PRS frets?

[Neil]

I was jamming with a friend who has a PRS that he bought about 4 years
ago. Curiously, many of his frets in the first octave have serious wear
under and in the area of the G string. Has anyone else had this
experience, or have an idea why this might happen?

[jtees4]

Post by Neil
I was jamming with a friend who has a PRS that he bought about 4 years
ago. Curiously, many of his frets in the first octave have serious wear
under and in the area of the G string. Has anyone else had this
experience, or have an idea why this might happen?

I remember reading or hearing about this issue on some SE models,
don't know what model you are talking about. Never heard of it on the
USA models. I owned a couple of SE's and didn't have the issue, but I
wouldn't say i owned them long enough for it to become a problem.

[Neil]

Post by jtees4

Post by Neil
I was jamming with a friend who has a PRS that he bought about 4 years
ago. Curiously, many of his frets in the first octave have serious wear
under and in the area of the G string. Has anyone else had this
experience, or have an idea why this might happen?

I remember reading or hearing about this issue on some SE models,
don't know what model you are talking about. Never heard of it on the
USA models. I owned a couple of SE's and didn't have the issue, but I
wouldn't say i owned them long enough for it to become a problem.

Thanks, I'll suggest that he look into this possibility. He'll need to
have it re-fretted pretty soon if he decides to keep it.

[Nil]

Post by Neil
I was jamming with a friend who has a PRS that he bought about 4
years ago. Curiously, many of his frets in the first octave have
serious wear under and in the area of the G string. Has anyone
else had this experience, or have an idea why this might happen?

As far as I know, PRS uses "nickel silver" frets on most or all their
stock guitars, just like most everybody else. Wear like you describe is
normal for all guitars, depending on the players habits. You can get
the frets crowned to get more life out of them. Eventually all guitars
need new frets. That's why stainless steel frets have become more
popular - they last nearly forever.

Just about all my guitars are suffering from fret wear. I need to deal
with that one of these days. I wish I knew a luthier who was nearby and
who I trusted.

[Neil]

Post by Nil

Post by Neil
I was jamming with a friend who has a PRS that he bought about 4
years ago. Curiously, many of his frets in the first octave have
serious wear under and in the area of the G string. Has anyone
else had this experience, or have an idea why this might happen?

As far as I know, PRS uses "nickel silver" frets on most or all their
stock guitars, just like most everybody else. Wear like you describe is
normal for all guitars, depending on the players habits.

Nope... this is unusual. His frets are more worn than any of the guitars
I've played almost every day for about 50 years. My habits aren't _that_
good! ;-)

The reason I asked here is that perhaps it's a known defect.

[Squier]

Post by Neil
I was jamming with a friend who has a PRS that he bought about 4 years
ago. Curiously, many of his frets in the first octave have serious wear
under and in the area of the G string. Has anyone else had this
experience, or have an idea why this might happen?

Almost all PRS MIA have stainless steel frets.
PRS MIK have nickel frets.

makes a lot of difference in the fret wear and how hard he presses down
to fret the notes. (and not so obviously what the strings he is using
are made out of)

[Neil]

Post by Squier

Post by Neil
I was jamming with a friend who has a PRS that he bought about 4 years
ago. Curiously, many of his frets in the first octave have serious wear
under and in the area of the G string. Has anyone else had this
experience, or have an idea why this might happen?

Almost all PRS MIA have stainless steel frets.
PRS MIK have nickel frets.

His frets are definitely not stainless steel, but they don't look like
pure nickel, either. Also, the wear has what looks like scrape marks
parallel with the length of the neck.

Post by Squier
makes a lot of difference in the fret wear and how hard he presses down
to fret the notes. (and not so obviously what the strings he is using
are made out of)

I don't know what one could do to get that much wear in such a short
period of time short of spend most of the day grinding on it with some
really hard-wound strings. ;-)

[Nil]

Post by Squier
Almost all PRS MIA have stainless steel frets.
PRS MIK have nickel frets.

Are you sure about that? My PRS CE-24 has nickle frets, and I don't see
any mention of stainless in any of their marketing literature or web
site.

