Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

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Aquila Rossa
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Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by Aquila Rossa »

As per the thread title.

I have worn down the frets on the 245 already. I read that stainless frets are brighter, but also more durable.

What other options? Are all commonly used types of nickel fret wire created equal, or are some softer metal?

Will cost heaps. No way around it.

p.s. JJs for EL84s?

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by werdna »

I like stainless frets, and they last a long time.
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dayl
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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by dayl »

Yup a few times now. They feel great imo. Not a deal breaker tone wise but definitely feel good.

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philly
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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by philly »

ive got a warmoth tele build with ss frets
even acoustically it has a lovely 3d "shimmer"
thing is ... it also has an ebony fretboard so i dont really know which characteristics are due to which component
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Molly
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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by Molly »

I loved them in the Suhr. Would definitely request them if I were going for a refret.

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by Aquila Rossa »

Molly wrote:I loved them in the Suhr. Would definitely request them if I were going for a refret.
I figure that there is a level and crown left in them, even though they are not tall frets. Even so, I would wear them out so fast that it may be worth just going straight for the refret in stainless. Hurts to spend so much on a guitar that did not cost much, but its a good sounding gat. Good frets and action would make it awesome.

If i spend more than 100 milliseconds or so on a note it usually gets a good wiggle. Flat top frets in no time. Hate to think how bad it would be if i used heavy strings

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by Molly »

Aquila Rossa wrote:
Molly wrote:I loved them in the Suhr. Would definitely request them if I were going for a refret.
I figure that there is a level and crown left in them, even though they are not tall frets. Even so, I would wear them out so fast that it may be worth just going straight for the refret in stainless. Hurts to spend so much on a guitar that did not cost much, but its a good sounding gat. Good frets and action would make it awesome.

If i spend more than 100 milliseconds or so on a note it usually gets a good wiggle. Flat top frets in no time. Hate to think how bad it would be if i used heavy strings
A decent fret-job can make a good guitar great. Worth it if you're keeping it. Knowing how I go through guitars I usually just live with them the way they are and 'play around' any shortcomings I can't sort for myself.

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by Aquila Rossa »

Knowing how I go through guitars I usually just live with them the way they are and 'play around' any shortcomings I can't sort for myself.
Fret buzz is a bad buzz for me. When i first got the Jackson it sounded bad. Not enough relief in the neck was the problem. Strings were not clear of the frets enough to resonate cleanly. A real tone killer. Sorted that and it sounded good. At first I thought it was an amp setting or something. Nope, just the action was shitty.
245 has enough relief, but now I have worn the frets down so much I had to raise the action much higher than I like to stop the buzz. Great guitar tho. Almost as loud as an acoustic when unplugged. Sustain for days. Feeds back very easily.

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by sopachrga »

Both of my primary guitars have stainless frets. Tone-wise, pickups and most other parts make a bigger difference so I don't think that matters much.
But they definitely seem to feel a little slicker for bends.
Ummm....

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by Aquila Rossa »

sopachrga wrote:Tone-wise, pickups and most other parts make a bigger difference
You mean wood aye ;)

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by sopachrga »

Aquila Rossa wrote:
sopachrga wrote:Tone-wise, pickups and most other parts make a bigger difference
You mean wood aye ;)
Haha yeah.

I was meaning almost everything makes a bigger difference to tone than the fret material
Ummm....

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Re: Who here has tried stainless steel frets?

Post by higainer »

Have them on my super strat build.
Can't say I notice any difference tone-wise but they sure are more durable.

Wouldn't hesitate in chucking them on more guitars if need be.

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