frets?

[Grizzly_Diesel]

so i got a B. C. Rich bich for a steal. it sat in a case in an attic for several years. several dead frets. whats the difference between regular, stainless and gold frets? i assume with the stainless theres no fear of rust or corrosion but ive been playin for years and never had any issues. opinions?

 

[jmh151]

Re: frets?

Regular are nickle silver, but In my experience there are many different grades, with the frets on imports being a softer grade that wear quicker.

Jescar is a manufacturer of high quality fret wire, and they produce a harder nickle silver, lasts longer and used on PRS guitars. It also has a traditional tone.

Stainless lasts longer, and has a much smoother feel, but many feel it has a tinnier tone. It also costs a lot to use on a refret since it wears tools down quickly.

Gold frets are made of a different alloy, are harder than nickle silver, not as hard as stainless- so you get the benefits of stainless without the cost of tool repair on a refret

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: frets?

I have stainless on my wolfgang and they are beyond awesome. Had it for a year and play it everyday for an hour at least. Zero wear and bending is like sliding on glass. Super smooth

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: frets?

I have stainless steel frets on a guitar that is 6 years old now. The frets still look brand new and they get a few hours a day of bending abuse. Like Christopher said, it's like sliding on glass. The tone is great but I have the jumbo sized SS frets on a thick 59 roundback Warmoth Indian rosewood neck.

I also have gold frets on my #1 guitar for the past 8 years now. I play it between 3 to 5 hours a day. I've gigged with it and been through thousands of rehearsals with it and the wear and tear is minimal. The tone is good but they are not as slick as SS frets.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: frets?

Once you get used to bending on SS, bending on nickel feels like riding over sandpaper. Ok....that might be an over exaggerated, but you get my point.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: frets?

I have stainless steel frets on a guitar that is 6 years old now. The frets still look brand new and they get a few hours a day of bending abuse. Like Christopher said, it's like sliding on glass. The tone is great but I have the jumbo sized SS frets on a thick 59 roundback Warmoth Indian rosewood neck.

I also have gold frets on my #1 guitar for the past 8 years now. I play it between 3 to 5 hours a day. I've gigged with it and been through thousands of rehearsals with it and the wear and tear is minimal. The tone is good but they are not as slick as SS frets.

+1 To Stainless Steel looking brand new, they laugh in the face of string bends


I don't have any experience with Gold Frets, I've never liked the look of gold...now aged Copper looking frets would be a cool look I could dig

I have stainless on my wolfgang and they are beyond awesome. Had it for a year and play it everyday for an hour at least. Zero wear and bending is like sliding on glass. Super smooth

Once you get used to bending on SS, bending on nickel feels like riding over sandpaper. Ok....that might be an over exaggerated, but you get my point.

Perhaps a slight exaggeration...BUT I can second this. I have it on my newest Warmoth Strat (Roasted Quartersawn with Rosewood Board) and wish all of my guitars had it.

Regular are nickle silver, but In my experience there are many different grades, with the frets on imports being a softer grade that wear quicker.

Jescar is a manufacturer of high quality fret wire, and they produce a harder nickle silver, lasts longer and used on PRS guitars. It also has a traditional tone.

Stainless lasts longer, and has a much smoother feel, but many feel it has a tinnier tone. It also costs a lot to use on a refret since it wears tools down quickly.

Gold frets are made of a different alloy, are harder than nickle silver, not as hard as stainless- so you get the benefits of stainless without the cost of tool repair on a refret

Excellent description! :fing2:

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: frets?

+1 To Stainless Steel looking brand new, they laugh in the face of string bends


I don't have any experience with Gold Frets, I've never liked the look of gold...now aged Copper looking frets would be a cool look I could dig

Well, over time my gold frets have begun to look a bit like aged copper.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: frets?

Well, over time my gold frets have begun to look a bit like aged copper.

I think I see where this is going....you want me to buy you a nice Warmoth neck with Gold Frets and send it to you so you can "Age" & "Relic" it naturally for me?

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: frets?

I think I see where this is going....you want me to buy you a nice Warmoth neck with Gold Frets and send it to you so you can "Age" & "Relic" it naturally for me?

Sounds great to me! I'll PM you where to send it. I'll get that baby relic'd for you, no problem.

 

[Grizzly_Diesel]

Re: frets?

its a light natural wood bich. i was thinkin about putting all gold hardware on it and give it a nice classy look. plus thew added benefit of the gold fret wire. ive got another bich that is identical to the new one i got that i've had for going on ten years now and the frets are just now starting to wear out on it. now the hard part is finding someone local that can replace the frets and do it right the first time lol.

 

[aleclee]

Re: frets?

I'm a big fan of SS frets. I have three guitars that came with them and two that I had referred. At this point, if I was spending money on a refret, I'd spend the extra money to go stainless. It's such a treat to have a setup last for years because there's no fret wear.

I've read good things about the gold stuff. Haven't tried it and probably wouldn't get it given my positive experience with SS and the fact that SS is somewhat harder (theoretically longer lasting) than the gold stuff.