#1
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Recommended fret sizes for acoustic guitars
I had in mind to repair an old acoustic guitar with some issues, like a action that is too high and frets that need to be replaced.
Here and there I found some discussions about refretting, videos, but most of them refers to electric guitars that might need a certain size of frets depending on the player’s needs. Right now my guitar has frets that are 2.0mm (=0.079inches) wide. I can’t determine the exact height since they’ve been levelled a bit, but that should correspond to a small size. My question are: Does the fret height affect the playability on a guitar with high action if they are too low? What fret size do you recommend? |
#2
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Quote:
Personally I like 0.047" height and width around 0.104 to 0.108" (Evo gold or stainless steel).
__________________
Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#3
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Those should correspond to mid jumbo and jumbo, right?
From what I learned, those sizes aren't often used on acoustic guitars, since the strings that you put on them are generally bigger than those of a electric guitar. And that could lead to buzzing, but I suppose, if that happens, that you can file them down a bit to solve the problem. But I have to prove you right by saying that barre chords are extremely hard to play without one or two strings buzzing. At first I thought it was my problem or the action height (in that case I have to fix it no matter what, maybe I’ll have to replace the whole bridge, but that’s a problem for another time). |
#4
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The further you have to press the strings down to make contact the more intonation issues become unmanageable, and I believe you end up actually wearing frets faster because of the added pressure.
I like Jescar's 43080 wire for my acoustics when I've done refrets. Very close, or possibly the same, as what's is typical on many guitars these days. It's not especially tall, so you really need to get your action, and possible neck/fb all correct before putting [any] new frets in, unless you want to end up with essentially little improvement.
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"I know in the morning that it's gonna be good, when I stick out my elbows and they don't bump wood." - Bill Kirchen |
#5
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Tall frets do not cause buzzing, poorly leveled frets (regardless of height) or poor setup (action too low at either bridge or nut) cause buzzing. Fret height is a preference. I personally like taller frets. I have even put jumbos on an acoustic. Taller frets make bending and fretting a little easier. However, if you have a heavy fretting pressure you can get pitchy, notes can go sharp.
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#6
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Quote:
There is no buzzing issue with taller frets - if anything the opposite. Many acoustic guitars do ship with smaller fretwire. For example Collings uses 0.043"h X 0.87"w, however many players prefer larger sized wire.
__________________
Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above |
#7
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"Refined" players will notice the difference, many will likely not. If possible, the action, at both nut and saddle, should be altered to suit the new fret height. Quote:
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#8
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Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
I’ll try a bigger size and see how it goes. I wanted to replace them with steel ones at first, but since they are harder to pull out, I will go for some nickel-silver ones this times so I can test them out and when it will be time to change them again, I’ll replace them with the ones made of steel. |