How can I definitively ascertain....

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xzyryabx

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...if my frets are stainless steel?
I'm looking for an objective way of finding out.
Most stainless steel is not magnetic, but what about the type used for frets?
Also, I don't have a guitar that I am 100% certain has SS frets, so scoring them and A/B'ing or something along those lines is not an option.
Also 2, I tried contacting the manufacturer, but their records are shoddy and they couldn't tell me much about the specs.
 
Hmm...interesting conundrum. Just tried a magnet on my LP with stainless; nothing. Think the only way to tell would be wear? Not gonn have those dents like nickel frets would...
 
yeh, all the recommendations I seem to find revolve around fret color and wear.....there must be a more accurate way though...
 
Pull one off and send it for a chemical composition test?! I kid. Let me ask around; might be something.
 
Would help if you told us the make and manufacture. Go to your local GC and try a higher end Parker Fly and then compare your frets to it. I dig the SS frets but can't really tell the difference.
 
It's an ESP custom order Horizon-III. They don't have any detailed records of the specs asides from the wood types, model, and bridge type....I tried the visual/feel comparison to a guitar w/ SS frets at GC but couldn't for the life of me see any difference!
They say SS frets tarnish less easily, but that too seems not very objective.
 
Engineering answer:

You can get some copper sulfate and test a small area to see if it changes or has any surface corrosion. If it doesn't, it's stainless steel that has been passivated.
 
Steinmetzify":zgeoqppf said:
Engineering answer:

You can get some copper sulfate and test a small area to see if it changes or has any surface corrosion. If it doesn't, it's stainless steel that has been passivated.

interesting...sounds like boiling water with a nuclear reactor
;-)
 
Dammit man, I'm a doctor not a chemist...I'm doing the best I can ok?!
 
SS frets are a lot shinier, feel very very slick and they were show little/no signs of wear.

I can tell the difference but only after owning 4-5 guitars with them. Post pics of the frets and maybe we can tell. My SS fret guitars look different than my non SS
 
Engineer buddy told me stainless steel isn't magnetic. Try a magnet; if it sticks they're not steel.
 
Phil from Philtone told me something about a solder test... either solder does or doesn't adhere to SS frets and does or doesn't to nickel frets... I'll look more into it but it was an easy way to figure it out if you did it right...
 
Stealthtastic":23wxsek2 said:
SS frets are a lot shinier, feel very very slick and they were show little/no signs of wear.

I can tell the difference but only after owning 4-5 guitars with them. Post pics of the frets and maybe we can tell. My SS fret guitars look different than my non SS

Here you go:
vh99.jpg

vrmn.jpg
 
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