Bar frets vs regular frets replacing?

[1xsculler]

First, how do bar frets differ from regular (are they called tang frets?) frets and what is the difference in replacing them?

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by 1xsculler

First, how do bar frets differ from regular (are they called tang frets?) frets and what is the difference in replacing them?

I find bar frets considerably harder to do slides on.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by 1xsculler

First, how do bar frets differ from regular (are they called tang frets?) frets and what is the difference in replacing them?

Read on website of forum member Frank Ford:
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Gene...%20playability.

[Mr. Jelly]

Originally Posted by 1xsculler

First, how do bar frets differ from regular (are they called tang frets?) frets and what is the difference in replacing them?

My understanding as explained by Norman Blake is that they are completely different animals. Bar frets are an integral part of the neck configuration. Regular frets go on and off and don't necessarily mess with the neck in other ways.

[M Hayden]

Bar frets are literally a tall rectangle in cross section, inserted into a wide slot cut in the fingerboard. Modern frets are mushroom-shaped in cross-section.

Bar frets don’t usually have bars or tangs holding them in - they’re held in via compression of the neck wood. Modern frets have bars on the side which help the thinner tang stay in the slot. Sometime builders and repair people will use glue of various types in the slot, sometimes not.

They tend to be dressed differently - bar fret ends are taller and a bit squarer than modern frets, which is why they are harder when sliding your hand up and down the neck.

Bar frets seem to be very tough - I have a very old guitar with bar frets and they just don’t seem to wear much even with steel strings (which I don’t use often on that guitar). I don’t know whether that’s true or not but it’s anecdote.

[John Arnold]

Martin specified 30% nickel on their bar frets, which is why I believe they last so well. Modern fret wire is 18% nickel.