest frets he could find in my strat neck about 10 years ago.
Bigger the better for me. I tried to love vintage tiny fretwire, but I found myself just not playing those guitars. I had my favorite strat neck - a MIJ 54 RI - refretted with some monster wire. I had Matt at 30th St in NYC do it - I played a bunch of Strats off the rack there until I found the one with the right size and feel to the wire and tol him to use that. Don't know what size it is, but they big ol' frets:
Looks like the frets in my strat. I had a tech put the biggest frets he could find in my strat neck about 10 years ago.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
Yes. I prefer smaller frets precisely because they are harder work. IMO, Fender-style guitars reward the hard work with greater range of expression.
Obviously, as a player of both guitar and bass, I have an unfair advantage in as much as bass strings demand greater physical effort than even the heaviest electric guitar strings.
On bass, I frequently find that even small frets are excessive and that I prefer to play with no frets at all.
Yes. I prefer smaller frets precisely because they are harder work. IMO, Fender-style guitars reward the hard work with greater range of expression.
Obviously, as a player of both guitar and bass, I have an unfair advantage in as much as bass strings demand greater physical effort than even the heaviest electric guitar strings.
On bass, I frequently find that even small frets are excessive and that I prefer to play with no frets at all.
ibanezrocks
HardtailPisser
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I'm surprised at how many people have commented on the width. I figured narrower frets would, in theory, have better intonation but that the width wouldn't really be noticeable in any way. What's the deal with the width preference?
I'm surprised at how many people have commented on the width. I figured narrower frets would, in theory, have better intonation but that the width wouldn't really be noticeable in any way. What's the deal with the width preference?
RushOfBlood
New member
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
a big deal in my preference is I like to grab onto the wood, maybe narrower has something to do with that? I couldn't tell you whether I like them wide or skinny, I just know I like em pretty flat
a big deal in my preference is I like to grab onto the wood, maybe narrower has something to do with that? I couldn't tell you whether I like them wide or skinny, I just know I like em pretty flat
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I prefer huge frets. I like the way they feel under my fretting hand.
however, my Jaguar HH has much smaller frets than my other guitars, and i dont mind.
I prefer huge frets. I like the way they feel under my fretting hand.
however, my Jaguar HH has much smaller frets than my other guitars, and i dont mind.
Bludave
New member
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I wouldn't say that I prefer them, but on Teles and Strats they feel more normal then a Jumbo does. Thats said I have 5 Strats and all have 6105 fretwire. The 6105 is a touch wider then a "vintage" Fender fret but they are also taller. These "feel" like a Fender but bending is easier and they last longer because there is more height to them so you can get more life out of them.
On Gibson's I think a larger fret is better. They usually use a bigger fret anyway.
I wouldn't say that I prefer them, but on Teles and Strats they feel more normal then a Jumbo does. Thats said I have 5 Strats and all have 6105 fretwire. The 6105 is a touch wider then a "vintage" Fender fret but they are also taller. These "feel" like a Fender but bending is easier and they last longer because there is more height to them so you can get more life out of them.
On Gibson's I think a larger fret is better. They usually use a bigger fret anyway.
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I liked the vintage size frets on the MIM Strat I had years ago better than the medium-jumbo on my MIA Strat. I use a tight grip and put a lot of pressure on the strings when I play, so it was easier to move around the fretboard with smaller frets.
I liked the vintage size frets on the MIM Strat I had years ago better than the medium-jumbo on my MIA Strat. I use a tight grip and put a lot of pressure on the strings when I play, so it was easier to move around the fretboard with smaller frets.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I don't mind TALL, but I don't like wide & tall. Wide and short (or medium height) is good, narrow and tall is good (6105 or the frets Ibanez used on the original Destroyer IIs 1983 or previous)
My MIA Dean & Malmsteen sig with the railroad tracks ? ughh...Or many Jacksons/Ibanez, I really don't like.
The shorter frets do play a bit tougher for bends and such- I compensate with string gauge (going lighter) and then it's a non-issue.
I don't mind TALL, but I don't like wide & tall. Wide and short (or medium height) is good, narrow and tall is good (6105 or the frets Ibanez used on the original Destroyer IIs 1983 or previous)
My MIA Dean & Malmsteen sig with the railroad tracks ? ughh...Or many Jacksons/Ibanez, I really don't like.
The shorter frets do play a bit tougher for bends and such- I compensate with string gauge (going lighter) and then it's a non-issue.
Petrovsk Mizinski
New member
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I like 6105s. I had them on the six string I sold a while ago.
Anything less tall I generally don't get along with though
I like 6105s. I had them on the six string I sold a while ago.
Anything less tall I generally don't get along with though
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
Intonation?
They have a rounded edge either way.
The wide frets feel like they are disturbing my play. The narrow 6105s don't. The 6150s which are same height and wider feel like they are messing with my fingers.
Intonation?
They have a rounded edge either way.
The wide frets feel like they are disturbing my play. The narrow 6105s don't. The 6150s which are same height and wider feel like they are messing with my fingers.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I don't prefer them but I don't hate them either and I'll add this...if I had a choice between little tiny vintage frets and massive super jumbo's I'd opt for the little ones!
