SS Fret wear on 2019 Axis? It doesn't look like SS frets but Musicman customer support claims it is.

[nsdean03]

Hi everyone, I am a the new owner of an Axis that I just recently purchased about a month ago. It's rosewood topped and has a roasted maple neck and was part of a limited batch run of 3.

When I first acquired this guitar it had no fret wear at all, and being told it was a SS fretted guitar, it seemed odd to me at first. I have multiple guitars with SS frets which are as smooth as butter, while these felt very similar to nickel. Just not as smooth. I contacted Musicman and they said it was SS.

Anyways after 3 to 4 weeks of playing, my frets look like this. It's very minimal and fairly crappy photos, but seems odd if they are SS? Has anyone here had this problem with SS guitars? If it's not SS, should I contact Musicman? Thank you everyone!

 

[DrKev]

Was that sold to you as new? What year was it made? Is that wear on just that one fret? I see nothing on the 1st fret (where I would expect a worse divot under the G-string for most players).

I'm ignoring the scratches (because close up photos of shiny things make tiny scratches appear more prominent than they are so it's hard to judge) but that G-string divot is definitely suspect. But even with standard nickel silver frets just three to four weeks of playing should not produce that level of fret wear. If it's just that one fret, it's possible it came off the roll of wire like that, which could be missed in a busy production environment (and that's what warranties are for).

You should absolutely contact Music Man customer service (feel free to pick up the phone and call) and ask them what your options are.

 

[nsdean03]

Was that sold to you as new? What year was it made? Is that wear on just that one fret? I see nothing on the 1st fret (where I would expect a worse divot under the G-string for most players).

I'm ignoring the scratches (because close up photos of shiny things make tiny scratches appear more prominent than they are so it's hard to judge) but that G-string divot is definitely suspect. But even with standard nickel silver frets just three to four weeks of playing should not produce that level of fret wear. If it's just that one fret, it's possible it came off the roll of wire like that, which could be missed in a busy production environment (and that's what warranties are for).

You should absolutely contact Music Man customer service (feel free to pick up the phone and call) and ask them what your options are.

No, I purchased it used. It was absolutely mint though when I got it. It's a 2019 model. There's smaller divots like that all over the neck from the G to the high E (even on the first fret), but you can't see it in those photos. It's something you have to see in person reflecting the light a particular way.

Since it's a used instrument though and I didn't purchase it from them directly I doubt they would do anything about it.

Here's the link to it : Ernie Ball Music Man Axis with Rosewood Top

 

[DrKev]

Definitely contact them again to verify what you bought. Normally SS is explicitly stated in the listing and standard frets otherwise.

 

[nsdean03]

Definitely contact them again to verify what you bought. Normally SS is explicitly stated in the listing and standard frets otherwise.

Thats what I thought. I think this time I'll ask to speak to an engineer there instead of the standard customer support worker.

 

[beej]

What Kev said. I would think they aren't SS unless otherwise stated.

 

[morsecode]

I didn't think SS came standard on the Axis until a few a years ago when the color offerings were last changed?

What I think is that was the actual condition of the frets but they may have been polished up a bit by the seller prior to the sale and they appeared to be in mint shape. I just don't see how the frets, even nickel, suddenly wear like that after a few weeks.

 

[nsdean03]

I didn't think SS came standard on the Axis until a few a years ago when the color offerings were last changed?

What I think is that was the actual condition of the frets but they may have been polished up a bit by the seller prior to the sale and they appeared to be in mint shape. I just don't see how the frets, even nickel, suddenly wear like that after a few weeks.

Yeah that's what I thought too. But the guy from customer service says that all roasted necks on the Axis came with SS . Who knows. I'm just gonna play it until they need a re-fret. The looked pretty decent before I picked it up. But you could absolutely be right about the polishing. Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

[nervous]

I'm just gonna play it until they need a re-fret.

Which could be a very long time. My 1997 Axis Sport has changed hands many times since its birth and showed similar or worse wear in many places on the original nickel frets. And it played beautifully. So, after 26 years of use I just completed what I think is it's first 'light' level and recrown. I didn't do all the wat to preserve as much fret material as possible while improving the situation. Ultimately it reduced but not fully eliminated that wear so there are still a few less noticeable wear spots, but there was still significant fret height left and after some judicious polishing they're simply not a factor and the play feel was greatly improved.

Polish that one a bit, play it and see if that low spot presents any issues and worst case consider a leveling that hopefully leaves you sufficient height on all frets. I am thinking you'll be OK, as frustrating at that might feel now.

These were taken after playing a bit so some of the shine is gone but you can see the original frets are still sufficiently meaty.

 

[DrKev]

The frets on my 2005 Silhouette Special still have life in them. I've had that guitar 12 years now and it was my only working guitar for half of that time, so it's seen a LOT of use. Still plays great though. I gave the frets a recrown this year, just to get rid of the flat tops. I'll certainly get another year or two out of it yet.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Yeah that's what I thought too. But the guy from customer service says that all roasted necks on the Axis came with SS . Who knows. I'm just gonna play it until they need a re-fret. The looked pretty decent before I picked it up. But you could absolutely be right about the polishing. Thanks for the feedback guys!

That may be for the standard model Axis: when they changed to the roasted maple necks, they changed the fret material. But this was from a limited run, and the specs listed on that don't mention stainless steel. Those have to be nickel silver frets.