Stainless Steel Frets

[beej]

Let's not turn this into a "why doesn't EBMM have SS frets" debate.

 

[hbucker]

For me it isn't a "why doesn't Music Man do it" it's more along the lines of why don't most manufacturers do it?

I can understand why guitar techs wouldn't like it. They would lose a lot of business maintaining frets if everyone had ss frets. Also, manufacturers would have to charge more $$ for instruments so that could be an issue. But based on the boutique market of guitars and amps, some people are willing to pay an extra $50 or $100 if they know their frets won't wear out. I would certainly consider it.

I don't believe this is any kind of a diabolical plot. But our questions do seem reasonable.

 

[beej]

It's not a given that everybody likes them. Many guys don't like the sound of them. Personally I haven't logged enough hours with them to say, but then again I don't wear frets all that quickly.

 

[gerry d]

OK... this is my experience....

about 3 years ago I had my Luke refretted with SS frets.... I initally loved the result... it was like butter to play and everything was fine..... I WAS a total convert....

however..... a lot of my other guitars had normal nickel alloy frets and I didnt change them...

fast forward to today..... and I've found something in the initial attack on the note from the guitar that I didn't like... at first I thought I was imagining it and that my ears were playing tricks on me.... but I could always "hear" something that I didn't like....

I noticed that it didn't happen with my other guitars......

so.............. I decided to have my Luke redone with normal fretwire...


OMG.............


all of a sudden the guitar sounds "right" again......


I think I understand now what some people don't like about these frets...

and it only took me 3 years to figure it out......

 

[PaoloGilberto]

+ 1 great point of view mate!
I like you reasoning

For me it isn't a "why doesn't Music Man do it" it's more along the lines of why don't most manufacturers do it?

I can understand why guitar techs wouldn't like it. They would lose a lot of business maintaining frets if everyone had ss frets. Also, manufacturers would have to charge more $$ for instruments so that could be an issue. But based on the boutique market of guitars and amps, some people are willing to pay an extra $50 or $100 if they know their frets won't wear out. I would certainly consider it.

I don't believe this is any kind of a diabolical plot. But our questions do seem reasonable.

 

[hbucker]

I'd NEVER argue that everybody likes them. I say the more choices the better. I just think that enough people like them that it could be considered more of a viable option than it seems to be now ...from all manufactureres in general. This isn't a Music Man thing for me.

I've heard people talk about tonal differences. It ranges from "big difference" to "no difference at all". Arguably, I haven't logged enough hourse on my Tele yet to know conclusively either. It's not even my #1 gutiar. So I may never know...

 

[beej]

I agree that choice is good, if you're a customer. But it's difficult if you're a manufacturer.

Small shops, the guys that do low numbers and lots of custom work- they can accommodate requests for different fretwire, etc. A lot more difficult to do when you scale up the volume your production. All of a sudden one more change adds a whole different set of processes that you didn't expect. Not to mention the cost/difficulty of getting the word out to vendors, distributors, customers.

So many things to juggle if you're a manufacturer. (Also throw in a weak economy, off-shore builders and margin pressure, to name but a few!)

 

[hbucker]

I agree that choice is good, if you're a customer. But it's difficult if you're a manufacturer.

Small shops, the guys that do low numbers and lots of custom work- they can accommodate requests for different fretwire, etc. A lot more difficult to do when you scale up the volume your production. All of a sudden one more change adds a whole different set of processes that you didn't expect. Not to mention the cost/difficulty of getting the word out to vendors, distributors, customers.

So many things to juggle if you're a manufacturer. (Also throw in a weak economy, off-shore builders and margin pressure, to name but a few!)

Makes sense to me.

I wasn't thinking as much of a Custom Shop context but more from a model to model context. One model might offer the frets. Another model might not. In this scenario, no assembly line changes would be necessary. Unless there's something I'm missing.

But my questions (while reasonalbe, IMO) are just that: questions. I'm looking for the answers that I don't already have. Thanks for your input.

 

[Tung]

I can understand why guitar techs wouldn't like it. They would lose a lot of business maintaining frets if everyone had ss frets. Also, manufacturers would have to charge more $$ for instruments so that could be an issue. But based on the boutique market of guitars and amps, some people are willing to pay an extra $50 or $100 if they know their frets won't wear out. I would certainly consider it.

.

My tech told me he has customers who has to get their guitar refret every year, that's how fast these guys wear them out. He would recommend them SS and wouldn't have to refret it for another 10 years.

 

[hbucker]

My tech told me he has customers who has to get their guitar refret every year, that's how fast these guys wear them out. He would recommend them SS and wouldn't have to refret it for another 10 years.

Cool! An honest tech. The world needs more of these.

He could make more money by continuing to install new frets but wants to do the right thing by the customer.

Hold onto him.

 

[Tung]

Cool! An honest tech. The world needs more of these.

He could make more money by continuing to install new frets but wants to do the right thing by the customer.

Hold onto him.

Yes, sir. He's been my tech for the last 16 years, worked on at least 15 or so guitars that I've owned over this period.
Mike actually nickname this sort of refret job as the "cowboy" fret job, where guys usually wear out the frets only in certain spots, like the open position or the 5th fret, where they only one scale to death, the good ol' A pentatonic

 

[Trent]

Its Back

Just got my Sub back today and WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This thing plays SOOOOOO Smooth.
I do hear the difference in the sound of the stainless steel but more from the fingerboard and not through the amp.
It will be great to have the feel of NEW FRETS for more than a few months.
Wifes out of town with our camara so I will have to wait till next week to post the pics but I can tell they did a GREAT Job on the install.
New nut too as the old one was a hair to short for the 6105 frets.
The price>>>>>>>>>> Hold on to your seats!!!!!!!
$200.00 for the refret AND the hand cut NEW nut.
I feel that this is a GREAT Deal but would like to hear from you all to see what you think.
Ill get pics up soon.
Thanks for all your info with this thread.
Cheers
Trent