Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

[Xeromus]

I have them on my Parker. Silky smooth and DO NOT wear. I'm not sure if I like them or not because they do make the guitar a whole lot brighter and the frets "slipperier" because there's little resistance when bending and such. I'm considering having them done on my custom strat project neck but I'm undecided on it.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

I've been debating the same thing myself. I really like what having a steel trem block on my Grosh does and I'm kinda wondering if steel frets will do the same thing? It adds just a bit of brightness that single coils love and the humbuckers seem to have better cut and sustain from it as well. The fact that you won't have to get them replaced as often is a definite plus too.

 

[Gary Ladd]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

No noticable change in regards to brightness and SS frets play like butter! :burnout:

I think the brightness myth is due to the fact that most people's experiences are with Parkers, which are a brighter guitar to begin with...

With that said, the only way to get SS frets are from someone that is set-up for it, as most normal luthiery is done with hand-tools which can't handle the hardness of SS frets.

US Custom guitars is the best deal out there for getting a neck done right with SS frets IMHO :smoker:

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

No noticable change in regards to brightness and SS frets play like butter! :burnout:

I think the brightness myth is due to the fact that most people's experiences are with Parkers, which are a brighter guitar to begin with...

With that said, the only way to get SS frets are from someone that is set-up for it, as most normal luthiery is done with hand-tools which can't handle the hardness of SS frets.

US Custom guitars is the best deal out there for getting a neck done right with SS frets IMHO :smoker:

Thanks for the info

I was thinking of doing a USACG guitar after all the talk on here, maybe I should look further into this

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

Yeah I was gonna go through USACG anyway for the neck and body most likely. And you're right abou the parker, with the swamp ash body, bolt on neck, carbon fiber fretboard and fiber encapsulated neck back, in combination with a trem AND vintage voiced pickups, it is a VERY thin and bright sounding guitar. But in a good way. Especially since I got it to offset my dual humbucker mahogany guitars.

I'm just concerned that with a basswood body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard (My personal holy grail tone combination) that it would throw off the balance.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

My Driskill has a mahogany/maple body and mahogany neck and sounds great with SS frets.

 

[Gary Ladd]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

My Driskill has a mahogany/maple body and mahogany neck and sounds great with SS frets.

Nice guitar...I should have had a Driskill! :smack:

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

WHAT ABOUT GOLD FRETS OR ALUMINUM FRETS? Or even GLASS Frets?
is that Possible and reasonable ?

 

[aleclee]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

WHAT ABOUT GOLD FRETS OR ALUMINUM FRETS? Or even GLASS Frets?
is that Possible and reasonable ?

Gold and aluminum are too soft. Glass is too brittle.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

WFD - I can never tell if you are joking or not. :laugh2:

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

Thanks for the info

I was thinking of doing a USACG guitar after all the talk on here, maybe I should look further into this

I was at USAguitars website last night. Tommy has a Lil' disclaimer about
SS frets. Aparently... He doesn't like them. But he offers them anyway.

A note from Tommy about stainless steel frets (in case you were wondering)...

"Quite honestly they look great and they wear great, but I am a little old fashioned and think they will affect the overall tone of the instrument in a bright way - kind of like a big truss rod. Some things are just magical and shouldn't be messed with. We really feel they would change the tone of the parts we so carefully make for you - we have formulas that we know work well for parts. Sometimes it's scary to mess with a good formula!")

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

I hate SS frets....never liked the way they sounded.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

It really makes sense that frets on an instrument should be as hard or harder than the strings making contact with them. That it should wear the strings, not the frets. I'm not sure why nickel/silver is still used except for tradition. I think SS is a better choice but I have to agree it does affect the sound and feel of the instrument.

I think it's not used more extensively because it's harder to work with, and more expensive for guitar companies to use and install on factory models. I'm not one to stick with anything traditional so I may try the SS frets on a custom job. I already have experience with them on my parker so I kind of know what to expect. But I think if I lay down a lot of dough I might as well use frets that will last uber long. You should see my friend's SG. Man those frets are grooved everwhere.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

Nickel/silver all the wayyyy!!

 

[Majestic]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

I think SS is a better choice but I have to agree it does affect the sound and feel of the instrument.

Therefore, there is no reason for a musician with a detailed ear for musical tones to use them.

The #1 priority of a guitar isn't to "last a long time without wear", like a household tool. The point of a fine instrument is to *sound* outstanding.

If taping Fig Newtons to my headstock made my guitar sound noticeably better, I'd do it, in spite of having to replace stale Fig Newtons every few days. The whole point is *sound*, not durability.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

If taping Fig Newtons to my headstock made my guitar sound noticeably better, I'd do it, in spite of having to replace stale Fig Newtons every few days. The whole point is *sound*, not durability.

Oh it does, trust me. Plus you have a snack right there if you get hungry on stage.

 

[Xeromus]

Re: Stainless steel frets? what do you guys think?

Therefore, there is no reason for a musician with a detailed ear for musical tones to use them.

The #1 priority of a guitar isn't to "last a long time without wear", like a household tool. The point of a fine instrument is to *sound* outstanding.

If taping Fig Newtons to my headstock made my guitar sound noticeably better, I'd do it, in spite of having to replace stale Fig Newtons every few days. The whole point is *sound*, not durability.

bah, you should be a politician with the way you twisted my words, that was good. :laugh2:

I said SS frets definately AFFECT the sound of the instrument, I didn't say they made it sound worse. You can definately get great tone from SS frets, but it's different then nickel/silver which gives you a mellower/duller sound. If you want your guitar to cut and stand out, be snappier too, SS frets push you a little in that direction but it they don't completely take over your tone.

now I want some fig newtons, damn you. Those raspberry ones are pretty good.