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  #16  
Old 04-21-2019, 03:14 PM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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Originally Posted by Shuksan View Post
EVO fretwire makes a lot of sense. Harder and more durable than nickel wire, but not so hard on tools as stainless steel wire. I wonder how many guitar players won't buy a guitar with EVO frets just because of the color.
I have EVO frets on my Rickard Maple Ridge 5-String Banjo and think they look really nice, especially with the aged-brass hardware. For me, EVO on any brand of guitar would be a plus!
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  #17  
Old 04-21-2019, 03:15 PM
SpruceTop SpruceTop is offline
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Originally Posted by ceciltguitar View Post
Stainless steel frets are standard on Emerald guitars.

https://emeraldguitars.com

Stainless steel frets use to be standard on Parker Fly guitars. I don't know whether or not they still are.
Composite Acoustics also installs stainless-steel frets on their carbon guitars.
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  #18  
Old 04-21-2019, 03:46 PM
6L6 6L6 is offline
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I have three Martins and one Collings that Gryphon refretted for me with SS.

I can detect zero difference in tone after switching to SS. In the future I will always use that material for refrets.
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  #19  
Old 04-21-2019, 04:05 PM
Wade Hampton Wade Hampton is offline
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Stainless steel frets don't change the tone on all instruments, but on some instruments they do. Some players love them, but most of the guitar builders and repair techs that I know don't like working with them very much because they're hard on their tools and are just generally kind of a pain in the butt to install.

Once they're on, though, they don't have to be replaced or dressed as often as nickel alloy frets.

To me it's a matter of personal preference. I'm neither pro- nor anti-stainless steel frets, but I think they're great for those who like them.


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  #20  
Old 04-21-2019, 04:06 PM
Merak Merak is offline
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Teflon coated frets, that would be the ticket!
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  #21  
Old 04-21-2019, 06:33 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HOF dad View Post
I had no idea they affected the sound or tone.
Hi HOF dad

I do a lot of hammering-on (without the string being plucked/picked)…the note sounds from the percussive strike in the fret, and I've had stainless frets ping when I hammered on notes.

Not every note, but a significant number of times to know I never want them on my guitars. And when they ping, they produce at least one and sometimes two harmonics (not the same notes as the fundamental note) and they are very obvious. Not a pleasant experience.

Some guitars will produce harmonics between the nut and the tuning-peg, and you can insert a piece of felt (or something soft) to eliminate it. There is no simple solution like that for people who hammer on.

I read that the EVO frets which are harder than standard nickel fret wire, but not as hard as stainless don't exhibit that side-effect.

On the positive side, stainless frets are easier to bend notes on because they are not as subject to the imperfections, and pitting that standard fret wire develops. So bent strings slide very smoothly.


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  #22  
Old 04-22-2019, 05:44 AM
Johan Madsen Johan Madsen is offline
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I'm very happy with the EVO Gold jumbo frets I put on my Furch, taller frets require less left hand pressure, and Evo fretwire makes vibrato and bending way easier (less friction). You can see on the video that the gold kind of color is not that noticeable when a bit aged

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  #23  
Old 04-22-2019, 05:53 AM
jonfields45 jonfields45 is offline
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I assume the gold frets on a Martin Modern Deluxe are EVO.
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  #24  
Old 04-22-2019, 07:37 AM
s2y s2y is offline
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I have SS and EVO frets on several guitars. I can't say I notice much of a difference. I'm probably going to be refretting one of my electrics with SS since a few of the frets are a little too worn.
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  #25  
Old 04-22-2019, 08:01 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Osage View Post
SS frets wear strings faster. If you change regularly, this won't be an issue but if you like older strings or just don't like changing them often, this can be a real problem.
Nope. Strings may last longer in fact as a properly finished SS fret is slicker and smoother and will stay that way.
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  #26  
Old 04-22-2019, 08:50 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 6L6 View Post
I have three Martins and one Collings that Gryphon refretted for me with SS.

I can detect zero difference in tone after switching to SS. In the future I will always use that material for refrets.
Same here. I can detect no difference in tone. I wish that all higher end guitars had them. I currently have one guitar with them, and have had four previous guitars with them.
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  #27  
Old 04-22-2019, 10:18 AM
tadol tadol is offline
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I’d only consider stainless if I saw my frets rusting - haven’t noticed a problem -

I do love the look and feel of EVO frets, and prefer those whenever given a choice -
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  #28  
Old 04-22-2019, 10:25 AM
s2y s2y is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tadol View Post
I’d only consider stainless if I saw my frets rusting - haven’t noticed a problem -

I do love the look and feel of EVO frets, and prefer those whenever given a choice -
I've never heard of anyone buying them as rust prevention. Nickel is fairly good in that respect. It's more about the durability.
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  #29  
Old 04-22-2019, 11:12 AM
tommieboy tommieboy is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s2y View Post
I've never heard of anyone buying them as rust prevention. Nickel is fairly good in that respect. It's more about the durability.
Living in a humid environment as I do, I find that the tarnishing of the nickel can occur very quickly (within a week) and can be a real pain in the .... to clean off. I too am looking at EVO as a nice compromise between nickel and stainless steel.

Aesthetically, I think polished nickel plated anything on a guitar is the bomb! Unfortunately, it just doesn't hold up well in humid environments.

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  #30  
Old 04-22-2019, 11:45 AM
walknbass walknbass is offline
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How difficult is SS fretwire to work with, if you would happen to need some fret leveling or fret dressing?
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