Fret Question

[brums]

What kind of effects make a horned fret (es. under B string first 3 frets).

Make it a kind of buzz on open cord ??

thanks

[brums]

Thamks for your recommandations,
I like to buy some tools generally,
I started my knowledge with "Guitar Player Repair Guide" and Ffret Work Step by Step" Dan Erlewine books, .... very interesting.......

Are you a luither, Mike ?

[Mike Kolb]

(Reply by brums 4 hours ago)...
Thamks for your recommandations,
I like to buy some tools generally,
I started my knowledge with "Guitar Player Repair Guide" and Ffret Work Step by Step" Dan Erlewine books, .... very interesting.......
Are you a luither, Mike ?

Probably not a "card-carrying" luthier, in that I don't make instruments. But I do, however, have a healthy repair business out of my home, doing string repairs for two music stores in the area.

If you're pretty familiar with 2 Erlewine books that you mentioned, then there's really nothing I could add, nor is there anything holding you back from getting that partial refret underway! Best of luck.

[brums]

It would seems so, but always there are so much things to learn.
May I ask you anything about my guitar (J45 Mahogany)

Are you experienced on that guitar ?
thanks

[Mike Kolb]

Well, I've done some setup and repair on a couple of the old 'roundshoulders' in the past. Fire-away with the question..... If I don't have an answer, there's no shortage of experts on this board who can wade in the deep end of the pool.

[brums]

Well, excuse me for delay, today is women day ..................
- My first question is, in this discussion, about frets, mine is in the uploaded photo,
and about those I would known if make some particular effects on open
chord played.......
- Another question is about string gauge, on my guitar medium seem to play better,
but can it damege guitar ? Gibson says not and you ??
- Another question is about ideal relief on that guitar, mine is ,010 (on 7th fret)
but somebody prefers it on .004/.006 and you ??

[Mike Kolb]

(the older I get, the more I realize that EVERYDAY is "women day"!)

In regard to your first question.... I'm not really sure I understand what you're asking. Are you concerned about excessive fret wear from using the same open chords all the time? Clarifying that would be a help.

Secondly, as long as you like how they sound and feel, medium strings are just fine for your J45. If Gibson says it's not a problem, that's good enough for me.

Thirdly, "ideal relief" (much like beauty) is in the eye of the beholder. Some players like minimal relief, some like a flat fretboard, etc. To me, the actual numbers aren't as important as how the guitar feels to the player.

Since your guitar has some pretty hefty fret wear for only being a year old, I'd suspect you're a heavy-handed strong player.... and that's fine. But that may also mean that you'd benefit from having increased relief on the guitar, to avoid the clicks and buzzes that come with too little relief.

The common thinking among players seems to be that lower is always better, and that's just not the case. I like to watch a player put his/her guitar through the paces before making relief adjustments. I'm a bass player (started on the upright) so my personal preference on an electric bass is for relatively high action, but that may not suit the next fellow who picks it up.

As an aside, have you thought about stainless steel frets? They would wear less than the standard nickel-silver but are harder on tools... just a random thought.

[brums]

women say the opposite .................say that every day is our day ..............

I hope to clarify...... I would know if playing open chord (in that case B chord ) with excessive fret wear makes some buzz or some strange kind of sound.

At first, I was a havyer player because my guitar had a too much high action originally at nut and 12th fret.

I thinking about steel frets but I will make a partial refret and I don't may to use a partial steel and a partial nichel frets.

Steel frets affect sound ??

[Mike Kolb]

Yes, excessive wear on the frets in the first positions would encourage buzzing.... it may not be the only reason, but it could be one of the reasons. As the strings sits in the worn groove, it's position (relative to the unworn neighboring frets) is considerably lower and that almost guarantees a buzz.

You're correct about not wanting to mix the stainless and nickel frets, I was just thinking out loud about preventing undue and premature wear on a neck where the player really likes to "dig in".

Your last question opens up a much-discussed subject. Some players think that SS frets are "tinny", "too bright" or "not as mellow". Some think the hardness adds "bite". Other players can't hear any difference at all. I'm in the last group. The only difference I can see is how fast my $%# @! files wear.

....Happy Womens Day

[brums]

I ask you that question about some buzz, because when I play open chord (B chord with excessive wear) it seems to make a strange kind of sound , nearly a buzz.
It's possible about you that frets (on open chord) make a strange sound ??

[Mike Kolb]

Yep... many things like that are possible. OK, here's my best advice: go to a garage sale or Goodwill store and find an old "beater" guitar Get your tools out, have some fretwire handy, yank the strings off and start refretting.

Make a mess, make mistakes, let the file slip and gouge the board... make every goof in the book. But have fun and learn something in the process.

Then go re-read the Erlewine fretting book. Then grab your J45 and get serious about replacing those worn frets. We can talk this to death, but nothing is going to be more satisfying as the moment you restring that workhorse and it plays like you've always wanted it to. Now git!

[brums]

Thanks for gold advice,
I will start to research fret wire and some tools for operation at stew mac.