Opinions on stainless steel frets

[lscottk]

I'm having a guitar built and I'm considering having stainless steel frets installed. Has anyone here had any experience using stainless steel frest? If so, did you like the way the felt? How about tone? Did you notice any tonal differences between standard frets and stainless steel? Any comments or wisdom?

All the best,
Scott

[stratman89]

There has been several posts in the past. Here's one.
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/sho...ss+steel+frets

Try a search as well. I'm having a Suhr Classic T built w/SS frets, and also have never used them. I'm looking forward to trying them.

[TaronKeim]

I have them on my Suhr Classic... and they definately add a certain level of extra playability in the bending department... they stay so smooth and shiny at all times, bending is NEVER an issue. They definately come off as being harder and longer lasting.

I do however, hear a little extra "ping" on the high-end, its subtle, but its there compaired to all my nickle/silver fretted instruments.

-TJK*

[royd]

I have a guitar with SS frets... it is difficult to tell what difference they make to the sound as I've not heard that guitar without them I don't really notice a difference in feel.

They obviously are harder and will last a lot longer. They're also harder on strings. Bottom line is that I would rather replace strings than frets.

[koa]

I've had a few guitars with them. I love the way they feel. Very smooth, easy to bend. I never noticed a change in tone like some have said. Personally, I say go for it.

[lv]

I had a couple with them. Great smooth/slinky feel. Re: tone, I've had people whose ears I respect (John Suhr, Stu at fatsound) give differing reports.

imo, the difference between using a different percentage of one metal over another can be similar to one ash body vs another.

I wonder if one found it offensive if it could be dialed out at the amp or effects.

[Kborg]

I love them and put them in all my guitars. I have heard people say they are brighter but the only way I think you could really tell would be on a guitar you had played for years and then swapped frets. Even then you would be comparing by memory. All my Suhrs sound great and have SS frets. They play like butter and I think will last forever. It's a no brainer to me:AOK .

[mep]

I have an Anderson with SS frets and they are wonderful. I wish that all my electrics had them. Should cut down on having to future fret jobs.

[gpro34]

Originally Posted by Lou V

I had a couple with them. Great smooth/slinky feel. Re: tone, I've had people whose ears I respect (John Suhr, Stu at fatsound) give differing reports.

imo, the difference between using a different percentage of one metal over another can be similar to one ash body vs another.

I wonder if one found it offensive if it could be dialed out at the amp or effects.

I agree with Lou V, they impart a very smooth slinky feel which I really like. Another advantage is you won't need a refret for a very, very long time, if ever. The only negative and this is somewhat debatable is it might impart a slightly brighter tone? Personally, I don't feel like it does, atleast, on my Parker fly mojo. That guitar is warmer than many of my nickel fretted guitars. A lot is common sense, if I had a maple guitar with a maple fingerboard then I would probably say no; however, on a mahogany guitar with a rosewood fingerboard then why not.

[TaronKeim]

I actually don't hear a "brighter" tone with the SS frets... they sound just like any other fret in the tone department, there is however an extra "zing" on the high-end, like a SUBTLE added frequency, that is really only noticable on drive tones... its almost like a sibilance sort of thing, close to what some people hear out of KT88 tubes.

-TJK*

[Ritualee]

Originally Posted by TaronKeim

I have them on my Suhr Classic... and they definately add a certain level of extra playability in the bending department... they stay so smooth and shiny at all times, bending is NEVER an issue. They definately come off as being harder and longer lasting.

I do however, hear a little extra "ping" on the high-end, its subtle, but its there compaired to all my nickle/silver fretted instruments.

-TJK*

I agree. I think this was very well put. For me the "ping" is enough to keep me away. I don't want to hear a little something I don't like on every note I play (excepting the open ones, of course) even if it's just a little something. However, there have been certain guitars that I think have sounded good with SS frets because of the generally darker nature of their tone.

[scott]

There is something there for sure. Ping I guess. i can hear it mostly acoustically. However, if I close my eyes and just play I dont notioce it as much. Bends are easy for sure.




www.heatleyguitars.com

[Sean French]

I've only had one guitar with SS frets.It was an Anderson Atom.The wraptail bridge and SS frets were a bit much in the overy bright department IMO.The attack is different as well as the decay.At least to me they sounded that way.I had two other Anderson's that did not have SS frets and I prefered them.The SS frets felt great and bending was very smooth.I also liked the idea of them virtually never wearing out.It would depend on the guitar and what your ears are used to IMO.They just did not do it for me.Maybe on a different guitar they would have yielded different results.I'm not completely dicounting them.

Originally Posted by Ritualee

I agree. I think this was very well put. For me the "ping" is enough to keep me away. I don't want to hear a little something I don't like on every note I play (excepting the open ones, of course) even if it's just a little something. However, there have been certain guitars that I think have sounded good with SS frets because of the generally darker nature of their tone.

...when SS frets are installed by Michael Tuttle, the results are astounding...no "ping." Could be other factors causing that sound...

[MightyGuru]

I am a recent convert to SS frets. I am going to replace the frets on my #2 soon. There is a slight change in the attack but the tone difference is slight and, to my ears, not in a negative way. There is also more sustain.

The playability, after Phil Jacoby got a hold of it, is off the charts.