Fret size and ease of bending

[357mag]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

Where are you hearing this crap?

Stainless steel frets are very easy to work, and once installed, don't wear. I know this because I have refretted multiple guitars with SS frets.

If your "tech" wont do stainless, get a new "tech".

Funny...you got it all backwards. Stainless steel is more difficult to work with than a softer metal like nickel. My tech has built guitars and amps also. There is no valid reason to use stainless steel frets nor stainless steel strings that will chew everything up.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

How the hell do you get tendinitis from SS frets? Sorry, but what a crock of crap, honestly.

I'm not sure if the player will develop tendonitis but it is very difficult for a luthier to work with stainless steel. And more than one luthier has developed tendonitis and carpal tunnel working with that stuff.

:banghead:

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

Funny...you got it all backwards. Stainless steel is more difficult to work with than a softer metal like nickel. My tech has built guitars and amps also. There is no valid reason to use stainless steel frets nor stainless steel strings that will chew everything up.

I never said SS was softer than nickel, and I don't know how SS strings got brought into this.

Regardless, you do what you want with your guitars.

However, it would be to the benefit of others if you would not post things that are simply not true.

 

[beandip]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

I too have experience with SS, and while it's MORE difficult to work with than say Nickel/Silver 18%, it's not terribly hard to work with.

The biggest problem I face with SS is it has a good amount of spring back. If you press in or glue in your frets, it shouldn't be a problem. The spring back isn't so much that it can't be hammered in, you just have to work smarter.

That, and they'll wear out a pair of end nippers pretty **** quick. Personally, that's why I use the Craftsman brand. Grind 'em flush, they'll cut. Get too dull to work, or all knicked up, just return them for a new set.

Then there's the "makes your tone brighter" issue. While in physics theory, it will change your tone. We don't know HOW it will change it. There's two ways you can go with that thought, that it'll make the tone brighter by adding more mass for the string to vibrate on, or it'll make the tone darker by allowing a much stronger fundamental.

But guess what, you probably couldn't tell anyway. Many highly respected repairmen and luthier's have all commented that they hear no noticeable difference between the two. These are men who spend weeks tap tuning a top to give it the perfect sound, so if anyone would have a great ear it'd be them.

The big problem that comes into play with all this stuff, is we listen to "pros". We listen to someone who has a bunch of Les Pauls so they must know what they're talking about. We take into our hearts what editors of GW have to say. Let's make our opinions for ourselves.

 

[357mag]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

" ...my repairman here in Anchorage, Mike Fleck, actually worked for Parker Guitars for a while back when it was still an independent firm, has a great deal of experience with them.

And Mike absolutely loathes working with the stuff. He has to charge more for a stainless steel fret replacement, because he says it's really hard on his tools, and just takes him a lot more time and work."

Just a typical example...

 

[Koreth]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

I don't think anyone here is arguing that stainless steel fret wire isn't harder on tools or require more time and work to install than the normal nickel fret wire. Why is this even being argued?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

The biggest problem I face with SS is it has a good amount of spring back. If you press in or glue in your frets, it shouldn't be a problem.

I learned this the hard way as well. I now superglue them in when I press fit the frets.

John Suhr has posted that the hardness of the SS wire he uses is marginal over the nickel wire. According to John, he found the hardness varied considerably between suppliers of SS wire.

I don't know (or remember if Suhr stated) what brand Suhr guitars is currently using.

The point is while SS frets require a bit more work over nickel, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.

 

[Atomic Chameleon]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

+1000 on tall frets. I greatly prefer tall frets for all reasons listed in this thread. It feels "right" not having anything block your fretting fingers from digging into the strings.

The big problem that comes into play with all this stuff, is we listen to "pros". We listen to someone who has a bunch of Les Pauls so they must know what they're talking about. We take into our hearts what editors of GW have to say. Let's make our opinions for ourselves.

What about the guys on Mylespaul forums? Or Gearpage? The guys that claim they can hear the difference between a glued bookmatched maple top and a 1pc maple top? You don't think they should make our decisions for us?

 

[357mag]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

The only benefit is you can go longer between fret jobs. Considering how long nickel frets last anyway that's not really a benefit.

 

[scandoslav]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

Have you played a guitar with stainless steel frets?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

The only benefit is you can go longer between fret jobs. Considering how long nickel frets last anyway that's not really a benefit.

I don't really see the point in continuing this discussion. You obviously have never used them, and are just looking to pout.

 

[Jessie Sammler]

Re: Fret size and ease of bending

The only guitar I ever played with SS frets was a Parker Fly. I don't know how much of it had to do with the frets, but the thing blew me away. Great guitar.