Strings wearing your frets?

[Metalman_666]

So I was just talking to Charvel on MSN, and apparently someone posted on a forum somewhere that Ernie Ball strings wear down your frets? Is this true? If so why does it happen with Ernie Ball and not with other brands?

 

[Morior]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

All brands do that.

 

[Rich_T]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

yeah, no escaping it, all strings wear down your frets. thats why they need replacing sometimes.

 

[nuntius]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

Yeah all strings will. Think about it, metal on metal - it's gonna create some corrosion that will, over time wear down your frets. Thats the cue for the SS frets guys I still haven't played an SS fretted guitar myself though

I've heard some people saying EB strings are worse also though...

 

[B2D]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

I've been playing my MIM every day for seven tears solid now and I had it refretted two years ago. It's normal wear and tear from playing an instrument.

Think of it as the equivalent to wearing down tires on a car.

 

[sastory]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

I did hear since EB has bigger core than D'adario's, they wear down the frets faster, but are better for tune-downs... I don't know if that's just a rumor or not.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

The material the frets and strings are made of make a much bigger difference than the string brand. Pure nickel strings are the softest, nickel wound are slightly harder, and stainless steel are the hardest. When it comes to frets, nickel silver is much softer than stainless steel. All strings will wear down your frets, but harder string metals will do it faster. If you play with a light touch, the frets will wear more slowly than if you're a heavy-handed player. I've played my main guitar every day for over three years, and it has zero fretwear. I use pure nickel strings and play with a lighter touch, so that's probably why.

Ryan

 

[Metalman_666]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

I'm aware that all strings WILL wear frets down, but I didn't think EB strings could actually be worse than other brands... ah well.

 

[Kommerzbassist]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

Well the D'addario Flatwound Strings may have less fret wearing because if their flat surface...

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

yep, thats true about flatwounds, since there would be alot less friction-the surface ain't ribbed like round wound.

I get my wear on the plain strings from tons of bending. My 12th, 15th, on E and B and my 14th on G are pretty worn from tons of bending, those are my favorite spots.

There aren't any nickel plain strings out there though. They're all steel for the plain thin ones...

 

[Scott_F]

Re: Strings wearing your frets?

I've heard the alloy type strings like B52's will wear them down faster. Not sure it's more than the "touch" factor.