Stainless Steel RainSong Refret

[jonfields45]

The RainSong spec is essentially identical to Jescar 39106-236 or Dunlop 6140:

Total Height, Bead Width, Tang Width Stud to Stud, Tang Width, Bead Height
2.8mm, 2.7mm, 0.95mm, 0.6mm, 1.0mm
0.1102", 0.1063", 0.0347", 0.0236", 0.0394"

They are nickel silver press fit without glue into a composite fret board of unspecified composition (seems likely to be epoxy plus a filler).

Would Sintoms SS270096 be a good stainless steel replacement choice? Slightly differently stated specs:

Bead width, Bead height, Total height, Tang width, Tang Height
2.70mm, 0.96mm, 2.55mm, 0.5mm, 1.59mm
0.106", 0.038", 0.100", 0.020", 0.063"

Thanks!

[BT55]

I would contact Rainsong. Their Customer Service is exceptional.

[jonfields45]

Originally Posted by BT55

I would contact Rainsong. Their Customer Service is exceptional.

They gave me their fret spec, but finding a good stainless substitute is my problem.

[mirwa]

Why do you need a refret ?

Stainless frets are almost a lifetime option, they never wear out

Steve

[jonfields45]

Originally Posted by mirwa

Why do you need a refret ?

Stainless frets are almost a lifetime option, they never wear out

Steve

The original frets are hard nickel silver and looking a bit beat after only 14 months. They sound fine and I think the divots are still cosmetic at this point but I thought I might get prepared for the inevitable. Given the stability and durability of the neck and fret board, stainless steel seems like a good choice. The local luthiers are not too enthusiastic about stainless steel and I thought since fret wire is cheap I would buy it and have it handy. All the Jescar and StewMac stainless steel options are pretty far off the RainSong bead width and/or height. The Sintoms are a pretty close match for the bead but the tang is narrower and shorter.

[mirwa]

Cool, I thought you had to replace existing strainless frets, couldnt work that one out.

Be warned, the topic is controversial, but I feel stainless frets stiffen a neck up, it for me removes some of the sustain in a neck and makes it harder or less responsive to trem a note by shaking the neck

Apart from that, stainless frets are just a bit harder on ones tools and hands to install.

Steve