What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
- Thread starter ksmith63
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karpathion
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
I'm not really sure if it makes a difference. I think it has more to do with how hard you dig in. If it came to string size, I would say smaller strings would cause less wear. But, if you dig in hard, it's still gonna put wear on the frets.
I don't think what they are made of will matter much.
I'm not really sure if it makes a difference. I think it has more to do with how hard you dig in. If it came to string size, I would say smaller strings would cause less wear. But, if you dig in hard, it's still gonna put wear on the frets.
I don't think what they are made of will matter much.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
Pure nickel, IIRC, since it's the softest of the normal string materials...outside of cat gut and nylon.
If you figure that stainless steel frets last nearly forever, it would make sense that stainless and other steel strings would be harder on nickle based frets.
Pure nickel, IIRC, since it's the softest of the normal string materials...outside of cat gut and nylon.
If you figure that stainless steel frets last nearly forever, it would make sense that stainless and other steel strings would be harder on nickle based frets.
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
I know for bass that flatwound strings cause significantly less fret wear. Not sure whether the same applies to guitar though.
I know for bass that flatwound strings cause significantly less fret wear. Not sure whether the same applies to guitar though.
ksmith63
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
This makes sense. Nickel is a really soft metal so anything harder than that should increase fret wear.
I have heard that flatwounds cause less fret wear.
Pure nickel, IIRC, since it's the softest of the normal string materials...outside of cat gut and nylon.
This makes sense. Nickel is a really soft metal so anything harder than that should increase fret wear.
I have heard that flatwounds cause less fret wear.
frankfalbo
In Fluence Y'all
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
Broken
(couldn't resist)
Broken
(couldn't resist)
John_L
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
Tightly wound the tighter they are wound the less of a file effect they will have on the frets. Also the smaller the strings the less of an effect. Most fret damage I see are from kids using .56's on the bottom from a cheap maker and basically filing the frets away to nothing in no time. So when looking for strings get the ones that wound tightly, these will always have more mass so you don't need to go super heavy either.
Tightly wound the tighter they are wound the less of a file effect they will have on the frets. Also the smaller the strings the less of an effect. Most fret damage I see are from kids using .56's on the bottom from a cheap maker and basically filing the frets away to nothing in no time. So when looking for strings get the ones that wound tightly, these will always have more mass so you don't need to go super heavy either.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
There was much faster fret wear under the G string when I started using a wound 3rd on my Epi dot. Even with the plain 3rd though I notice that more fret wear develops beneath the G string than any other string on my guitars.
Lighter gauges, low action, and a lighter touch seem like a safe bet for reduced fret wear . . . simply because you'll be pushing down less firmly into the fretboard every time you fret a note.
There was much faster fret wear under the G string when I started using a wound 3rd on my Epi dot. Even with the plain 3rd though I notice that more fret wear develops beneath the G string than any other string on my guitars.
Lighter gauges, low action, and a lighter touch seem like a safe bet for reduced fret wear . . . simply because you'll be pushing down less firmly into the fretboard every time you fret a note.
ksmith63
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
I was actually thinking of switching to a wound G because the G seemed to wear faster....I just assumed it was the size of the unwound string. Good to know that this is wrong. :scratchch
I was actually thinking of switching to a wound G because the G seemed to wear faster....I just assumed it was the size of the unwound string. Good to know that this is wrong. :scratchch
karpathion
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
That made me go look at my guitars. Most of my wear is on the G string, right on the cowboy notes. I never really noticed before.
That made me go look at my guitars. Most of my wear is on the G string, right on the cowboy notes. I never really noticed before.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
My guitars with worn out frets have them at the unwound G string. I don't think that fiddling with the wound strings will do much. Sure, the wound strings make ugly frets but they are not gone, you can just polish them.
My guitars with worn out frets have them at the unwound G string. I don't think that fiddling with the wound strings will do much. Sure, the wound strings make ugly frets but they are not gone, you can just polish them.
F
Funkfingers
Guest
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
Even though I use Rotosound BS66 43-110 roundwound strings, my 1978/9 Fender Precision Bass shows no fret wear whatsoever.
What it exhibits instead are four ruts, through the varnish and, in one or two places, into the maple below.
Even though I use Rotosound BS66 43-110 roundwound strings, my 1978/9 Fender Precision Bass shows no fret wear whatsoever.
What it exhibits instead are four ruts, through the varnish and, in one or two places, into the maple below.
Jackson Distortion
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
I think it's pure nickel or flat wounds or half rounds.
I think it's pure nickel or flat wounds or half rounds.
Left_Hand_Strat
New member
Re: What kind of strings give the least amount of fret wear?
I would have said get your neck checked over by a luthier or a guy who knows his stuff with adjusting necks, cause this can have an effect too, like on mine.
I would have said get your neck checked over by a luthier or a guy who knows his stuff with adjusting necks, cause this can have an effect too, like on mine.
