Excessive Fret Wear on AD27?

[ribsareyummy]

Update: Response from Taylor posted down in post #16.

So I've had this brand new Taylor AD27 since July 26, about a month and a half now. I was just changing the strings to Monels, thanks to a hot tip from my NGD thread, and I noticed that the frets along the B string (and only the B string) seem REALLY worn. The wear is on frets 1-9, with the most severe wear on 3-6.

I checked my other guitars that I've had for longer than this one, and they have some wear, but nothing to this level. Currently my oldest guitar I've had since 2014. I've certainly played the heck out of it, and it doesn't have this much wear, and on less frets.

I also had noticed some silver dust on the fretboard and thought it might have been particles from the case at first, but now that I see the wear I guess it's fret metal shavings. I've taken some pictures, don't know if you can really tell from them just how significant the wear is.

But what's the deal here? Is it me and my playing? Neck angle? Is it something I should contact Taylor about? Just seems really odd to me that the wear seems a lot heavier after 1.5 months than on guitars I've had for much longer.

[Earl49]

To me that seems like a lot of fret wear for only a few weeks of play -and I have a fairly heavy fretting hand. The metal shavings or dust is a big clue. Maybe they got a batch of really soft fret wire? I would definitely call Taylor and start the discussion. If nothing else to get it on the record in case there are bigger problems later on. If you call a year from now they could reasonably call it normal wear and tear.

CALL -- don't email until you have spoken with a customer service rep. They will gladly give you their direct email and will want to see your pictures.

[harryw]

what make of strings are on it?
seems that they are harder then the fretwire.

[ribsareyummy]

Thanks, I think I'll definitely give them a call just to get it on the record.

As far as the strings, up to that point it had only been the strings it came with, coated D'Addario mediums. Now I have the medium Monels on it, and the dust I had cleared away when changing strings is back.

[rick-slo]

Taylor has been know to use less durable fretwire. NS fretwire does vary in hardness. Use EVO gold or stainless steel fretwire if you really want a fretwire that really lasts a long time.

[Kevin G String]

Do stainless frets sound different Rick?

My Martin 000 28 is 6 months old has slight wear on the b string. Not as much as yours though. But I play it a lot. A very lot! My touch is getting lighter the more I play, so hopefully the wear will slow down.

Someone on here said Taylor use soft wire, but i saw one of the engineering type chaps from Taylor say it was almost as hard as stainless on a YouTube video.

[fartamis]

This is too worn out for a few weeks of play ... made play the Taylor warranty.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Kevin G String

Do stainless frets sound different Rick?

My Martin 000 28 is 6 months old has slight wear on the b string. Not as much as yours though. But I play it a lot. A very lot! My touch is getting lighter the more I play, so hopefully the wear will slow down.

Someone on here said Taylor use soft wire, but i saw one of the engineering type chaps from Taylor say it was almost as hard as stainless on a YouTube video.

Stainless sounds the same. Have converted three NS fretwire guitars to stainless and one to EVO gold.

As to the Taylor person's claim, no way.

[MartinGibsonFan]

..........................

MGF

[LeDave]

Yikes! I'm guessing if you use coated strings, it'll be lighter on the frets?

[frankmcr]

Perhaps Taylor is copying Zager?

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...ighlight=zager

[ribsareyummy]

Well, I called Taylor and the rep told me to bring it to an authorized Taylor repair tech for a warranty inspection. Closest one here in Chicagoland happens to be Third Coast, so hopefully I'll be dropping it off at Tobias soon.

As to the question about capo usage, I'd say maybe 3% of my playtime on that guitar has been with a capo.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by ribsareyummy

Well, I called Taylor and the rep told me to bring it to an authorized Taylor repair tech for a warranty inspection. Closest one here in Chicagoland happens to be Third Coast, so hopefully I'll be dropping it off at Tobias soon.

As to the question about capo usage, I'd say maybe 3% of my playtime on that guitar has been with a capo.

Warranty inspection is proper however with replacement with the same type of wire you are likely to be in the same situation again a few weeks down the line.

[Kevin G String]

Do they wear your strings faster, stainless frets?

[Matts67]

Have you checked to see if the nut slots are filed to proper depth? If the nut slots are too high, you'll have to press a lot harder on the first few frets. Just a thought.