Stainless steel fretwire: Your thoughts

[Grahame Myers]

Hi y'all

I had a client last week asking about SS fretwire. He's thinking about getting his Tele re-fretted by me, and was wondering if SS tretwire is worth it. The thing is, I'm wondering about it too: I've never used it, and I don't know anybody here in Germany that has any experience with it.

The only thing I do know is that it seems to have a  negative image on the net: hard to work, wears out tools quicker, and doesn't seem to last any longer than 18% NS anyway, according to a lot of people out there.

For any of you guys that use it, or have used it in the past: what are the pros and cons? Is it a hassle? And if so, is it worth the hassle? Does it last longer? Etc, etc...

Just an aside: It's awful quiet here at the moment. Are all you guys on holiday, splurging some of the fabulous wealth we earn as guitar repairmen (ROFL)?

 

Grahame

[STGuitarworks]

SS wire is more of a hassle! Filing the ends flush takes way more work and it generates way more heat. I like to superglue as the wire is pressed in place and I feel that the heat generated from filing can weaken the bond... I have to superglue twice!

That being said I have SS frets (www.lmii.com FWSS74) on most guitars I build! That size is easy to get a clean re-crown and the stainless is very durable. Some say the tone is somehow not as nice, I disagree!

 

also: charge more for wear on tools.

 

Cheers

[nathan clark]

Go for it.  I work with it often and it's no big deal.  Nip those tangs and you'll be fine.

[Mike Kolb]

I've found it's worth precutting the frets really close to length to eliminate 90% of the filing. I usually leave a fair am't of overhang but the SS is tough to file so the less the better.  Soundwise, I can't hear any differences, but that just might be these old ears:)

[FRANK]

its cool man I like it it last 4 times longer in my opinion Hammer it

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

I work with both SS and 18%silver-nickel, and I use the same tool and the same method. I charge more because of the tool wear (especially the flush cutter I use to cut to size the frets,a voiding a lot of flush-filing) and the more time consuming work.

You have to be more precise when bending the fretwire, because its stiffness prevent it to lock in if its radius is too different. I don't find it's heating more than nickel-silver when polishing. But it takes longer, so you have too be patient, because speeding up the buffing heats much the frets.

Regarding its resistance to durability, I believe that for an average player not pressing too much his strings, it should last longer than the ability of its owner to play the guitar.

About the sound, I think it gives a bit more of edge, but it could be my ears.

[Tim Mace]

It may hold up longer but it's hard on tools and takes a bit more time vs value.I like a little softness.Why would you want it to last longer?That means less customer visits 'cause the frets won't wear out! 

[Grahame Myers]

I think I'll give SS fretwire a miss, hardly anybody here asks for it anyway. Maybe a good compromise would be the Evo gold fretwire from Jesco?: I've never used it, but I've heard a lot of good things about it, and it certainly looks very nice on the few guitars I've seen with it. As far as pros and cons go, it is supposed to last longer than normal 18% NS, but not as long as SS. And it is purported to not be any harder on tools than NS wire. I think I'll buy a few meters and try it out. I'll try and convince the Tele client to try it out instead of SS, it should look great: His Tele is black with a rosewood 'board, gold fretwire would be a nice touch :-) Waddya think?

 

Grahame

[Grahame Myers]

I think I meant Jescar and not Jesco :-)

Anybody used it?

 

Grahame

[Tim Mace]

Not only was I going to recommend EVOGold  but that's all I'm using....looks good and dresses well.I iddn't want to start an ad war but I get it at LMII.Wise decision 'cause the stuff is handsome indeed.

 

 

[Mike Kolb]

Reminds me of a fret job last year (or maybe 2yrs ago), where the fellow like the EVO gold fretwire so much on his Strat that he came back and had me swap-out the chrome bridge, tuners, knobs and the other misc hardware for gold!  Looked good on the white body.... glad somebody's got all the money:)

[nathan clark]

If you change his mind, you'll be responsible for the tone, feel
and longevity of the frets, even more than if you had given him
stainless as he asked.  

In your case, it might make good sense to stear clear of the
hard stuff.  Makes sense to skip the learning curve
of stainless altogether if you think almost nobody will ask for it.

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

Some of my customers play a lot AND press their string hard. The last one I installed stainless steel frets for came in my shop with a 4 year old Fender Jaguar with worn to the bone fretboard frets... 4 years only. It appears to me that offering him a SS refret was a good option in his case. So did he... and he's glad I suggested to.

I don't try to install stainless steel for each refret. I offer it when it has some interest for the customer.