Andy Eagle ( Guitar repair tech for 30 years )

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A question about Stainless Steel Frets.
John Suhr said something the other day about the importance of the fret protector and the problem with gritty frets.
I’m also going to add something else.
I have a few customers who basically can’t use ss frets because they destroy the wound strings in less than a gig and make the treble side of the frets gritty in one gig.

These are people who burn through nickel frets in about a year. The reason they can use nickel is the windings survive and the plain strings can smooth it the treble side. One of these guys can make his frets ( nickel) gritty in one gig. I have no solution for this other than say “ don’t play so hard “ but that is hardly satisfactory because they are great players and other than examining the strings and frets after one gig you would have no idea how this was happening. I think John has missed this aspect and I wondered if you guys had experienced any of this.
 
Eagle said:
View attachment 7198
A question about Stainless Steel Frets.
John Suhr said something the other day about the importance of the fret protector and the problem with gritty frets.
I’m also going to add something else.
I have a few customers who basically can’t use ss frets because they destroy the wound strings in less than a gig and make the treble side of the frets gritty in one gig.

These are people who burn through nickel frets in about a year. The reason they can use nickel is the windings survive and the plain strings can smooth it the treble side. One of these guys can make his frets ( nickel) gritty in one gig. I have no solution for this other than say “ don’t play so hard “ but that is hardly satisfactory because they are great players and other than examining the strings and frets after one gig you would have no idea how this was happening. I think John has missed this aspect and I wondered if you guys had experienced any of this.
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That's crazy. I can see that happening. I know I wear nickel frets within a few months, but not within a single night! I'm a convert to stainless steel for life; I haven't found any problems with string breakage or grittiness myself. Just long lasting fret height. 😁
 
State of Epicicity said:
That's crazy. I can see that happening. I know I wear nickel frets within a few months, but not within a single night! I'm a convert to stainless steel for life; I haven't found any problems with string breakage or grittiness myself. Just long lasting fret height. 😁
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This is my experience too but I’ve seen it myself with a few players.
 
The string winding just gets filed through on the fret top however smooth. I will try to get some pictures but the guys that have the problem don't tend to like SS frets either. It is exactly as John Suhr describes but nothing to do with the lack of using a fret protector.
How about EVO gold? anyone ever had issues with this?
 
I do my own fret leveling and crowning. I only have nickel frets. My frets will show visible wear/flattening within a week or two (which means playing a little at home, and a rehearsal or two and gig or two). I’ve been considering switching to SS, but I’m worried I may be one of those players who will still have wear issues with them or wreck the strings. I’ve got 2 guitars that need a refret soon.

D
 
Eagle said:
The string winding just gets filed through on the fret top however smooth. I will try to get some pictures but the guys that have the problem don't tend to like SS frets either. It is exactly as John Suhr describes but nothing to do with the lack of using a fret protector.
How about EVO gold? anyone ever had issues with this?
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No issues w/ Evo gold … I’ll see if I can get a close-up later. I’m pretty sure that’s what Laurent put in this guitar.

This was a few years ago, fairly new:

2016-06-04 09.51.38.jpeg
 
dk_ace said:
I do my own fret leveling and crowning. I only have nickel frets. My frets will show visible wear/flattening within a week or two (which means playing a little at home, and a rehearsal or two and gig or two). I’ve been considering switching to SS, but I’m worried I may be one of those players who will still have wear issues with them or wreck the strings. I’ve got 2 guitars that need a refret soon.

D
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The only way to know is try it. The solution is also don't press harder than you need too but that's easier said than done in a gig.
 
Eagle said:
The only way to know is try it. The solution is also don't press harder than you need too but that's easier said than done in a gig.
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I wonder if it’s really that I’m pressing harder. Maybe it is. I’m not so sure after the last level and crown though. If I’m pressing hard, I’m pressing into the fingerboard at this point, not putting extra pressure on the fretwire. I’m not sure what else would explain it though. I am generally pretty cautious about how much pressure I use fretting to be able to play in tune all across the neck.