[Squier]

Post by Nil

Post by Squier
Almost all PRS MIA have stainless steel frets.
PRS MIK have nickel frets.

Are you sure about that? My PRS CE-24 has nickle frets, and I don't see
any mention of stainless in any of their marketing literature or web
site.

yeah. I stand corrected.
I was thinking about another company that offers stainless frets.

I do know that PRS MIA offers really hard frets.

and from memory I do remember a guitar tech (very good one) telling me
that they are nearly stainless steel hard and the fret wire they use
is really
tough to bend and form... etc.

so yeah - I was wrong - but it's some of the hardest fret wire out there
being fit onto mass market guitars.

[Nil]

Post by Squier
yeah. I stand corrected.
I was thinking about another company that offers stainless frets.

Maybe Parker? I'm pretty sure they feature stainless frets on some or
all their expensive MIA models. They have a lower price-point Asian
line that probably has conventional nickle frets.

Post by Squier
I do know that PRS MIA offers really hard frets.
http://youtu.be/EzKT8WrZhhc
and from memory I do remember a guitar tech (very good one)
telling me that they are nearly stainless steel hard and the fret
wire they use is really
tough to bend and form... etc.
so yeah - I was wrong - but it's some of the hardest fret wire out
there being fit onto mass market guitars.

[jtees4]

On Fri, 22 Jan 2016 01:40:07 -0500, Nil

Post by Nil

Post by Squier
yeah. I stand corrected.
I was thinking about another company that offers stainless frets.

Maybe Parker? I'm pretty sure they feature stainless frets on some or
all their expensive MIA models. They have a lower price-point Asian
line that probably has conventional nickle frets.

Post by Squier
I do know that PRS MIA offers really hard frets.
http://youtu.be/EzKT8WrZhhc
and from memory I do remember a guitar tech (very good one)
telling me that they are nearly stainless steel hard and the fret
wire they use is really
tough to bend and form... etc.
so yeah - I was wrong - but it's some of the hardest fret wire out
there being fit onto mass market guitars.

My parker Fly Deluxe had stainless, and I have to say....I loved them.
So smooth and the strings just glided so nice over them. I think all
the USA Parkers had them, not sure if that is still true.

[Nil]

Post by jtees4
My parker Fly Deluxe had stainless, and I have to say....I loved
them. So smooth and the strings just glided so nice over them. I
think all the USA Parkers had them, not sure if that is still
true.

Do you find that they wear out your strings a lot faster than with
nickle frets?

I would rather replace string periodically than frets!

[notbob]

Post by Nil
Do you find that they wear out your strings a lot faster than with
nickle frets?
I would rather replace string periodically than frets!

I assume yer discussing SS frets. Yes? No?

I'm interested cuz I plan on buying a wider neck for my Tele and
wondered if I should spring for stainless steel (SS) frets.

nb

[Les Cargill]

Post by notbob

Post by Nil
Do you find that they wear out your strings a lot faster than with
nickle frets?
I would rather replace string periodically than frets!

I assume yer discussing SS frets. Yes? No?
I'm interested cuz I plan on buying a wider neck for my Tele and
wondered if I should spring for stainless steel (SS) frets.
nb

The ESP LTD TE-202 has a wider neck. They're inexpensive. Some kind
soul put a Duncan SPH-90 Phat Cat in the neck of mine before I bought
it.

Pretty sure it's nickel frets.

Short of a '52 Butterscotch Reissue it's the best Tele I've
found.

--
Les Cargill

[Nil]

Post by notbob
I'm interested cuz I plan on buying a wider neck for my Tele and
wondered if I should spring for stainless steel (SS) frets.

I've never refretted any guitar that I've ever owned. A couple of mine
could use it, and one in particular (my Yamaha SG2000, which I've had
since 1980 or so) has been mostly retired because the frets are so low
that it's uncomfortable to play. Considering its age, I don't know it
it's worth the extra cost for stainless frets, but I sure like the idea
that what you have will stay that way virtually indefinitely.

