Andy Eagle ( Guitar repair tech for 30 years )

[Henry]

Thanks Andy, appreciate it!

 

[Rex]

I've compared similar height nickel vs stainless and I seem to feel the same way: vibrato and bends more controllable with nickel. I wonder if it's got to do with the fret wearing more each time I bend.

If nickel-silver frets give you more control for bends and vibrato, then it’s likely that you’re fretting too forcefully. All that downward pressure can make your finger want to slip one way or another. If you fret lightly, the lack of friction on stainless steel frets becomes an advantage, giving you more control and allowing more subtle bends and vibrato.

As Andy said, if you play one kind exclusively for a month, it may become your new favorite. It’s surprising how much our preferences are driven by our habits.

 

[Dimiguitar]

If nickel-silver frets give you more control for bends and vibrato, then it’s likely that you’re fretting too forcefully. All that downward pressure can make your finger want to slip one way or another. If you fret lightly, the lack of friction on stainless steel frets becomes an advantage, giving you more control and allowing more subtle bends and vibrato.

As Andy said, if you play one kind exclusively for a month, it may become your new favorite. It’s surprising how much our preferences are driven by our habits.

Makes sense, though I'm fairly used to stainless. Played for many years exclusively jescar 58118 and even on scalloped fretboards.

 

[Eagle]

Makes sense, though I'm fairly used to stainless. Played for many years exclusively jescar 58118 and even on scalloped fretboards.

I have put stainless 58118 on my scalloped strat

 

[Dimiguitar]

I have put stainless 58118 on my scalloped strat
View attachment 49455

Perhaps not scalloped as nicely as yours, but here's one of mine. 58118 stainless too.

 

[Eagle]

Perhaps not scalloped as nicely as yours, but here's one of mine. 58118 stainless too.

Always been a fan of scalloped necks.
Mine was scalloped already it’s a Mexican Blackmore Strat ;

It was a pain to refret. I did neaten it up a bit but I was actually pretty well done.

 

[SillyOctpuss]

I've never played a guitar with a scalloped neck. How does it feel vs a standard strat neck?

 

[Dimiguitar]

I've never played a guitar with a scalloped neck. How does it feel vs a standard strat neck?

For me, more grip for bends and vibrato. Some say that it adds nothing to tall frets like 58118, but I find that not to be true.

 

[Eagle]

I've never played a guitar with a scalloped neck. How does it feel vs a standard strat neck?

A lot of extra grip on everything but you need to relax your hand to not over grip and bend pitch when you’re not intending to. I really like it. It takes a bit of getting used to because of this but I see no negatives. I’m amazed it’s not used by blues players.
The reason I tried it;