Stainless steel frets vs. regular

[darthphineas]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

Been dealing with SS frets for over a year. Using them in my own stuff since about April.

Sure, it's a little rougher on tools. Buts that's the repair shop it techs issue...unless you are doing stuff yourself.

By comparison, a guitar that I grabbed on a whim from a supposedly "known" custom builder has frets that show marks from playing within 30 minutes.

SS fret wire isn't really all that more expensive, given the bang for the buck. They charge more because for any extra labor and the wear on the fretting tools.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

The tools (diamond files) for working on SS frets are more expensive as well. That's also a large part of the cost increase in refretting with SS. Every tech I've talked to has told me that.

I haven't tried SS frets myself. Thought about it but my guitars are far from needing a refret so I can't justify the cost.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

Well, I don't know if I'd replace normal frets with SS if the guitar *didn't* need a refret. But if I have the choice, and I am either getting a custom neck or guitar, or refretting something I own, I am going with SS every time.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

I'm almost afraid to try SS fretwire,might like it "too much", & certainly can't afford a bunch of re-frets...

 

[rgand]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

I have one guitar with SS frets I put together two years ago. All that has happened in two years is that the frets got a little smoother so they're like glass now. No detectable wear either.

As to a re-fret, it's cheaper to just order a new Warmoth neck in roasted maple with SS frets. I just ordered my second custom Warmoth neck and the cost was $247 before I had them cut the headstock to a different shape than standard which isn't necessary at all but I just wanted it done. That neck is roasted maple with a roasted maple fretboard, SS6150 frets, Graphtech nut. No finish required since it's roasted maple. Add a few $ shipping to that and it's a done deal. Yes, you still need to check and level the frets if needed but my other Warmoth neck only needed a little dressing on 3 frets. I've hears numerous others mention that their Warmoth necks didn't need any levelling at all.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

What is this, Zombie Thread Month or sth?

But ok, I'll bite, I have SS frets in two of my guitars and it is more than how slowly they wear.
To me, more importantly it is how silky smooth they FEEL under my finger tips and how much more satisfying bends are. I always preferred some bite to my guitars as well so the change in tone is also very welcome.

Since then however I've heard a lot of good things about EVO wire. Apparently it is closer to SS than nickel in terms of hardness but can be worked about as easily as nickel, thus being a pretty good compromise between the two.
I would love to try it but am wary about the tone, not to mention the gold color...

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

I got stainless steel frets on a custom build earlier this year. I was a little afraid of zingy high end, but I didn't get that at all, and I have very sensitive ears.

The guitar indeed sounds bright (ash body, maple neck/fretboard, 25.5 bolt-on), so I can't point to the frets as being the main cause of brightness. Bright guitar is easily complemented by warm/dark electronics to get a balanced sound.

The SS frets came with a Plek job, so the frets are perfect and smooth. No wear after several months of playing. SS is the way to go if I can swing it in the future. If people get zingy high end, you could probably cure that with warmer strings (pure nickel, or, say, Dunlop or Ernie Ball vs. D'Addario).

 

[Mincer]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

So, SS frets:

1. The best thing since toast.
2. A lie perpetuated by manufacturers that don't want to change production methods or by techs who don't have the proper tools or time to use them.
3. Both

 

[philthis]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

So, SS frets:

1. The best thing since toast.
2. A lie perpetuated by manufacturers that don't want to change production methods or by techs who don't have the proper tools or time to use them.
3. Both

meh........I go with "C" all the above

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

They do change the sound and not in a vintage-correct way so there's that.

If you're ok with the way they add to the tone or better yet, welcome it, then you're gonna love them (but the one doing your fret work and his tools won't!)

 

[Archer250]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

Stainless last a long time, but they're not impervious to wear.

If you play with a heavy touch, then it will slowly wear.

Sent from my EVA-L19 using Tapatalk

 

[TRex]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

My opinion: if you play the guitar long enough to wear out the frets, it probably is a lifer and should get SS frets.

Now repairs are another story..matters on the guitar. Vintage gets vintage correct frets, modern gets SS. Its not worth it to refret with nickel if you plan on keeping it for a decade or two.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

Yeah, I was never concerned with preserving 'vintage tone' on anything. If I was restoring a real 60s Fender, I'd use the vintage correct stuff, but it wouldn't get the play time that more modern guitars get.

 

[ClaasGuitars]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

A standard nickel silver fret will sound almost just like a stainless steel fret. One of the big issues with normal frets is, that they corrode extremely fast and once they got all grey etc, the sound different (bad in my opinion), but 90% of all people are not used to the sound of highly polished frets. We use stainless steel frets on all our guitars. And it is amazing, that even after years they are still shiny and leveled! You do not have to care about regretting those guitars ever. I think it should be industrial standard!

In this video, there is a part, where I talk a bit about it:
https://youtu.be/Bw19jFHXLHA

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

NECROBUMPFRETTHREaD?????

I personally like that evo gold stuff.

 

[dave74]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

I won't even consider buying a guitar as new unless it has stainless frets.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

What about fretless scalloped classical guitars? Them joints is tight.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

NECROBUMPFRETTHREaD?????

:wizard:

I personally like that evo gold stuff.

Good stuff, I like the feel of those I've tried.

I won't even consider buying a guitar as new unless it has stainless frets.

Stainless Steel is my preference–almost all of my electrics have them. I don't plan on ever buying a new electric (just new parts from like Warmoth or Musikraft) and stainless steel frets are just one reason why I assemble partcasters.

What about fretless scalloped classical guitars? Them joints is tight.

Didn't know such a thing existed :?:

 

[Jeffblue]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

I have several Warmoth builds and I always have stainless steel frets installed. Why would I do anything less? I have my guitar bodies routed for specific pickup routs per my needs. I need my guitars to outperform and hold up so that my great grand kids can play my guitars long after I'm gone. I prefer to have my necks built to my preferences. I like raw wood for my necks, stuff that doesn't necessarily need a finish. If it is a Maple neck, I like a roasted Maple. I have ideas and so far everything works beautifully.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Stainless steel frets vs. regular

Stainless steel is insane. They don't wear and bends are silky smooth. With nickel, I can feel the string sawing away at the fret and I can't deal with it.