Stainless Steel Frets vs Nickel Frets

[metalmaniac93]

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]

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.

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.

 

[VonBonfire]

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]

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.

 

[Geo]

Nickel for me. I just like the feel better and to my ear, sounds warmer.

 

[vultures]

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.

 

[Rackman]

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.

 

[Greazygeo]

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.

 

[cobrahead1030]

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.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

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'.

 

[S̷͖͑m̵͎͂á̵̺s̸͚̈́h̴̬̑]

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