Stainless Steal frets MORE Presence ?

[the4thlast1]

I am noticing something that could be a coincidence but want to check to see if anyone else has had this experience...My guitars that have SS frets have more presence and less fundamental note to the overall tone than my guitars with Nickel.....Coincidence or Not ?

 

[JamesPeters]

It would make sense. It's a harder metal than nickel steel. When fretting, the transference of vibration would be affected. And even when not fretting, just having that metal as part of the guitar (which resonates all as one piece) instead of nickel steel, it can have an effect on the resonance.

That being said it's something very difficult to compare directly since it requires changing your frets to do so. Some of the difference in sound between guitars could be due to other factors. Wood is relatively inconsistent in its resonance, unless significant care is taken to mitigate that.

 

[FourT6and2]

I changed the frets on my Les Pauls to stainless, from the stock nickel, and I didn't notice any difference in sound.

 

[nevusofota]

I feel SS frets give the same tone that you get with fresh strings on nickel. Definitely brighter.

 

[wIsEbLooD]

I do not really notice a difference with my guitars

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Regardless of any potential tone differences, I now try to get stainless frets on any new axe strictly for the durability/longevity factor.

 

[thiswaythatway]

For those of you that hear a difference, you just need to gig more and lose half your hearing. Then you won't notice a thing.

 

[rottingcorpse]

For those of you that hear a difference, you just need to gig more and lose half your hearing. Then you won't notice a thing.

right?! i cant tell a difference between my s/s frets or the others,but i have some hearing loss....tho my girlie says its "selective hearing".

 

[nevusofota]

For those of you that hear a difference, you just need to gig more and lose half your hearing. Then you won't notice a thing.

I think it's as much of a feel thing as it is brighter tone. SS Frets feel slightly more slick with vibrato. However, overall the difference compared to nickle is very subtle.

 

[JamesPeters]

For those of you that hear a difference, you just need to gig more and lose half your hearing. Then you won't notice a thing.

Can I just lose some more hair instead?

 

[indespise]

Regardless of any potential tone differences, I now try to get stainless frets on any new axe strictly for the durability/longevity factor.

That's the big appeal to me as well, more durability. Everything I want on a guitar at this point is utilitarian and aimed at low maintenance.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Regardless of any potential tone differences, I now try to get stainless frets on any new axe strictly for the durability/longevity factor.

That's the big appeal to me as well, more durability. Everything I want on a guitar at this point is utilitarian and aimed at low maintenance.

After 30+ years of messing with guitar off and on and many guitar purchases based primarily on looks, I'm finally learning that the aesthetics of the instrument don't mean shit if the guitar doesn't play well and sound how you want it to sound.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

For those of you that hear a difference, you just need to gig more and lose half your hearing. Then you won't notice a thing.

right?! i cant tell a difference between my s/s frets or the others,but i have some hearing loss....tho my girlie says its "selective hearing".

Once you get married, selective hearing becomes one of your most valuable assets in life.

 

[garey77]

For those of you that hear a difference, you just need to gig more and lose half your hearing. Then you won't notice a thing.

Can I just lose some more hair instead?

Well said, sir!

 

[SQUAREHEAD]

SS all the way!!!
Faster, More slippery/ MUCH easier for bends and "slight bit more clarity", win/win!!!
Never need another fret job!
Win Win Win!

 

[Valtyr]

I wouldn't notice a difference in tone since the two guitars I have with stainless steel frets came stock with them. The difference in feel isn't subtle to me, bending is much smoother on ss frets.

The only negative difference I have encountered is that the strings wear out a little faster. The frets on my late 90's Parker Fly still look new.

 

[CEG85]

Played both, haven't noticed a difference.

 

[lyres requiem]

Just make sure you keep the fret protector like TA and Esp tend to have... getting a dent out of a SS fret sucks.

 

[Hardvalve]

Stainless feels and plays better to me. I want to try a stainless frets ed Les Paul, which I never have. I still have some nickel fret guitars, but they feel like they are dragging after playing the SS.

 

[SavageRiffer]

I build all of my guitars with stainless steel frets because of the durability. I actually kind of prefer the softer feel of nickel/silver for 6100 jumbo frets, but stainless for smaller fret sizes. However, I go with 6100 SS all the time anyway though. The difference is mainly in feel and durability. Leveling, crowning, and polishing is much more work. I have to use a diamond fret file, then a crowning tool, then 600 grit, then 800 grit, then steel wool. Nickel/silver frets are much easier to shape and polish. Funny thing is that after this process, SS frets feel almost exactly like nickel/silver frets because the frets aren't 100% smooth yet and you can feel a bit of texture when bending strings. After a couple of string changes and polishes with steel wool, they get super slick and shiny. If you got back and forth between nickel/silver and SS, you notice there is noticeably less string friction with SS.

As for tone, well there is a slight high end sizzle you get from stainless steel. I think it's mostly like that at first because you can use slightly less pressure with SS frets, and when you press as hard as you do with nickel/silver, it seems to ring out a tiny bit brighter. After you get used to them and fret with more ease then it sounds almost as warm. Keep in mind that I'm offering a very analytical perspective here, and whatever your ears pick up on is truly negligible other than you notice it after a while. People may disagree, and I'm not professional luthier or anything, but you can check out my guitar build page and decide for yourself if my opinion has any qualification.

My guitar builds. All SS frets: http://www.sparkguitars.com