Question fret ware

[lukather101]

I recently took my Luke to be set up by a top guitar tech recommended by spud and was alarmed to hear it needed considerable fret work, the guitar is just over 3 years old and when bought was in new condition apart from the frets .
My 20 year old morse has next to nothing fret wear and also my 10 year old axis the same.
Is the fact that the Luke has small and low frets that accounts for the rapid fret wear or heavy handed playing?
Also does it make a difference what gauge strings you use could that speed things up

This has made me more aware that when buying second hand guitars to pay particular attention to fret wear which is always difficult when buying online. However I had no excuse because I traveled to see the guitar before I bought it

 

[Lou]

Normal wear is to be expected. If a guitar gets played, it will show wear. My mystic Dream JP has a lot of fret wear, but has yet to be a problem. Fretwork is routine maintenance for your guitars. Don't sweat it.

 

[lukather101]

Normal wear is to be expected. If a guitar gets played, it will show wear. My mystic Dream JP has a lot of fret wear, but has yet to be a problem. Fretwork is routine maintenance for your guitars. Don't sweat it.

Thanks Lou.
I know fret wear is normal but i was curious has to why the Luke frets have worn more quickly.
I use my Morse most days for about 16 years and that hasn't needed any work.
Perhaps the previous owner had monster hands and battered it for 2.5 years.

 

[fbecir]

Hello

My Morse is 8 years old and has already a lot of fret wear :

The seventh fret is worse ...
I believe that the fret wear depends on :

• the type of strings you use (gauge and metal : I read somewhere that steel string are more "hard" for the string than nickel strings).
• the way you play (fret wear is generally where you bends)
• action : if the strings are low they are more often in contact with the frets

Don't forget that fret wear give us a good excuse for buying new Balls

 

[the24thfret]

Just because there is fret wear, though, doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I've had numerous guitars with varying degrees of fret wear and have always been able to set them up to play like butter and not had any problems. In more serious cases, obviously, you'll need a luthier to do some fretwork, but just because it is noticeable doesn't mean it is time to get work done.

 

[ProtoChicken]

Don't you guys find that when you have fret wear like that that the strings get stuck in the grooves when bending? In my personal experience that's what has happened. So if I'm bending a full step on the b string it will get caught in the groove worn into the fret where the g string lies. I bypass the fret dressing at that point and go right to the stainless steel fret replacements.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I have seen the guitar in question and it is nothing compared to Fbecir's guitar.

The frets were uneven and needed tapping firmly in place. My mate then gave it a fret dress, re crown - followed by a floating trem adjustment and set up.

I hope to see it this Saturday.

I have to admit that I had seen this guitar a couple of months ago and I managed to improve the set up but it was still fretting out.
There are 3 things I won't do on other peoples guitars:-
Nut jobs
Fret dress
electrics



Anyways it should be all right now courtesy of Mr Dearnaley (Luthier to the stars ha!)

 

[dstockden]

Hello

My Morse is 8 years old and has already a lot of fret wear :

The seventh fret is worse ...
I believe that the fret wear depends on :

• the type of strings you use (gauge and metal : I read somewhere that steel string are more "hard" for the string than nickel strings).
• the way you play (fret wear is generally where you bends)
• action : if the strings are low they are more often in contact with the frets

Don't forget that fret wear give us a good excuse for buying new Balls

8 years! you are lucky thats like 1 1/2 tops for me!

 

[lukather101]

8 years! you are lucky thats like 1 1/2 tops for me!

I shouldn't be bothered at all looking at this.

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR REPLIES

 

[jamminjim]

looks like a candidate for some new medium jumbo stainless steel frets.

 

[PaoloGilberto]

there we have a point , finally

go for the STAINLESS STEEL FRETS.

Some guitar companies choose that from the beginning, I asked MR. Sterling about this ...not received a clear answer.

looks like a candidate for some new medium jumbo stainless steel frets.

 

[Hendog]

I never own a guitar long enough for this to happen. I buy new Balls every year or so and sell one every year or so. I usually have 3 at the same time.

My Silo has been with me longer than most and I dont want to sell it so we will see!

 

[GHWelles]

My Morse is 8 years old and has already a lot of fret wear :

Wow, it is getting scalloped at the first two frets!

 

[GHWelles]

there we have a point , finally

go for the STAINLESS STEEL FRETS.

Some guitar companies choose that from the beginning, I asked MR. Sterling about this ...not received a clear answer.

Stainless steel frets can sound brighter and some people say more brittle. Most guitar players are pretty conservative and want the traditional fretwire, in my experience. If MM converted to stainless steel fretwire it probably would aliennate more people than it would please.

 

[ProtoChicken]

Stainless steel frets can sound brighter and some people say more brittle. Most guitar players are pretty conservative and want the traditional fretwire, in my experience. If MM converted to stainless steel fretwire it probably would aliennate more people than it would please.

I really don't find the difference to be all that significant. I think once people get it in their head that they will be brighter they start listening for it.

 

[dstockden]

I really don't find the difference to be all that significant. I think once people get it in their head that they will be brighter they start listening for it.

I agree, like a lot of the snake oil involved in the guitar industry.

 

[ProtoChicken]

I agree, like a lot of the snake oil involved in the guitar industry.

There is definitely a lot of snake oil.

I also dig the feel of stainless steel frets, it's smoother. I guess there are a lot of people who claim they are brighter, but just off the top of my head I know both Tom Anderson and John Suhr feel there is no real difference in tone. Obviously neither one of them is the end all be all of guitar knowledge, but their opinions certainly carry some weight.

As always it comes down to "play what you like".

 

[LawDaddy]

Just a note that some luthiers are not over enthusiastic about stainless steel frets as they wear their tools quickly, so they may not push them unless asked.

 

[Spudmurphy]

If I need a refret I will definately go for stainless steel frets and use stainless steel strings.
If it sounds brighter and I don't like it, - I'll compensate on the amp.

 

[ProtoChicken]

If it sounds brighter and I don't like it, - I'll compensate on the amp.

That's exactly why I don't understand why people worry in the first place. If you hear a difference, which I don't, it's not that hard to just dial out the brightness.