It is getting closer to a point where my L3 will need a refret. I will be going with medium jumbo frets. I happened to have an old batch of EVO Golds and was wondering if I should use those instead of SS. I never had a guitar with SS frets so I am a little bit worry, also EVO Gold will look better on this particular guitar. Any experience with both to compare them? Mostly how much less durable and less smooth are Evo?
- Thread starter Rbg
- Start date
I'm just finishing up putting medium/jumbo stainless on my L4 Steamroller. I really did not like the low profile ones on there. I'll post it up when done. I have those same frets on both of my Axis and my Cutlass BFR. They are fantastic to play on! They are very smooth to play on. I had the Evo gold on my Ibanez J-Custom Sugi and they were ok. I didn't really like them all that much but they looked great when polished! Evo Golds are discontinued now.
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nervous
Well-known member
Can you still get the EVO Gold frets? I thought they were discontinued and gone.
nervous
Well-known member
While I don't have experience with the EVO I would have used that on my Axis refret had it been available. I ended up using the Jescar 47095-NS as they were a very close match to the original EBMM frets and they worked out beautifully.
Jescar Fret Wire 47095
Fret Wire 47095-NS & 47095-S Crown Size (Width & Height) Tang Width Alloy Feet per Pound 2ft Lengths per Pound .095″ X .047 (2.41 X 1.19 mm) 0.0210" NS18% 52.3 26 .095″ X .047 (2.41 X 1.19 mm) 0.0210" Stainless Steel 57.6 28 Note: All coiled and 25 piece set fret wire comes standard in a 10"...
jescarmusic.com
What happened to Evo Gold Fretwire?
The maker of the alloy is no longer making it, so the fret wire is no longer in production, either.
In you have enough EVO on hand and it's a suitable size I'd have no issues installing that.
Some1bluee
Member
For Evo Gold fans - don’t give up! take a look at golden HOSCO 
installed a set and so far so good …
they say hardness between SS and standard
Cheers
installed a set and so far so good …
they say hardness between SS and standard
Cheers
nervous
Well-known member
For reference what was the part number of what you used?For Evo Gold fans - don’t give up! take a look at golden HOSCO
installed a set and so far so good …
they say hardness between SS and standard
Cheers
RPadTV
New member
I have guitars with both. For me, the feel is close. Stainless steel is maybe a tiny bit slicker, which can be good or bad depending on your preferences. My guitar with EVO also has gold hardware, so it matches well. I like and enjoy both, but my guitar tech likes my EVO guitar better since it's easier on their tools.
Some1bluee
Member
I believe it was Hosco HFPB-M1-P24
Thank you! What about durability. Are EVO wearing much faster?
nervous
Well-known member
Thank you, and these are interesting. Looks like some possible limitations in application based on the pre-cut and 10" only radius option, plus likely not suitable for bass installations, but where they are compatible I think I would like to try them.
Gorgeous frets here! A New option for our precut frets. | HOSCO-INTERNATIONAL
Other than its handsome appearance, our Phosphor Bronze frets give you various benefits. Higher in wear resistence while making sound warmer than ones of nickel silver do. Its hardness, HV250-290…
- Warmer sound than nickel-silver frets
- Better wear resistance than nickel silver
- Hardness is HV250-290 which is between Stainless Steel and Nickel Silver for hardness
- Available in 3 different fret sizes...Jumbo(.055" x .114") , Medium(.047" x .094"), and Medium-Jumbo(.039" x .106").
Hosco Precut Phosphor Bronze Fretwire 10" radius - 24 Piece Set - Philadelphia Luthier Tools & Supplies, LLC
www.philadelphialuthiertools.com
These folks offer a bit wider variety in the same material, pre-cut and bulk, but no fretwire USA distribution that I can find yet.
BLACKSMITH
BlackSmith, Electric Guitar Strings, Bass Guitar Strings, etc...
www.blacksmithstrings.com
BLACKSMITH
BlackSmith, Electric Guitar Strings, Bass Guitar Strings, etc...
www.blacksmithstrings.com
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Some1bluee
Member
HOSCO HFBP in real world look absolutely gorgeous, at lest on my guitar 
RPadTV
New member
BrickGlass
Well-known member
The first thing you do when you buy a Luke is take off the annoying low profile frets and put on something taller. Gotta budget a few hundred dollars more for the guitar because those suckers have to go.
