MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
Theres only ONE fret that should be on ANY guitar..now then, or ever..6000's!
Theres only ONE fret that should be on ANY guitar..now then, or ever..6000's!
stainless steel vs nickel
- Thread starter Sruffie777
- Start date
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
The high mass of frets that are both high and wide can most definitely make a difference, and I think it does.
The high mass of frets that are both high and wide can most definitely make a difference, and I think it does.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
I have a guitar with SS frets. It sounds a bit more plinky unplugged but I don't hear it at all in the stuff I recorded with my old band. I'll be able to give a better answer in a few weeks. I have an EBMM Axis in for a refret and fretboard re-radius. I have it's twin (same model guitar but with trem) and the two sounded pretty much identical before the refret. We'll see how the tone compares when I get it back.
I have a guitar with SS frets. It sounds a bit more plinky unplugged but I don't hear it at all in the stuff I recorded with my old band. I'll be able to give a better answer in a few weeks. I have an EBMM Axis in for a refret and fretboard re-radius. I have it's twin (same model guitar but with trem) and the two sounded pretty much identical before the refret. We'll see how the tone compares when I get it back.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
I'm in the middle of an experiment on a Taylor acoustic with stainless frets 1-8, nickel thereafter.
Stainless has a sound to it for two reasons:
1. The way it transfers tone into the fretboard (which includes any tonal shift due to the increased mass on the board overall)
2. The way it sounds when the string hits all the frets that are higher (sharper) than the one you're playing. Think about it like this: Any time you hit the string even remotely hard, the first vibrations are big enough that the string slaps against the frets until it settles into a smaller vibration pattern that isn't hitting the frets. That could be milliseconds or nanoseconds, but it happens.
On an electric that "zing" is occurring directly into the string. So it is picked up by the pickups but it's a pretty high frequency so some players (and some amps) don't hear any change, others do. On an acoustic it's going to come through everything.
Back to this Taylor: the guy plays all the time. I refretted it a couple years ago and he's already dented the heck out of the first 5 frets. They look like the rocky mountains. So tone is secondary, fret life is primary. But the experiment will show me just how contributory the zing of the higher frets is to the overall effect of the stainless.
I'm in the middle of an experiment on a Taylor acoustic with stainless frets 1-8, nickel thereafter.
Stainless has a sound to it for two reasons:
1. The way it transfers tone into the fretboard (which includes any tonal shift due to the increased mass on the board overall)
2. The way it sounds when the string hits all the frets that are higher (sharper) than the one you're playing. Think about it like this: Any time you hit the string even remotely hard, the first vibrations are big enough that the string slaps against the frets until it settles into a smaller vibration pattern that isn't hitting the frets. That could be milliseconds or nanoseconds, but it happens.
On an electric that "zing" is occurring directly into the string. So it is picked up by the pickups but it's a pretty high frequency so some players (and some amps) don't hear any change, others do. On an acoustic it's going to come through everything.
Back to this Taylor: the guy plays all the time. I refretted it a couple years ago and he's already dented the heck out of the first 5 frets. They look like the rocky mountains. So tone is secondary, fret life is primary. But the experiment will show me just how contributory the zing of the higher frets is to the overall effect of the stainless.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
I like MIJ frets......they can keep their steel and Dunlops
I like MIJ frets......they can keep their steel and Dunlops
arellanon
New member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
Hmmmmm.... may you elaborate more on this MIJ fretwire? I'm a big fan of MIJ anything so I'm listening........
:scratchch
I like MIJ frets......they can keep their steel and Dunlops
Hmmmmm.... may you elaborate more on this MIJ fretwire? I'm a big fan of MIJ anything so I'm listening........
:scratchch
KeeperOS
New member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
Regardless of other people's expectations or semantics, that's the exact size I like and the one I am the most comfortable with.
If someone doesn't feel the same way, well, then when he/she orders HIS/HER custom guitar then a different one can be used. Like STRATDELUXER97 said, different strokes...
The actual dimensions are 095 x .047, Dunlop calls it the 6125 or, a fret in between 6105 & 6150 (although mine came from Jescar).
