SS Frets

[xzyryabx]

I've been a fan of SS frets since my first guitar (Jackson Standard Professional) but have never had any guitar since w/ SS frets....I remember doing some research into SS vs Nickel a few years ago and the camps were split 50/50, but recently SS seems to be all the rage, and any tonal benefits of Nickel (if any!) seem to be trumped by the feel and durability of SS.

What do you guys think is the reason for this turn of events?

 

[jsp]

I love stainless frets. Bends just feel way smoother, sustain seems to be better, and I don't mind the (to me, slightly) brighter tone.

 

[rupe]

Why the turn of events? Because when players started using their ears instead of listening to hype, they realized that there were no tonal issues with SS, but a lot of functional benefit.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I've tested it out and heard no audible difference on the same neck (and had several other players concur) when plugged into an amp, both clean and dirty.

 

[Valtyr]

I got a Parker Nitefly in 1998, been a fan of SS frets ever since. That guitar still has no visable wear on the frets.

 

[nevusofota]

I'm getting a "Tele" guitar that I recently purchased re-fretted as we speak with SS frets. Chose SS so I could give it a try for myself. It wasn't that much more expensive (about $60 more over nickle). The main benefit that that appeals to me is the durability and smoother string bends.

 

[xzyryabx]

due to the difficulty in fretting w/ SS I don't see many manufacturers moving in that direction for their off the shelf guitars (especially the budget range), but are more companies using SS for their more primo guitars? I'm pretty Suhr uses them on all their non-custom guitars, but last time I checked neither Gibson, Fender or ESP do that....anybody else using them exclusively?

 

[mniel8195]

my new build will have jumbo SS frets that are done on a Plek machine! excited

 

[nevusofota]

my new build will have jumbo SS frets that are done on a Plek machine! excited

IMO a PLEK (or a really good fret level) is very important and gives very noticable results.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

I love SS frets and I don't feel they alter the tone much if any. I never tried nickle frets and then swapped necks with a SS fret neck but same basic configuration of pickups, body woods, birdseye maple necks one with SS, one without and I hear nothing negative in the tone of the neck with SS frets.

I seconds Bills opinion that people need to start using their ears and quit using their eyes reading hype. We're all guilty of if that to some degree, we're guitarists after all we we're never content with anything so we're not afraid to try out shit if we feel it will improve the tone.

I think people who don't like them are the people who have to shape, level and crown them as it kills traditional fret working tools at a much quicker rate. I have half dozen Musikraft necks that I ordered to my specs. I went wit SS on my last order, after feeling them and retaining that fresh polished feel years after purchase I wish I would have ordered all of them with SS frets.

 

[rockify]

I love stainless frets. Bends just feel way smoother, sustain seems to be better, and I don't mind the (to me, slightly) brighter tone.

i had my PRS done with chunky SS frets, love them.

Not "better" but i like the variation it brings with my axe, id pick my instrument.
Not sure id do all my guitars with SS though

 

[Zachman]

due to the difficulty in fretting w/ SS I don't see many manufacturers moving in that direction for their off the shelf guitars (especially the budget range), but are more companies using SS for their more primo guitars? I'm pretty Suhr uses them on all their non-custom guitars, but last time I checked neither Gibson, Fender or ESP do that....anybody else using them exclusively?

You can get a custom made guitar with them from GMW Guitar Works in Glendora, California for a lot less than you might believe.

http://www.gmwguitars.com/

I have 3 GMW guitars and their workmanship is 2nd to none. The most recent one I ordered w/ 6100 Jumbo SS frets, and LOVE them!

 

[rcm78]

Why the turn of events? Because when players started using their ears instead of listening to hype, they realized that there were no tonal issues with SS, but a lot of functional benefit.

I've said it before and I'll say it again...I've tested it out and heard no audible difference on the same neck (and had several other players concur) when plugged into an amp, both clean and dirty.

^^^ This!!!

My Wolfgang sounds no different with the SS frets then it did with the NS frets...
SS was a major improvement.

 

[technomancer]

due to the difficulty in fretting w/ SS I don't see many manufacturers moving in that direction for their off the shelf guitars (especially the budget range), but are more companies using SS for their more primo guitars? I'm pretty Suhr uses them on all their non-custom guitars, but last time I checked neither Gibson, Fender or ESP do that....anybody else using them exclusively?

You can get a custom made guitar with them from GMW Guitar Works in Glendora, California for a lot less than you might believe.

Most custom shops will do SS frets if you ask for them. I've got several KxK customs with them.

Love the top/color on that GMW.

 

[eljodon]

I love my guitars with SS frets! I use the biggest one they make SS6100. They last longer! With nickel frets, I needed to get my frets done every 5 months. I had my SS frets for years and I never get the grooves on the frets anymore.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

The positives of SS frets outweigh the negative. The big thing for me is the durability. They last forever... and don't tarnish anywhere near as fast as nickel. The sound is maybe slightly brighter... but this is heavily dependent on the guitar in question.

 

[rupe]

The sound is maybe slightly brighter... but this is heavily dependent on the guitar in question.

Please explain that

 

[Juggernaut]

Both of my Gutierrez Juggernauts have SS frets, and my newly refretted Spector NS2A has SS..... LOVE THEM!!!!

 

[Zachman]

due to the difficulty in fretting w/ SS I don't see many manufacturers moving in that direction for their off the shelf guitars (especially the budget range), but are more companies using SS for their more primo guitars? I'm pretty Suhr uses them on all their non-custom guitars, but last time I checked neither Gibson, Fender or ESP do that....anybody else using them exclusively?

You can get a custom made guitar with them from GMW Guitar Works in Glendora, California for a lot less than you might believe.

Most custom shops will do SS frets if you ask for them. I've got several KxK customs with them.

Love the top/color on that GMW.

Thanks...

They really do fantastic work

I only recently discovered that GMW offered SS (fairly recent development for them, if I'm not mistaken). The 1st guitar I ever owned that had SS frets was a Suhr Standard. GREAT guitar!

 

[Ventura]

SS all the way. FTW.

 

[50MkII]

Some thoughts and reading to consider on the topic. I had EVO gold installed on my newest build.

http://www.jescar.com/fretwire.html
https://www.thegearpage.net/board/showth ... p?t=885361