watersbluebird
New member
jumbo frets?
why would you want......
- Thread starter watersbluebird
- Start date
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: why would you want......
Why would anyone want small frets or big ones is an issue of personal taste.
I've had two guitars refretted and each time my instructions were to re-fret with the biggest Stainless Steel fret wire he could get ahold of. I like big frets; but then again I also have big hands and what might take awhile to break in I see as more life on the frets and more time I get to spend playing it.
I know shredders that want low frets....to them that's what is needed to play fast. That's their thing and they can have it as far as I'm concerned. But I have no doubt that they would play either of my re-fretted guitars and hate them.
Why would anyone want small frets or big ones is an issue of personal taste.
I've had two guitars refretted and each time my instructions were to re-fret with the biggest Stainless Steel fret wire he could get ahold of. I like big frets; but then again I also have big hands and what might take awhile to break in I see as more life on the frets and more time I get to spend playing it.
I know shredders that want low frets....to them that's what is needed to play fast. That's their thing and they can have it as far as I'm concerned. But I have no doubt that they would play either of my re-fretted guitars and hate them.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: why would you want......
Why would anybody want a Les Paul?
Why would anybody want a Cadillac?
Why would anybody want to be tied up and tortured by a beautiful woman?
It's a crazy world man...and the craziness and variances is what makes it awesome.
-X
Why would anybody want a Les Paul?
Why would anybody want a Cadillac?
Why would anybody want to be tied up and tortured by a beautiful woman?
It's a crazy world man...and the craziness and variances is what makes it awesome.
-X
daemon barbeque
Zuhahahaologist
Re: why would you want......
Fret size and string gauge is all about feeling.If you have lots of pressure on youtr fingers when you play, go with lower frets.Faster and lighter touch would bring you to jumbo fretts.
Fret size and string gauge is all about feeling.If you have lots of pressure on youtr fingers when you play, go with lower frets.Faster and lighter touch would bring you to jumbo fretts.
Loserchief
SwingingIdiot
Re: why would you want......
+1 jumbo frets a great for people with a light touch like myself. Since they are high up you don't need to push down to the wood to fret the string, combined with thick strings and low action it's possible to play very lightly and never come close the wood. This way you can play faster since you don't have to push down to the wood, so the distance is shorter and you can go from note to note faster.
+1 jumbo frets a great for people with a light touch like myself. Since they are high up you don't need to push down to the wood to fret the string, combined with thick strings and low action it's possible to play very lightly and never come close the wood. This way you can play faster since you don't have to push down to the wood, so the distance is shorter and you can go from note to note faster.
watersbluebird
New member
Re: why would you want......
i always assumed bigger frets would mean slower play. this all makes more sense. but wait, don't bigger frets mean higher action? wouldn't this mean slower play?
i always assumed bigger frets would mean slower play. this all makes more sense. but wait, don't bigger frets mean higher action? wouldn't this mean slower play?
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
Re: why would you want......
No. Action is measured from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string. The distance between top of the fret and top of the fretboard (i.e. the height of the fret) is essentially irrelevant when judging the action.
No. Action is measured from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string. The distance between top of the fret and top of the fretboard (i.e. the height of the fret) is essentially irrelevant when judging the action.
sufferinrewind
New member
Re: why would you want......
Not necessarily. You'd need higher action with a smaller fingerboard radius to avoid fretting out but, that's not true with bigger frets.
As others said before, you don't have to push the string down to the wood to fret the note with bigger frets.
Not necessarily. You'd need higher action with a smaller fingerboard radius to avoid fretting out but, that's not true with bigger frets.
As others said before, you don't have to push the string down to the wood to fret the note with bigger frets.
watersbluebird
New member
Re: why would you want......
ok. does this really mean people play guitar without their fingers touching the fret board? that seems weird.
ok. does this really mean people play guitar without their fingers touching the fret board? that seems weird.
sufferinrewind
New member
Re: why would you want......
Some do. Depends on the fret size. With smaller frets like the vintage Fender size and Gibson medium jumbos, they're pretty short, so you'd definately be touching the fingerboard.
With bigger jumbo and extra jumbo frets, you don't have to press all the way down. When you think of these huge frets, think of scalloped fingerboards, like Yngwie Malmsteen. The same lighter playing style applies, otherwise you'll end up hitting sharp notes trying to press the string all the way down to the fingerboard.
