Question Stainless Steel Frets?

[NorM]

My $0.02

Stainless Steel is just brutal stuff.

I have some table tops at work that are stainless and when I have to be in contact with them for a period of time I start to get red skin.

Once I put on stainless strings. Yes they were noticeably brighter. They also shredded my finger tips and caused fret wear really fast.

Some people just don't react well to stainless and I guess I am one of them.

If you really want to see stuff tear up quickly try stainless strings on stainless frets.
From wiki:
When stainless steel parts such as nuts and bolts are forced together, the oxide layer can be scraped off causing the parts to weld together. When disassembled, the welded material may be torn and pitted, an effect that is known as galling.

Out of all the metals out there, It is my understanding that people react less to nickel

 

[MN246]

From wiki:
When stainless steel parts such as nuts and bolts are forced together, the oxide layer can be scraped off causing the parts to weld together. When disassembled, the welded material may be torn and pitted, an effect that is known as galling.

Out of all the metals out there, It is my understanding that people react less to nickel

Two points, any two metals can gall when they are forced together. The point of teflon tape on threads is not to create a seal, as some people think, it is to prevent galling.

The other point is that I would be sceptical if people reacted less to nickel rather than stainless, based on the fact that all metal surgical instruments are made from stainless.

 

[paisleytone]

It's nice you like stainless frets.


The consensus (and you can read them on the net) is that the only superior quality SS frets may have over nickel is longevity.
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Not the case. The consensus is that it has greater longevity and provides for smoother bends and vibrato. The tone of stainless frets is disputed. Most say that there is little to no tonal variation after installing stainless frets, but then there are also the odd player that feel it is too bright. The opinion of techs on the subject should be taken with a grain of salt, since installing stainless frets is comparatively time-consuming, and so a lot of techs like Ed Roman will trash stainless frets because they are more difficult to work with.

It's nice you like stainless frets.
"SS, is way to hard - nickel is nice n soft."

There's nothing "nice" about a soft fret. Reading your post, I couldn't help but come away with the impression that you have little to no first hand experience with stainless frets, that you're just repeating what you've read. Why waste everyone's time by giving your opinion on a topic that you know very little about?

 

[Siddius]

A little late to the party, Paisley

 

[djlynch]

Nice first post. Lighten up francis

 

[daneford]

Nice first post. Lighten up francis

Well played.

 

[acwild]

This thread is an entertaining look back at ss opinions. I'm spoiled by stainless frets and will not go back to nickel if given a choice.

 

[QuietSpike]

Holy resurrection....

But agree, AC... Funny to see the debate of SS vs nickel. Also agree AC... I play nickel now and it just feels wrong. Love the SS frets.

 

[jamminjim]

Lots of folks, like myself, are seriously reactive to nickel. I can't wear nickel at all as my skin oils react to it badly and it just eats up what ever finish there is on it. Then I get the green crud. I think that is why my nickel frets wear a little more than other peoples. So, stainless would be nice option for folks that have skin oils that react to nickel. I wear all stainless glasses frames, no nickel. Stainless frets do require a lot more investment in tools, it is really hard on tools. Like flush cut nippers to nip the fret ends; you will have to sharpen and replace tools much more often when working with stainless frets. Wouldn't it be nice if they were offered though. (wishful thinking)

 

[QuietSpike]

I'm confused... I read your post 3 times and it sounds like you're saying it would be nice if EBMM offered SS frets....??


Cuz both of my MMs have stainless frets.

 

[beej]

Ed Roman is dead and so is this thread.