D
 
dk_ace said:
I wonder if it’s really that I’m pressing harder. Maybe it is. I’m not so sure after the last level and crown though. If I’m pressing hard, I’m pressing into the fingerboard at this point, not putting extra pressure on the fretwire. I’m not sure what else would explain it though. I am generally pretty cautious about how much pressure I use fretting to be able to play in tune all across the neck.

D
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It’s difficult to say because the player that I know with the greatest problem is really good and never pulls anything remotely out of tune. The would never guess from watching him ( until you look at the strings at the end of the gig.)
 
Eagle said:
I have a few customers who basically can’t use ss frets because they destroy the wound strings in less than a gig and make the treble side of the frets gritty in one gig.

These are people who burn through nickel frets in about a year. The reason they can use nickel is the windings survive and the plain strings can smooth it the treble side. One of these guys can make his frets ( nickel) gritty in one gig. I have no solution for this other than say “ don’t play so hard “ but that is hardly satisfactory because they are great players and other than examining the strings and frets after one gig you would have no idea how this was happening. I think John has missed this aspect and I wondered if you guys had experienced any of this.
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Another solution might be "buy more guitars so you split your playing time between them and thus one of them wears less." Or maybe they could try another string brand.

Unless Kiesel installed stainless steel frets on mine by accident, the Jescar nickel fretwire seems way more heavy duty than any Dunlop stuff I've had.
 
laxu said:
Another solution might be "buy more guitars so you split your playing time between them and thus one of them wears less." Or maybe they could try another string brand.

Unless Kiesel installed stainless steel frets on mine by accident, the Jescar nickel fretwire seems way more heavy duty than any Dunlop stuff I've had.
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Assuming both are genuine I find the Jescar nickel wire to be harder than Dunlop. I also find the use of the term 6105 for wire lower than 0.055 very unhelpful. Warmoth fit a wire that is only 0.047 x0.090 and it is nothing like it in feel. You have to be careful with the 6105 description because it is often not it.
 
I am swapping out a bridge pickup in a Les Paul today. Regarding the old solder on the back of the volume pot that is left after I remove the old pickup, should I..

1) Just re-use the same solder for the new pickup
2) Remove the old solder from the back of the pot with a solder sucker and start over with fresh solder
or
3) Reuse the old solder and add some new solder.

Thanks.
 
Rocco Crocco said:
I am swapping out a bridge pickup in a Les Paul today. Regarding the old solder on the back of the volume pot that is left after I remove the old pickup, should I..

1) Just re-use the same solder for the new pickup
2) Remove the old solder from the back of the pot with a solder sucker and start over with fresh solder
or
3) Reuse the old solder and add some new solder.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I would use lead solder and remove at least some.
Then tin the wires and joints and resolder.
Use a quality multicore fluxed solder for a nice clean shiny joint.
 
Eagle said:
How about EVO gold? anyone ever had issues with this?
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This is my fretwire of choice. 58118-EVO
I've had zero issues so far and have seen minimal to no wear. But I'm not playing 6-8 hrs a day anymore either, fwiw.
Not a huge fan of SS. I do use Dunlop 6000 on multiple guitars and those have been solid too.
I do my own fretwork also.
 
FuzzyAce said:
This is my fretwire of choice. 58118-EVO
I've had zero issues so far and have seen minimal to no wear. But I'm not playing 6-8 hrs a day anymore either, fwiw.
Not a huge fan of SS. I do use Dunlop 6000 on multiple guitars and those have been solid too.
I do my own fretwork also.
Click to expand...
What was your issue with stainless?
 
Eagle said:
What was your issue with stainless?
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Something about the feel and tone doesn't jive with me. Mostly a feel thing and the hardness. Gold pushes the limits in hardness for me but the tone and playability is awesome.
I haven't worked with SS personally but have heard it can be rough on certain tools.
 
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