[Flasherly]

Post by notbob
I'm interested cuz I plan on buying a wider neck for my Tele and
wondered if I should spring for stainless steel (SS) frets.

If you've never worn down frets, have some sort of precision "light
touch" -- some say their playing doesn't affect wear, they're good
candidates for keeping expensive vintage guitars that way -- a "trip"
to a guitar tech for a $400 stainless job estimate can be forgone.

That's what I believe this guy I called locally quoted me (along with
qualifying himself by saying he'd worked in Gibson production
facilities, I suppose). But I've patternistic problems for wearing
out frets, especially at V-IX positions;- a problem since I like a
guitar perfect, so far as I understand what I'm capable of doing with
it: either I've a "heavy touch," or I wouldn't wear nice new guitar I
like with nickel frets down to a depressed buzz within three to six
months.

High climatic humidity and acidic body oils, strings don't vary too
long before I also wear them out. Haven't used stainless strings
often enough to comment on regarding if added wear (to imperviously
factoring stainless frets). Regular Bullets I prefer when I can get
them, comparable if less sets, they're all not on the neck long enough
to wear I'd notice fret-points wearing string windings loose, to a
point they're flat. (Mine go corrosively flat by the second session
and I'm usually thinking of changing them no later than the forth
session.)

As for as a personal recommendation, they're the cream of the creams
for topping pussy. I don't like messing with less anymore ... unless
a hybrid conventionally 6-string tuned bass guitar, (high-E is a
.026), where those heavy gauges make for a different beast, quickly
wearing my finger strength down, otherwise, to where I doubt I'd mess
up any frets.

[jtees4]

Post by notbob

Post by Nil
Do you find that they wear out your strings a lot faster than with
nickle frets?
I would rather replace string periodically than frets!

I assume yer discussing SS frets. Yes? No?
I'm interested cuz I plan on buying a wider neck for my Tele and
wondered if I should spring for stainless steel (SS) frets.
nb

Sorry, missed this post until now. I did not have the guitar long
enough to worry about refretting, however, I know it was a player
before I got it....and the frest looked new. Just fyi...on the Parker
Fly the frets have no tangs and they are epoxied directly to the
fretboard, so if it would have needed it, it would be real expensive.

[notbob]

Just fyi...on the Parker Fly the frets have no tangs and they are
epoxied directly to the fretboard, so if it would have needed it, it
would be real expensive.

Wonder if someone makes a replacement fingerboard w/ frets.

I always wanted to fly a Parker Fly.

nb

[Flasherly]

Post by Squier
and from memory I do remember a guitar tech (very good one) telling me
that they are nearly stainless steel hard and the fret wire they use
is really
tough to bend and form... etc.

The good stuff, I've done two, cut from its pre-coiled, bulk roll and
shipped in a suitable box (4-foot lengths), isn't much then to account
for (hardly) any bending -- simply hammering it in with a
plastic/rubber mallet does what's needed, at least for me (mostly a
pristine, stock factory fretboard);- forming the ends, any further
leveling...dressed, well, there's the "school of buy cheap tools,"
because in doing it will probably to tear them up.

(I switched to power rotary tools after the mistakes I made on the
first, managing to avoid a repeat on the second and relatively
expensive and prized Fender Nashville Telecaster. Also took quite
awhile, about one 6-hour afternoon's time, to get "the effect": the
indestructible fretboard in superman jumbos;- yeah...and "it's like an
individual whammy bar on each fingertip," said Trembling Mister
Vibrato first time up.)

Good idea to read (a lot), brush up on fret jobs, before ordering SS
and taking on the job if and for any sense of a preconceived "casual
project."

[LULU]

Post by Flasherly

Post by Squier
and from memory I do remember a guitar tech (very good one) telling me
that they are nearly stainless steel hard and the fret wire they use
is really
tough to bend and form... etc.

