fret size

[Pierre]

What difference to big or small frets make to the sound?
Personally I feel that the frets on my Charvel model 4 are HUGE and it bothers me when sliding.

 

[rspst14]

Re: fret size

I don't think there's much, if any, difference in tone. The difference is mostly in feel. You may have an easier time sliding on slightly smaller frets, but you will also run into problems with your fingers dragging against the fretboard. You may be using too much pressure to fret the strings, as taller frets typically require a lighter touch to avoid fretting the notes out of tune. In general, bending is easier on taller frets, sliding and chording is a bit easier on smaller frets. It's also much easier to play quickly on tall frets, as your fingers won't be slowed down by the fretboard as much.

Ryan

 

[ex-250]

Re: fret size

small frets just feel like **** to me. larger ones feel so much smoother and easier to play on. i dont really have any trouble playing with small frets, its just uncomfortable

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: fret size

People say bigger frets= more sustain. I've never actually done a comparison, but it could just be a marketing thing.

I like med/jumbos, around that size. Too small and you end up getting too much fretboard feel, too big and its a bit like speedbumps on the board. Unless you go scalloped (which is what i got on one of my guitars), which can be real cool for certain applications.

 

[Peterku]

Re: fret size

In general, bending is easier on taller frets, sliding and chording is a bit easier on smaller frets.

It's interesting what you say because I've recently realized that on my previous guitar w/ medium jumbos I did quite more bluesy licks, and tried to be fast. My current guitar has really small frets and that's made me start preferring slides to bends. I've also realized that it's not really rewarding to try to be fast on this guitar, LOL. However, I really like to feel the rosewood under my fingers.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: fret size

I don't think there's much, if any, difference in tone. The difference is mostly in feel. You may have an easier time sliding on slightly smaller frets, but you will also run into problems with your fingers dragging against the fretboard. You may be using too much pressure to fret the strings, as taller frets typically require a lighter touch to avoid fretting the notes out of tune. In general, bending is easier on taller frets, sliding and chording is a bit easier on smaller frets. It's also much easier to play quickly on tall frets, as your fingers won't be slowed down by the fretboard as much.

Ryan

All very true. Also note that Yngvie Malmsteen scallops his fingerboards (which effectively makes the frets "taller") so that his fingertips probably don't even touch the fingerboard at all. This is part of why he can play extremely fast, because fretting a note requires such a light touch.

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: fret size

Anybody got that picture of the scalloped fretboard? Anybody know the pic i'm talking about? :laugh2:

 

[YJM_Rocks]

Re: fret size

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11787&stc=1

LOL look at that

:laugh2: SCALLOPWNED :laugh2: