Does fret size alter sound?

[Dompax]

Besides different feel, do bigger frets add or take something from the guitar's sound?

[EADGBE]

Larger frets may increase sustain. While narrower frets may make it easier to play in tune.

[Dompax]

I wonder would the "pling" of stainless steel frets be less present on narrower frets.. :confused:

[buddastrat]

guitars with the small vintage frets sound a lot woodier to me. Everytime. They don't have as much high end fret clank. Rounder, and woodier.

[Balok]

I've found that my tone suffered after going from worn nubs to new high frets. I agree with the last poster... smaller = woodier. Maybe all the steel leads to less absorption to the fret board, and a brighter tone. Theres just something about being able to feel the grain of the fretboard under your fingers. Makes sense that your finger would dampen the fretboard at the point of contact. No doubt violin tone depends on this.

[Dana Olsen]

guitars with the small vintage frets sound a lot woodier to me. Everytime. They don't have as much high end fret clank. Rounder, and woodier.I agree, and stringier too.

I have no reasonable explanation for that. I prefer the feel of medium frets, like 6105's for feel, but for tone I like small vintage wire. If you've ever played a 50's Tele w/ original frets, or a 50's Strat, you may have noticed too.

Go figure.

Dana O.

[ssdeluxe]

guitars with the small vintage frets sound a lot woodier to me. Everytime. They don't have as much high end fret clank. Rounder, and woodier.


I totally agree ! I like to feel the guitar wood......... I have to also say, I don't really understand the "seeming craze" with higher bigger frets, I actually find 6105's too tall and restrictive a bit ..

[Todd Lynch]

guitars with the small vintage frets sound a lot woodier to me. Everytime. They don't have as much high end fret clank. Rounder, and woodier.

I agree; they seem more abusive on my fingers, but I dig the vintage sized frets (along with 7.25" radius) on Strats/Teles.

[brad347]

another fan of little frets here!

I have the original frets on my 62 jazzmaster and both my old epiphone triumphs. Teeny, tiny, skinny things. My ES-347 is due for a re-fret soon, and I think i'm going to opt for skinny frets on it, too. It's just what I'm used to. I've played guitars with bigger frets and it just feels foreign to me. I like it a little more "delicate" for lack of a better word.

The only thing is sometimes on the Fender, with the radius and the short/skinny frets, bends on the upper frets on the high E string can occasionally fret out. But I'm sure that could be addressed by a competent luthier...

[jgyn]

I agree; they seem more abusive on my fingers, but I dig the vintage sized frets (along with 7.25" radius) on Strats/Teles.

Me too. That's one of the reasons I don't like the American made 'standard' Stratocasters- I don't like the larger frets or flatter radius.