metalmaniac93
Well-known member
Do you prefer stainless steel or nickel frets? Pros and cons of both? I have a fellow guitarist friend that thinks stainless steel frets are brighter and have a zing to them that nickel doesn’t.
thegame
Well-known member
I agree with your friend. They provide a harder edged response from the instrument. Trying a set of pure stainless steel strings gives a fairly good indication of what SS frets do to the tone and feel.
V
VonBonfire
Well-known member
They are brighter and have more zing than nickel IME. As a humbucker guy I kind of appreciate a little more brightness and clarity. Considering the price, wait, and sometimes questionable luthiery out there now I'll take stainless all day. I've had a new Gibson for less than a year and it's already due for a dressing! Fortunately I found someone good, quick, and affordable locally but I don't like my baby being in nobody's hands but mine.
Findthetone1
Well-known member
Stainless. All day, every day. If there's any perceived brightness, it's nothing that can't be eq'd out.
Pros: Last forever and slicker than snot.
Cons: More upfront cost and possible brighter tone.
Pros: Last forever and slicker than snot.
Cons: More upfront cost and possible brighter tone.
Geo
Well-known member
Nickel for me. I just like the feel better and to my ear, sounds warmer.
vultures
Well-known member
Stainless all day every day. I'll never have to fret level my stainless steel equipped guitars. I've seen Fenders less than a year old with fret wear. SS also polishes out easier, most of the time with just rubbing with a microfiber.
They have a little bit of a high end presence to them. Worth the price of admission.
They have a little bit of a high end presence to them. Worth the price of admission.
Rackman
Well-known member
Stainless for sure. Better feel, massively better fret life (effectively infinite with normal strings as far as I can tell). Brighter tone that if need be you can EQ out at the amp.
It's a no-brainer if you intend to put a lot of hours on a guitar.
It's a no-brainer if you intend to put a lot of hours on a guitar.
Greazygeo
Well-known member
My main Anderson Cobra I have had almost 30 years. Refretted it 4 times with Dunlop 6105’s. The 5th time I used SS same size. There is no difference in tone.
My old 76 LP Custom I had more than 20 years. Refretted it with the same Dunlop 6105’s. When it was time for another refret, it was SS. Again, no difference in tone. Feel is way better if you string bend, vibrato etc. No resistance. Only downside is doing the work.
I have some guitars with nickle still. I play whatever I grab.
My old 76 LP Custom I had more than 20 years. Refretted it with the same Dunlop 6105’s. When it was time for another refret, it was SS. Again, no difference in tone. Feel is way better if you string bend, vibrato etc. No resistance. Only downside is doing the work.
I have some guitars with nickle still. I play whatever I grab.
cobrahead1030
Well-known member
Depends on the guitar. I’ve got a couple that just sing perfectly with nickel frets, but for the most part I prefer stainless.
I like the little bit of extra bite, and for my needs I can always tame that down by knocking the tone control back a little.
I like the little bit of extra bite, and for my needs I can always tame that down by knocking the tone control back a little.
Uzi Nein Millimetah
Well-known member
When it comes to metal oriented guitars, Stainless is Lord.
That is all.
I don't worry about SS as much for traditional Strats and especially Teles, but Superstrats, SGs, and LPs? SS Only if I'm payin'.
That is all.
I don't worry about SS as much for traditional Strats and especially Teles, but Superstrats, SGs, and LPs? SS Only if I'm payin'.
S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑
Hack
I prefer nickel, because I play NYXL and I feel those strings don't wear it out...but I have zero proof because my main guitar has SS frets and I have never had nickel frets long enough to test the theory
scottosan
Well-known member
they’re brighter but I have picks that make the tone brighter than the frets.
Eazy-ESP
Well-known member
I wear out nickel. Suck because I buy a great guitar and I’ve got to stress that some hack luthier is going to destroy it. I’ve had nothing but bad luck with guitar techs.
Stainless feels so good. Only takes me a little while to control myself left hand. It’s so much easier for vibratory etc I almost feel I need to concentrate on not overplaying.
Stainless feels so good. Only takes me a little while to control myself left hand. It’s so much easier for vibratory etc I almost feel I need to concentrate on not overplaying.
Speeddemon
Well-known member
Ultex I presume?
I was quite amazed after years of playing with Tortex, how much of a tone difference a pick makes. I mean, sure, I've played with obsolete credit card cut-outs, copper/silver/alloy coins, wood, nylon, horn, and those sound different, but between Tortex and Ultex I figured they'd be closer to each other. And another benefit of Ultex is less wear.
PDC
Well-known member
Stainless here - for all the reasons stated above. After years of regular play, my stainless fretted guitars show zero wear. If there is a difference in actual sound - it is extremely minor. Pickups, strings, picks, and presence / treble setting all have significantly greater impact on the final tone. Rackman summed it up for me:
scottosan
Well-known member
Yes. Dunlop Jazz III Ultex 2.0mm. I have yen to find a pick this bright. Unfortunately I can only use this for leads. It’s too small for me for rhythm and sky picking I miss stuff. My number 2 is the DunlopAkira Takasaki Primetone 1.4mm. All other picks sound lifeless to me
bennyslo
Member
I have stainless frets on a warmoth neck and they show no signs of wear in over 5 years of heavy playing. Agree with the others that I can perceive what I believe to be a minutia of extra brightness or zing, but nothing that sounds horrible by any means.
Speeddemon
Well-known member
May I suggest the Ultex Sharp 0.90mm for rhythm AND lead playing?
Although I see they have the Sharp in 1.0mm, 1.14mm, 1.40mm and 2.0mm as well:
https://www.jimdunlop.com/products/guitar-picks/ultex/
I also have the Ultex Jazz III 1.38mm and I agree they're quite small. The Sharp is significantly larger.
I prefer picks with some give like the Dava Control ones.
Here you can see the sizes:
S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑
Hack
The dava control.are fun... I need to revisit those.
These are my normal picks i rotate between, and I threw the dava at the end to try again here in a few minutes
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