Regardless of other people's expectations or semantics, that's the exact size I like and the one I am the most comfortable with.
If someone doesn't feel the same way, well, then when he/she orders HIS/HER custom guitar then a different one can be used. Like STRATDELUXER97 said, different strokes...
Sruffie777
New member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
6105 seems the best compromise between feel, tone and intonation.
The Dunlop SS6105 is .095" X .047", tall as the Std jumbo narrower by .009" . I always like feel of jumbo but was concerned about intonation.
6105 seems the best compromise between feel, tone and intonation.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
I have jumbo frets on my Gibson SG and I have to be really careful not to press down on the frets too hard,as it screws with note intonation(sharp notes)...I prefer medium frets and so the SG doesn't see much play from me these days..I also really like the vintage style smaller/thinner frets..
I have jumbo frets on my Gibson SG and I have to be really careful not to press down on the frets too hard,as it screws with note intonation(sharp notes)...I prefer medium frets and so the SG doesn't see much play from me these days..I also really like the vintage style smaller/thinner frets..
drpietrzak
New member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
I use SS when I can can 6100 if possible. I play 9's and generally short scale (Jag & LP style). A light left hand is a must. The difference in steel or SS is minimal, if there at all to me. The dual action truss rod used by Warmoth (if that is what you have) overshadows it by far (my opinion). I use 6-7 Warmoth and/or USA necks.
I use SS when I can can 6100 if possible. I play 9's and generally short scale (Jag & LP style). A light left hand is a must. The difference in steel or SS is minimal, if there at all to me. The dual action truss rod used by Warmoth (if that is what you have) overshadows it by far (my opinion). I use 6-7 Warmoth and/or USA necks.
Edgecrusher
New member
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Sruffie777
New member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
long overdue.:1:This is a great topic now that I will need to refret my acoutic steel string . hadn't thought bout it till now .
Here's 10 years of fretware :
At the present rate of ware I'm putting on it I'm guessing maybe one more year and it's time .
HR
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
I've got SS frets on my 3 Warmoth builds, 6105's I think. I like the way I feel and the extended life i should get out of them - the chances are they'll outlast me at the rate I'm playing them. As for tonal differences, I can't say I've noticed anything obviously brighter about them, but then I don't have Eric Johnson's ears...
I've got SS frets on my 3 Warmoth builds, 6105's I think. I like the way I feel and the extended life i should get out of them - the chances are they'll outlast me at the rate I'm playing them. As for tonal differences, I can't say I've noticed anything obviously brighter about them, but then I don't have Eric Johnson's ears...
toneseeker
New member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
I'm not rough on frets, so I have no plans to try stainless frets
I'm not rough on frets, so I have no plans to try stainless frets
Sruffie777
New member
Hurricane
New member
Re: stainless steel vs nickel
=====================
It's a labor of love man . When I bought her new I was an entry level 2 year novice player. 10 years with her and the difference is night and day .
Wasn't a cake walk with her the first year , I just could not get her to ring clear like a rose wood does and thought it was the guitar . Then one year more and things stated to connect , slowly but I began to see the proverbial light .
She still plays super too , I like the rosewood fretboard's give when I push down on it . Ebony is cool too like my electric's fretboard , just started to get used to the feel of a maple . Just did another gig with her too .
Kind of worrying about the fret job it needs . I have considered PLECKing it at around $200.00 http://www.westwoodmusic.com/service-and-repairs/plek.html
Easy man :
Hurricane Ramon
=====================
It's a labor of love man . When I bought her new I was an entry level 2 year novice player. 10 years with her and the difference is night and day .
Wasn't a cake walk with her the first year , I just could not get her to ring clear like a rose wood does and thought it was the guitar . Then one year more and things stated to connect , slowly but I began to see the proverbial light .
She still plays super too , I like the rosewood fretboard's give when I push down on it . Ebony is cool too like my electric's fretboard , just started to get used to the feel of a maple . Just did another gig with her too .
Kind of worrying about the fret job it needs . I have considered PLECKing it at around $200.00 http://www.westwoodmusic.com/service-and-repairs/plek.html
Easy man :
Hurricane Ramon