The good stuff, I've done two, cut from its pre-coiled, bulk roll and
shipped in a suitable box (4-foot lengths), isn't much then to account
for (hardly) any bending -- simply hammering it in with a
plastic/rubber mallet does what's needed, at least for me (mostly a
pristine, stock factory fretboard);- forming the ends, any further
leveling...dressed, well, there's the "school of buy cheap tools,"
because in doing it will probably to tear them up.
(I switched to power rotary tools after the mistakes I made on the
first, managing to avoid a repeat on the second and relatively
expensive and prized Fender Nashville Telecaster. Also took quite
awhile, about one 6-hour afternoon's time, to get "the effect": the
indestructible fretboard in superman jumbos;- yeah...and "it's like an
individual whammy bar on each fingertip," said Trembling Mister
Vibrato first time up.)
Good idea to read (a lot), brush up on fret jobs, before ordering SS
and taking on the job if and for any sense of a preconceived "casual
project."

=====================

I've noticed that stainless frets tend to flat-spot nickel/steel strings. Especially in areas where string bends are used a lot. Stainless strings are a trade off like most everything else.

Lulu : )

http://avhguitarrepair.com/repair-blog/stainless-steel-frets-hmm/

=====================

[Neil]

Post by LULU

Post by Flasherly

Post by Squier
and from memory I do remember a guitar tech (very good one) telling me
that they are nearly stainless steel hard and the fret wire they use
is really
tough to bend and form... etc.

The good stuff, I've done two, cut from its pre-coiled, bulk roll and
shipped in a suitable box (4-foot lengths), isn't much then to account
for (hardly) any bending -- simply hammering it in with a
plastic/rubber mallet does what's needed, at least for me (mostly a
pristine, stock factory fretboard);- forming the ends, any further
leveling...dressed, well, there's the "school of buy cheap tools,"
because in doing it will probably to tear them up.
(I switched to power rotary tools after the mistakes I made on the
first, managing to avoid a repeat on the second and relatively
expensive and prized Fender Nashville Telecaster. Also took quite
awhile, about one 6-hour afternoon's time, to get "the effect": the
indestructible fretboard in superman jumbos;- yeah...and "it's like an
individual whammy bar on each fingertip," said Trembling Mister
Vibrato first time up.)
Good idea to read (a lot), brush up on fret jobs, before ordering SS
and taking on the job if and for any sense of a preconceived "casual
project."

=====================
I've noticed that stainless frets tend to flat-spot nickel/steel strings. Especially in areas where string bends are used a lot. Stainless strings are a trade off like most everything else.
Lulu : )
http://avhguitarrepair.com/repair-blog/stainless-steel-frets-hmm/
=====================

This could certainly account for my friend's fret wear. I've forwarded
the link to him.

Thanks for posting it!

[Flasherly]

On Fri, 22 Jan 2016 09:04:17 -0800 (PST), LULU
<***@yahoo.com> wrote:
I've noticed that stainless frets tend to flat-spot nickel/steel
strings. Especially in areas where string bends are used a lot.
Stainless strings are a trade off like most everything else.

Post by LULU
Lulu : )

I've gotten good deals on imported strings in bulk, but strings never
were as much a factor for wear I'd occur on frets other than stainless
frets. I've never looked for flat spots on the strings, (I get
flatspots bigtime with nylon - switched to premium extra hard French
imports...see how they go), although strings left on awhile and a few
sessions while using 0000 steel wool for cleaning them for some added,
extra life to smoothness and playability, the tone of course degrades
to where a change back to fresh strings is drastic.

Nice, but it doesn't bother me so much, a little loss from that tonal
purity;- where I change is when string corrosion messes with playing
at upper positions, left too long, intonation going as much as a
semitone flat;- not that couldn't probably change every time, with
bulk pricing -- $100 for 50 "Fender Bullet," or so marked, packaged
6-strings sets on my last order. Mainland China and better quality
strings than I'd get from domestic pricing prior: 12 strings same
gauge, wounds, shipped straight in long bags, $5 or $6 a bag: string
rot, corrosion, being considerably faster with that domestic brand.

Trade-off issues for stainless fret, altogether, pretty much were
delegated for me for a necessity. Anything but stainless frets I'd
tear up and in short order, wearing down shallows into them, which at
the first hint of subsequent string buzz was turnings guitars, playing
them, into a spiral of worn exasperation.