Stainless Steel Frets

[FireFish]

Hi folks, long time reader but first time poster here on EB forums :>

After having seen the features on the fantastic JPXI guitar I am extremely interested to find out whether any other instruments will be featuring stainless steel frets and/or if it will become an option for existing instruments.

Here's hoping!

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Hey welcome to the forum, I wouldn't think so but you never know i guess

 

[TNT]

who knows - they're up to 8 strings on a guitar now!! How about graphite frets?? or titanium frets? Why stop at stainless?

I'm not opposed to innovation and development by any means, I love to hear the latest and check out the latest, but sometimes I think there is really no point in some things, except that they are new.

 

[dhalif]

it would be really interesting.. i am now contemplating to refret my JP when it wears out to SS

 

[B2D]

I had my Silo Special refretted with Stainless Steel frets - I'd order all my guitars that way if it was an option.

 

[markfast]

Hi,
Parker fly guitars are with stainless steel frets.

Markus

 

[walleye]

who knows - they're up to 8 strings on a guitar now!! How about graphite frets?? or titanium frets? Why stop at stainless?

I'm not opposed to innovation and development by any means, I love to hear the latest and check out the latest, but sometimes I think there is really no point in some things, except that they are new.

steve morse's number 1 guitar has been refretted 12 or 13 times. thats ridiculous! If that guitar had been fitted with stainless steel, well its hard to say what the wear would be like, maybe one refit up until now? perhaps none at all even.

graphite frets would die after a couple of hours play
titanium frets.... interesting. im sure someones tried it somewhere before, and the fact that its not heard of probably means it was terrible for one reason or another

 

[FireFish]

steve morse's number 1 guitar has been refretted 12 or 13 times. thats ridiculous! If that guitar had been fitted with stainless steel, well its hard to say what the wear would be like, maybe one refit up until now? perhaps none at all even.

graphite frets would die after a couple of hours play
titanium frets.... interesting. im sure someones tried it somewhere before, and the fact that its not heard of probably means it was terrible for one reason or another

Exactly, not only do they offer superior durability it's also the super smooth feel they give day in and day out that really draws me to great guitars that have stainless steel frets as a feature.

SS frets on a MM would just be the icing on the cake... couldn't ask for more!

 

[TNT]

yeah, I understand, however "nickel" is in a class by itself - that's why it's number one choice. They are warm, soft, easy to tweak/repair and inexpensive.

In addition, you can "burn" the note with nickel, you can't with stainless, so I am sure (like Morse) it's probably worth it to him to re-fret more often and have the SOUND and BEST material under his fingers when he is manipulating the notes.

Nickel frets are tantamount to having an all TUBE amp!!

 

[B2D]

Hi,
Parker fly guitars are with stainless steel frets.

Markus

I think Andersons come with them too.

yeah, I understand, however "nickel" is in a class by itself - that's why it's number one choice. They are warm, soft, easy to tweak/repair and inexpensive.

In addition, you can "burn" the note with nickel, you can't with stainless.

What is "burning" a note? I've been playing guitar for 13 years and I've never heard this term before. I'm curious now.

 

[straycat113]

As someone who is really hard on frets I would not mind some SS frets on more Balls or at least the option.

 

[walleye]

yeah, I understand, however "nickel" is in a class by itself - that's why it's number one choice. They are warm, soft, easy to tweak/repair and inexpensive.

In addition, you can "burn" the note with nickel, you can't with stainless, so I am sure (like Morse) it's probably worth it to him to re-fret more often and have the SOUND and BEST material under his fingers when he is manipulating the notes.

Nickel frets are tantamount to having an all TUBE amp!!

yeah sure nickel frets have their pluses. but i was merely stating their value and stating that they definitely not just a fad like you were implying. ss frets aren't just some new toy.

and as for all tube amps .... nah i wont stir that pot

 

[robelinda2]

Love SS frets. Whenever i do play my Suhr's i notice the big difference.

 

[TNT]

burning a note: play note on nickel fret, hold the note while wavering your finger on the fret with some pressure for an extended period of time and the note will "blossom" as you microscopically wear the fret down.

With nickel frets the nickel becomes "part" of the note especially when bending, with SS it's such a hard surface it doesn't "soak" in the note, there's a seperation.

 

[B2D]

burning a note: play note on nickel fret, hold the note while wavering your finger on the fret with some pressure for an extended period of time and the note will "blossom" as you microscopically wear the fret down.

With nickel frets the nickel becomes "part" of the note especially when bending, with SS it's such a hard surface it doesn't "soak" in the note, there's a seperation.

So it's the product of vibrato under extreme finger pressure?

Got an audio example?

 

[TNT]

it's pretty easy to do. You'll know it when you've "entered the zone"; most players have been there. Best around the higher frets @ 15ish, on the b or g strings.

It seems to eminate a squeeky harmonic, and you can almost sense the "melting" of the fret as you vibrato the note. I don't like to do it too much on my nice guitars because I don't want to wear the frets out prematurely.

 

[Mikeg72]

Does anyone know if all MM JPX6 guitars have Stainless Steel Frets?

 

[Fun111]

JPX doesn't, JPXI does

 

[Zippoman]

Is this what you mean by burning the note?

@ precisely 1:30
YouTube - ‪John Petrucci - Improvisacion‬‏

 

[walleye]

that was just an artificial harmonic