Some do. Depends on the fret size. With smaller frets like the vintage Fender size and Gibson medium jumbos, they're pretty short, so you'd definately be touching the fingerboard.
With bigger jumbo and extra jumbo frets, you don't have to press all the way down. When you think of these huge frets, think of scalloped fingerboards, like Yngwie Malmsteen. The same lighter playing style applies, otherwise you'll end up hitting sharp notes trying to press the string all the way down to the fingerboard.
Re: why would you want......
I've never understood the point behind the biggest frets out there. Med-jumbo are fine for me. Anything bigger and you have to play with a such a light touch you lose the feeling in your playing.
My ric has the smallest frets I've ever seen, works fine for me and never frets out, my action is insanely low on it too.
I've never understood the point behind the biggest frets out there. Med-jumbo are fine for me. Anything bigger and you have to play with a such a light touch you lose the feeling in your playing.
My ric has the smallest frets I've ever seen, works fine for me and never frets out, my action is insanely low on it too.
sufferinrewind
New member
Re: why would you want......
What works for you doesn't really work for others. It's all about feel, man. Some like the feel of bigger frets, some don't.
It's all subjective, man.
What works for you doesn't really work for others. It's all about feel, man. Some like the feel of bigger frets, some don't.
It's all subjective, man.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: why would you want......
That's what I'm sayin...there wouldn't be so many guitar companies if everybody liked the same thing.
That's what I'm sayin...there wouldn't be so many guitar companies if everybody liked the same thing.
Zerberus
Baron Von Shred
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: why would you want......
I went with big frets for a few reasons. The first was that I have big hands. No joke. Most guitars I find have necks that are too small for me. Even playing bass I find I gravitate towards the larger five string necks because it just fits my hand better. With the added size is a certain necessity to be able to really feel what I'm fretting; I'm just not that nimble.
Secondly, the two guitars I had re-fretted had so much wear that it was difficult to bend. The strings would slip out from under my fingertips when I would give them a push. I needed that extra space to be able to latch onto them.
Thirdly....you dish out close to five bills and wait three months for the only Luthier you trust in the area to re-fret your instrument and you'll want as much of a lifespan on there as you can get! After a few years those two axes are just starting to play like they're getting broken in! In another five years they should be downright comfy!
I went with big frets for a few reasons. The first was that I have big hands. No joke. Most guitars I find have necks that are too small for me. Even playing bass I find I gravitate towards the larger five string necks because it just fits my hand better. With the added size is a certain necessity to be able to really feel what I'm fretting; I'm just not that nimble.
Secondly, the two guitars I had re-fretted had so much wear that it was difficult to bend. The strings would slip out from under my fingertips when I would give them a push. I needed that extra space to be able to latch onto them.
Thirdly....you dish out close to five bills and wait three months for the only Luthier you trust in the area to re-fret your instrument and you'll want as much of a lifespan on there as you can get! After a few years those two axes are just starting to play like they're getting broken in! In another five years they should be downright comfy!
Diego
New member
Re: why would you want......
I have extra jumbo frets on my Ibanez. Got them for the lifespan, and because with medium frets I feel the wood is getting in the way of my fingers!
EDIT: In fact, I'm sure I'll scallop my Ibanez too just to make sure there's not one bit of wood holding up the traffic.
Only on the high side though, from 12th and up.
I have extra jumbo frets on my Ibanez. Got them for the lifespan, and because with medium frets I feel the wood is getting in the way of my fingers!
EDIT: In fact, I'm sure I'll scallop my Ibanez too just to make sure there's not one bit of wood holding up the traffic.
Only on the high side though, from 12th and up.
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Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: why would you want......
Off topic, but this is an awsome quote, and one indicitive of widsom beyond years. Cheers!
Off topic, but this is an awsome quote, and one indicitive of widsom beyond years. Cheers!
vinterland
New member
Re: why would you want......
I personally can't stand small frets. All my guitars have jumbo's. Zerb, do you know the exact fret gauge J/C uses? I'm guessing 6150? I've never known for sure, just curious.
I personally can't stand small frets. All my guitars have jumbo's. Zerb, do you know the exact fret gauge J/C uses? I'm guessing 6150? I've never known for sure, just curious.
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