I don't prefer them but I don't hate them either and I'll add this...if I had a choice between little tiny vintage frets and massive super jumbo's I'd opt for the little ones!
noisenet
New member
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I've been playing ESP EC-1000's since late 2006 - those have extra jumbo frets. Before that I was playing a MIM Strat that I'd had refretted with Jumbo (pretty sure those are Dunlop 6100). Since playing the bigger frets I've noticed a lot more vibrato in my style.
Tonight, on a whim, I broke out and restrung my first MIM Strat, from 1993. That one still has the original worn frets - I guess they're what are being called 'Vintage' frets? Anyhow - once I had it strung and was playing it I realized that I REALLY like those frets, I think better than the 6100's on my other Strat. I have noticed that, while I do very much like the EC1000's with the Jumbo frets, they still sometimes feel awkward to me. Additionally, I guess due to the slinkiness caused by the shorter scale on those (24.75), I've found that I need to raise the action significantly - to the point where I can't get my intonation right. When I lower it, they intonate great but I just can't seem to feel what I'm playing. I think this is because, before that, I'd played 25" scale guitars with 10-52 strings for so long that I've just got a heavy touch.
On the aforementioned Strat, though, I have the action cranked down pretty low (as low as the rusted frozen saddle screws will allow LOL!!) and it just feels great -this is a guitar that's been sitting in a case in my storage room for at least a decade - didn't do any neck adjustment or anything. So I'm assuming that I prefer smaller frets LOL!!! Not certain enough, though, to try replacing the frets on one of my EC1000's ;-)
I've been playing ESP EC-1000's since late 2006 - those have extra jumbo frets. Before that I was playing a MIM Strat that I'd had refretted with Jumbo (pretty sure those are Dunlop 6100). Since playing the bigger frets I've noticed a lot more vibrato in my style.
Tonight, on a whim, I broke out and restrung my first MIM Strat, from 1993. That one still has the original worn frets - I guess they're what are being called 'Vintage' frets? Anyhow - once I had it strung and was playing it I realized that I REALLY like those frets, I think better than the 6100's on my other Strat. I have noticed that, while I do very much like the EC1000's with the Jumbo frets, they still sometimes feel awkward to me. Additionally, I guess due to the slinkiness caused by the shorter scale on those (24.75), I've found that I need to raise the action significantly - to the point where I can't get my intonation right. When I lower it, they intonate great but I just can't seem to feel what I'm playing. I think this is because, before that, I'd played 25" scale guitars with 10-52 strings for so long that I've just got a heavy touch.
On the aforementioned Strat, though, I have the action cranked down pretty low (as low as the rusted frozen saddle screws will allow LOL!!) and it just feels great -this is a guitar that's been sitting in a case in my storage room for at least a decade - didn't do any neck adjustment or anything. So I'm assuming that I prefer smaller frets LOL!!! Not certain enough, though, to try replacing the frets on one of my EC1000's ;-)
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Snake Aces
Singlecut Slut
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
5 year old thread brought back to life for a legitimate reason! Nice work noisenet!
I have really grown to love stainless steel 6100 frets. I have them on one Indian rosewood neck (24.75" scale) and will be ordering them from now on. I also really love the old Warmoth gold frets (they discontinued them in late 2007/early 2008 and replaced them with the current gold sizes). They were sold as 61GD and their size was .090" X .055" which makes them more narrow but almost as tall as the SS6100 Warmoth currently sells. These fret sizes are ideal for me.
5 year old thread brought back to life for a legitimate reason! Nice work noisenet!
I have really grown to love stainless steel 6100 frets. I have them on one Indian rosewood neck (24.75" scale) and will be ordering them from now on. I also really love the old Warmoth gold frets (they discontinued them in late 2007/early 2008 and replaced them with the current gold sizes). They were sold as 61GD and their size was .090" X .055" which makes them more narrow but almost as tall as the SS6100 Warmoth currently sells. These fret sizes are ideal for me.
allbutromeo
Well-known member
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I really liked the short/wide frets on my 81 Les Paul Custom once I got used to them. I never had any trouble bemding, unfortunately a few of them were very worn and I was forced to have it refreshed and I went with the medium wide wire. So generally I prefer a medium-low fret wire. I think a big part is being used to the feel and slight adjustments to technique.
I really liked the short/wide frets on my 81 Les Paul Custom once I got used to them. I never had any trouble bemding, unfortunately a few of them were very worn and I was forced to have it refreshed and I went with the medium wide wire. So generally I prefer a medium-low fret wire. I think a big part is being used to the feel and slight adjustments to technique.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
I'd prefer one half inch tall fret that went from the nut to the neck pickup.
I'd prefer one half inch tall fret that went from the nut to the neck pickup.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Does anyone PREFER small frets?
For me, the smaller the better, to a point. There are some old folk instruments I've played that have frets only a millimeter wide; I wouldn't like those on a guitar. I really wish that Gibsons came with 6230 vintage Fender style fret wire (and a 7-1/4" radius). They'd be much better feeling guitars IMO.
For me, the smaller the better, to a point. There are some old folk instruments I've played that have frets only a millimeter wide; I wouldn't like those on a guitar. I really wish that Gibsons came with 6230 vintage Fender style fret wire (and a 7-1/4" radius). They'd be much better feeling guitars IMO.
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