Stainless Steelio!!! Who likey???

[jvh]

Do you think we'll start seeing some more stainless steel frets on mm guitars? It feels so smooth! Anyone else dig the stainless???!!!!

 

[smd24fan]

I LOVE them. The feel, the look, the durability.....it's ALL good ALL the time!

 

[shred4Him]

I have spent a decade playing a Parker Fly deluxe. Stainless is the way to go. Zero wear after a decade. Can't beat that.

 

[DrKev]

What do stainless do to string lifetime? If there is less fret wear it would seem reasonable to expect flat spots on the strings.

 

[shred4Him]

What do stainless do to string lifetime? If there is less fret wear it would seem reasonable to expect flat spots on the strings.

My strings tend to last longer with stainless frets since there is less friction. However, who cares if strings wear faster. They are a replaceable item that is supposed to wear. I have never understood the concern with strings lasting maybe a week less than usual.

 

[aleclee]

Me likey. Nothing like bending on a guitar with stainless frets.

 

[Jack FFR1846]

I've never had a guitar worn enough to refret (I just sell them before they get to that point), but if I were to, it would be with stainless.

 

[musikarero]

I like them and would have all my guitars with them if I could.

 

[straycat113]

I still have not played a guitar that has had them so I really can't comment. But I am very hard on frets and will usually need a fret dress after about two years of steady use. From what I have read and talking to guys I know that I respect, they seem to be the way to go.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I'd like stainless on my guitar but it's a guitar techs nightmare.

 

[jvh]

I'd like stainless on my guitar but it's a guitar techs nightmare.

I think most competant guitar techs can handle this and I think it's only about $100 more than normal frets which doesn't seem bad for the life you get out of them.

 

[Spudmurphy]

The word from my mate - (an extremely competent Luther /Tech of 30 years) is that stainless steel is much harder to work with and the frets do not bend as well as nickle frets prior to installation.

edit
I'd also been looking to post quickly to get me off the dreaded *666 post lol

 

[halfdriven]

Like shred4him I have had a Parker Fly Deluxe for many years and always loved the "ping" sound you get with the frets. Almost like always having fresh strings. My JPXI is a welcome addition

 

[aleclee]

Just got my Axis back from a Plek/stainless steel refret. The only thing better than its playability is that I don't have to worry about fret wear affecting that playability.

 

[walleye]

What do stainless do to string lifetime? If there is less fret wear it would seem reasonable to expect flat spots on the strings.

i believe (just from my experiences and logic) that strings don't last as long with ss frets. when its string vs fret, there's wear on both, and with ss the frets never seem to wear, so its only logical that the strings suffer quicker

 

[pearlredburst]

do we know what the official date is that all guitars came with stainless? My 47th anniversary Petrucci is a 2011....stainless or no?

 

[guitarp77]

Never tried them...yet...

But will do when I get the JP12

 

[aleclee]

What do stainless do to string lifetime? If there is less fret wear it would seem reasonable to expect flat spots on the strings.

On my other guitar with stainless frets, I didn't notice any real difference in string life. A lot probably depends on your playing style and the fret top profile.

You seem to focus on the hardness aspect but overlook friction. The fret might be harder but there's less friction between the string and the fret so bends on stainless strings might actually wear less. Unless you're using a fair bit of force, I don't see why the string would deform much differently on a stainless fret vs. nickel-silver. Stainless is harder but we're not talking the difference between a pillow and an anvil.

 

[Firewalker]

What do stainless do to string lifetime? If there is less fret wear it would seem reasonable to expect flat spots on the strings.

I've been loving the SS frets on my jp6. Very smooth bending and no noticeable change in string life.

 

[Tis BOOLsheet]

I'm not a convert since I got my JP 12. Bending and vibrato is so much smoother. Additionally, the frets don't wear. I don't think I'd get another guitar without SS frets.