LP Refret Help

[Greazygeo]

Yeah, I don't think I want 6100. I'm thinking 6150 or 6155 is a good all around size. Not too large, not too small. The frets on my guitar now are too small. At least they are too short. The width I guess is fine. I can measure 'em with a caliper. I don't want stainless, either. I'm up in Royal Oak. So I'm probably about two hours from you. But thanks for the offer!

Why not stainless?

I don't want any increase in brightness, snap, or attack compared to nickel. No matter how slight. The benefit of less maintenance over time would be great, though. But really... how often does one refret a guitar? Once every 10-20 years? My Les Pauls are 30 years old and this would be their first refret.

There is no difference in tone at all. My 76 LPC had Dunlop 6105's on it from '94 till about 2004 or 5. It was my main guitar for a long time. I refretted it with SS and there was no difference. I doubt most that say there is a difference between the fretwire types ever had them in the same guitar.

My Anderson Cobra is a 95. I got it in 97 and refretted it with 6105 and played about 10 years worth of gigs with it. While I was refretting it I was shocked how much I wore the fretboard down over the years! Refretted it last year with SS and again no difference in tone.

I think if you really sit down and play a guitar for a while with SS then one with regular you will love the feel. It's so smooth. My LP still has zero fret wear on it. Now to get around to a few of my other guitars one of these days.

 

[FourT6and2]

Yeah, I don't think I want 6100. I'm thinking 6150 or 6155 is a good all around size. Not too large, not too small. The frets on my guitar now are too small. At least they are too short. The width I guess is fine. I can measure 'em with a caliper. I don't want stainless, either. I'm up in Royal Oak. So I'm probably about two hours from you. But thanks for the offer!

Why not stainless?

I don't want any increase in brightness, snap, or attack compared to nickel. No matter how slight. The benefit of less maintenance over time would be great, though. But really... how often does one refret a guitar? Once every 10-20 years? My Les Pauls are 30 years old and this would be their first refret.

There is no difference in tone at all. My 76 LPC had Dunlop 6105's on it from '94 till about 2004 or 5. It was my main guitar for a long time. I refretted it with SS and there was no difference. I doubt most that say there is a difference between the fretwire types ever had them in the same guitar.

My Anderson Cobra is a 95. I got it in 97 and refretted it with 6105 and played about 10 years worth of gigs with it. While I was refretting it I was shocked how much I wore the fretboard down over the years! Refretted it last year with SS and again no difference in tone.

I think if you really sit down and play a guitar for a while with SS then one with regular you will love the feel. It's so smooth. My LP still has zero fret wear on it. Now to get around to a few of my other guitars one of these days.

I've never played a guitar with SS frets. And I don't think there are any in my local shops to try. I'm just going by what I've read from people who have made the switch. But they sure LOOK nice:

 

[glip22]

Yeah, I don't think I want 6100. I'm thinking 6150 or 6155 is a good all around size. Not too large, not too small. The frets on my guitar now are too small. At least they are too short. The width I guess is fine. I can measure 'em with a caliper. I don't want stainless, either. I'm up in Royal Oak. So I'm probably about two hours from you. But thanks for the offer!

Why not stainless?

I don't want any increase in brightness, snap, or attack compared to nickel. No matter how slight. The benefit of less maintenance over time would be great, though. But really... how often does one refret a guitar? Once every 10-20 years? My Les Pauls are 30 years old and this would be their first refret.

There is no difference in tone at all. My 76 LPC had Dunlop 6105's on it from '94 till about 2004 or 5. It was my main guitar for a long time. I refretted it with SS and there was no difference. I doubt most that say there is a difference between the fretwire types ever had them in the same guitar.

My Anderson Cobra is a 95. I got it in 97 and refretted it with 6105 and played about 10 years worth of gigs with it. While I was refretting it I was shocked how much I wore the fretboard down over the years! Refretted it last year with SS and again no difference in tone.

