Supplying pre-cut fretwire

[wuzzo]

Hello again,
Rather than keep adding to my custom build questions thread- here;
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=306594
.....I thought it best to ask individual questions in discrete threads.

Whether my guitar is built by my local luthier or a production guitar luthier as a ' special ' in Spain it seems most practicable that I supply my chosen fretwire myself. Reading through various threads on the topic here at AGF I've chosen to use Jescar EVO and the most economical way of buying is via sets of 25 x 2.75" pre-cut pieces. So far, so good , but these are supplied as pre-formed 9.5 " radius pieces and I've yet to decide upon the radius of my fretboard.
So- and this might seem a silly question to luthiers - are these pre-formed pieces easily re-formed to other radii, for example to 14" ? Would it better to buy a coil ?

Thanks for your interest.

[Tim McKnight]

Originally Posted by wuzzo

So- and this might seem a silly question to luthiers - are these pre-formed pieces easily re-formed to other radii, for example to 14" ? Would it better to buy a coil ?

Yes, your luthier should be able to easily form that fret wire to any FB radius. There's no need to purchase an entire coil but if you do you can mail the left over fret wire to me

[mikealpine]

Tim, will you mail him back a guitar attached to some of that fret wire?

[wuzzo]

Originally Posted by Tim McKnight

Yes, your luthier should be able to easily form that fret wire to any FB radius. There's no need to purchase an entire coil but if you do you can mail the left over fret wire to me

Well, it seems that a coil comes in at around 40 ft. How many guitars would that refret ? I'm thinking that I'm going to really fall for big jumbo frets and my new guitar will render the rest of my modest collection unplayable !


On that topic, could anybody describe to me the differences I might experience between these fret sizes ?



FW57110-EVO .110" X .057 (2.79 X 1.45 mm)


FW47104-EVO .104" X .047 (2.64 X 1.19 mm)


FW55090-EVO .090" X .055 (2.28 X 1.40 mm)


I'm building speed and I like a lot of bend. This is my first venture into jumbo frets.

[wuzzo]

OK, it's the FW57110-EVO. Might as well go the whole hog .

I scalloped an old tailpiece strummer once, with just a round file. Some trucker stole it while I was working as a nightwatchman. What sort of character would steal the nightwatchman's guitar ? Lonely road.

[Haans]

.057" is pretty tall. Some of my customers have described jumbo frets as sliding up over "railroad ties". I have enough trouble with the .090 x .055. .080 x .040 is my preferred wire.
I would try some guitars with tall, wide frets before deciding...

[mikealpine]

I agree with Haans. I've tried some electrics with jumbo frets and it was like speed bumps. If ou can test some, you might be happier in the end.

[wuzzo]

Originally Posted by Haans

.057" is pretty tall. Some of my customers have described jumbo frets as sliding up over "railroad ties". I have enough trouble with the .090 x .055. .080 x .040 is my preferred wire.
I would try some guitars with tall, wide frets before deciding...

You're right. I just measured my existing and they're just .032. I'll compromise and reduce my leap to the Jescar 47104 EVO.

[murrmac123]

Originally Posted by wuzzo

You're right. I just measured my existing and they're just .032. I'll compromise and reduce my leap to the Jescar 47104 EVO.

.032" ??? on an acoustic ???

Just FTR, the "speed bump" effect mentioned above is something that I have referred to many times on this forum (in fact I may have been the first one to coin the phrase in reference to fret profiles) , but I would just like to point out that the "speed bump" effect has nothing to do with the height of the fret, it has everything to do with the profile of the fret.

If the luthier /tech shapes the frets to a pyramidical profile, with a rounded crown, rather than to the conventional "school-bus " profile there will be absolutely no "speed bump" effect...irrespective of fret height.

[wuzzo]

Originally Posted by murrmac123

.032" ??? on an acoustic ???

Within the tolerances of my rather crude automobile feeler-gauge methods, yes. It's Spanish.

If the luthier /tech shapes the frets to a pyramidical profile, with a rounded crown, rather than to the conventional "school-bus " profile there will be absolutely no "speed bump" effect...irrespective of fret height.

Is that shape available commercially ?

[murrmac123]

Originally Posted by wuzzo

Is that shape available commercially ?

Stewmac Fretwire 0158 is the nearest you will obtain commercially. They state the wire is for electrics and basses but it is perfect for acoustics as well ... the frets do still need individual profiling for optimum results, however.

[wuzzo]

As I've never played jumbo frets before I'm going with the luthiers' recommendation for starters;

Crown width 2.9mm Crown height 1.3mm

My relationship with jumbo frets might as well start there.

[Tom West]

Why would one buy wire in 2.5" lengths. LMI sells wire in 4' lengths, enough to do a guitar.
Tom

[wuzzo]

Originally Posted by Tom West

Why would one buy wire in 2.5" lengths. LMI sells wire in 4' lengths, enough to do a guitar.
Tom

Man, that's some wide fretboard !


Well, I've been playing a 335 copy with jumbo frets, ---width 2.9mm ( 0.114 ) Crown height 1.3mm (0.051 ) -- and I'm really hooked on the higher wire. Consequently I've changed my mind again and I'm having the even bigger wire, the Jescar EVO FW57110-EVO .110" X .057 (2.79 X 1.45 mm) That little extra height will be dreamy. Final decision. Luthiers are happy to provide.