Fretting about frets
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ThunderLizard
New member
Re: Fretting about frets
I have heard some people say they hear more highs coming out of their guitars with stainles steel frets but I almost think they are blowing smoke. You will notice a difference in feel though. Bending notes will be way easier and less taxing on your fingers. Also your frets won't get dull looking ever and polishing the frets will be a thing of the past. Very few companies do stainles steel frets yet because, well, they cost more and cuts into profits.
I have heard some people say they hear more highs coming out of their guitars with stainles steel frets but I almost think they are blowing smoke. You will notice a difference in feel though. Bending notes will be way easier and less taxing on your fingers. Also your frets won't get dull looking ever and polishing the frets will be a thing of the past. Very few companies do stainles steel frets yet because, well, they cost more and cuts into profits.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Fretting about frets
Another vote for getting stainless. If you're going to go to the trouble and expense of having your guitar refretted, then you might as well get stainless and never have to worry about it again! If I manage to wear any of my guitars down enough to need a re-fret (I buy and sell guitars and amps fairly requently), I will absolutely go with the largest stainless wire I can find and never look back.
Another vote for getting stainless. If you're going to go to the trouble and expense of having your guitar refretted, then you might as well get stainless and never have to worry about it again! If I manage to wear any of my guitars down enough to need a re-fret (I buy and sell guitars and amps fairly requently), I will absolutely go with the largest stainless wire I can find and never look back.
Re: Fretting about frets
The thing with frets is that you need to maintain them. Give them a polish every year (by yourself, not a tech!) and that way your frets will last MUCH longer. Why a stainless steel fret may last about as long is because the string is steel wound, it's steel on steel, but with a lot of energy (in the string) on a VERY small surface (the string is tiny!) and all that energy gets dissipated via the fret. I forgot the proper name but rubbing two items together of the same material will cause a lot of friction which is seen as sparks. This will inhibit the longevity of your frets as well.
That's why there are some luthiers out there who refuse to use stainless steel frets. Not because they're too lazy or because it's too hard to work with, but because it won't do you any good, most likely.
The thing with frets is that you need to maintain them. Give them a polish every year (by yourself, not a tech!) and that way your frets will last MUCH longer. Why a stainless steel fret may last about as long is because the string is steel wound, it's steel on steel, but with a lot of energy (in the string) on a VERY small surface (the string is tiny!) and all that energy gets dissipated via the fret. I forgot the proper name but rubbing two items together of the same material will cause a lot of friction which is seen as sparks. This will inhibit the longevity of your frets as well.
That's why there are some luthiers out there who refuse to use stainless steel frets. Not because they're too lazy or because it's too hard to work with, but because it won't do you any good, most likely.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Fretting about frets
Maybe if you use stainless steel wound strings - but in general stainless lasts much longer than Nickel Silver. I've heard of a few cases of wearing them out but In general they last for a very long time.
FWIW, I have guitars I've played a little with NS that have divots on the 1st few frets and others I've played a lot (also with NS) that are perfect. Those are factory frets I'm talking about.
Maybe if you use stainless steel wound strings - but in general stainless lasts much longer than Nickel Silver. I've heard of a few cases of wearing them out but In general they last for a very long time.
FWIW, I have guitars I've played a little with NS that have divots on the 1st few frets and others I've played a lot (also with NS) that are perfect. Those are factory frets I'm talking about.
Re: Fretting about frets
I think I've done more testing than you have. In a controlled lab environment at the University of Amsterdam as well as road testing for YEARS two exactly the same guitars but one with SS frets and the other with NS frets. I even have a log with the hours I spend on each guitar: virtually the same. And I don't squeeze that hard, either. and yes, I use the same strings.
Just trying to wash away the hogwash and bull****talk and replace it, as much as possible, with data that I actually measured and logged.
I think I've done more testing than you have. In a controlled lab environment at the University of Amsterdam as well as road testing for YEARS two exactly the same guitars but one with SS frets and the other with NS frets. I even have a log with the hours I spend on each guitar: virtually the same. And I don't squeeze that hard, either. and yes, I use the same strings.
Just trying to wash away the hogwash and bull****talk and replace it, as much as possible, with data that I actually measured and logged.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Fretting about frets
Would you share your testing results/methods with us? Hopefully this would include the manufacturer of the fret wire/alloy/etc and who installed the wire and the method it was installed..
Its does not make sense to me either - while i do not have access to a lab, there's a lot of evidence on the net Stainless is a lot harder and longer wearing than Nickel Silver.
Even then 2 'identical' guitars, one with nickel silver and the other stainless is not enough to draw a conclusive statement about wear characteristics.
Would you share your testing results/methods with us? Hopefully this would include the manufacturer of the fret wire/alloy/etc and who installed the wire and the method it was installed..
Its does not make sense to me either - while i do not have access to a lab, there's a lot of evidence on the net Stainless is a lot harder and longer wearing than Nickel Silver.
Even then 2 'identical' guitars, one with nickel silver and the other stainless is not enough to draw a conclusive statement about wear characteristics.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: Fretting about frets
There are different kinds of stainless steel, and some of them are harder than others. What kind(s) get used for frets?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_steel_grades#Stainless_steel
There are different kinds of stainless steel, and some of them are harder than others. What kind(s) get used for frets?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAE_steel_grades#Stainless_steel
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Re: Fretting about frets
I turn ns frets green in a week after a good cleaning.
I refretted my Culprit with 6000 SS 5 years ago and they're as slick and shiny as the day they went on. I might just be a dumbass redneck but that seems pretty absolute. I sure hope they don't pay you to do those blogs...I smell a LOT of bs.
I turn ns frets green in a week after a good cleaning.
I refretted my Culprit with 6000 SS 5 years ago and they're as slick and shiny as the day they went on. I might just be a dumbass redneck but that seems pretty absolute. I sure hope they don't pay you to do those blogs...I smell a LOT of bs.
Big Flannel
New member
Big Flannel
New member
Re: Fretting about frets
Oh, and since you "...Measured and logged" the data yourself you should have no problem presenting that data to us, right?
Oh, and since you "...Measured and logged" the data yourself you should have no problem presenting that data to us, right?
Big Flannel
New member
Re: Fretting about frets
Huh, at the moment he was aked for data, he disappeared...funny how that works.
His credibility is zero.
Huh, at the moment he was aked for data, he disappeared...funny how that works.
His credibility is zero.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Fretting about frets
Here's something interesting about recent Gibson frets. Apparently, they did do some controlled testing to see if cryogenically treated frets would outlast normal frets. They claim it's 4 times more durable.
2014 + Gibsons now have these frets. Supposedly, the tone isn't effected because it's still the same metal, not something different.
http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Why-Cryogenically-Treated-Frets-Are-Better.aspx
Here's something interesting about recent Gibson frets. Apparently, they did do some controlled testing to see if cryogenically treated frets would outlast normal frets. They claim it's 4 times more durable.
2014 + Gibsons now have these frets. Supposedly, the tone isn't effected because it's still the same metal, not something different.
http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/Why-Cryogenically-Treated-Frets-Are-Better.aspx
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Re: Fretting about frets
No I have a life beside the forum. Which you seem to forget.
No I have a life beside the forum. Which you seem to forget.