I think if you really sit down and play a guitar for a while with SS then one with regular you will love the feel. It's so smooth. My LP still has zero fret wear on it. Now to get around to a few of my other guitars one of these days.

I've never played a guitar with SS frets. And I don't think there are any in my local shops to try. I'm just going by what I've read from people who have made the switch. But they sure LOOK nice:

Stainless are so nice. After playing stainless there's no going back

 

[Greazygeo]

I've never played a guitar with SS frets. And I don't think there are any in my local shops to try. I'm just going by what I've read from people who have made the switch. But they sure LOOK nice:

When I switch back to one of my guitars with reg fretwire they almost feel gritty compared to the stainless. I always want to get out my sandpaper and steel wool and polish them back up. The ss wire is sooooo smooth on bends and vibrato. Feels like they are oiled.

 

[yngwiestrat]

You made the right decision by going with Phil. I had him refret my 74 les paul custom. His work is magic.

 

[Code001]

I remember hearing good things about Photone and that he does the next best work since Michael Tuttle stopped doing refrets.

Tuttle stopped? That's a damn shame...

 

[Ayrton]

One you go stainless frets, you will never want nickel again.

 

[FourT6and2]

I remember hearing good things about Photone and that he does the next best work since Michael Tuttle stopped doing refrets.

Tuttle stopped? That's a damn shame...

That's what I read at least.

 

[glip22]

My experience with Phil is that he is not out to just take your money. He thoroughly analyzes your guitar"s heart (neck) as he calls it. He then gives you the analysis and offers you options. He is a luthier. If your neck needs to be leveled, that will be one of the options. Or if you do not want to spend for that he will explain that he can level the frets to compensate for any humps, etc. or you may have a level neck with no humps or twists and a refrett will do the trick. He will use any wire you prefer and make suggestions. Just a great customer experience. The guy is up there with the best.

 

[rupe]

SS frets adding brightness is one of the biggest misconceptions going. Ed Roman (RIP) ranted about it and it caught hold amongst those who become experts from reading with no real experience. I had it done on a Strat neck and there was no discernible tonal difference. The real difference was that every time I picked up that guitar, it felt like it had just had its frets polished.

 

[Digital Jams]

SS frets adding brightness is one of the biggest misconceptions going. Ed Roman (RIP) ranted about it and it caught hold amongst those who become experts from reading with no real experience. I had it done on a Strat neck and there was no discernible tonal difference. The real difference was that every time I picked up that guitar, it felt like it had just had its frets polished.

Yup

 

[FourT6and2]

lol no need to sell me on Philtone. The decision's already been made to send my guitar to him.

As for SS frets or not... well I have two of the same guitar, so I may give it a try on one of 'em to see how it goes.

Will probably go with Jescar FW47104 SS.

 

[ibenhad]

Try a Parker Fly, my deluxe has SS frets and I love it. They are also like 12+ years of playing and show no signs of wear. I hope that the guy who is replacing them for you does so with the nibs. This was a big deal for me on an '82 Les Paul std I brought to my guy. Luckily mine is a fretless wonder and my guy did a grind and polish and saved me a refret for a little while. Good luck. Report back when it's finished.

 

[FourT6and2]

Try a Parker Fly, my deluxe has SS frets and I love it. They are also like 12+ years of playing and show no signs of wear. I hope that the guy who is replacing them for you does so with the nibs. This was a big deal for me on an '82 Les Paul std I brought to my guy. Luckily mine is a fretless wonder and my guy did a grind and polish and saved me a refret for a little while. Good luck. Report back when it's finished.

Nah, not keeping the nibs. They don't do anything, they're just for cork sniffers and resale value. I don't plan on selling these guitars. And if I do, I doubt anybody is going to care about the nibs.

 

[ibenhad]

Not keeping the nibs is not a pro job. IMHO the nibs are really nice as it is a smoother surface for sliding up and down. What happens when frets swell and such without the nibs. Not about cork sniffery it's about doing the job right and the difference between a luthier and a hack. Again IMHO. They come from the factory that way for a reason.