DR SS Lo Riders: Fret Eaters?

esxmac · #1 10-08-2007, 01:09 AM

I got a factory sealed Fender MIA Deluxe Jazz V 13 days ago. I took it to my tech and had DR SS Lo Riders (45-65-85-105-125) put on it. I have played it maybe 10 hours since I got it back (2-3 hrs before I took it to my tech)--and it sounds great, but...

I took a close look at the frets tonight and noticed that most of the frets are shiny already with some fret wear and flatter spots. However, a few of the frets have deep grooves in them that weren't there a week ago. I can understand this being normal after 4-5 yrs, but 13 days?

All I changed was the strings (from Fender SuperBass). Are the strings chewing up my brand new bass? If this is happening with SS, will Nickel Lo Riders or Sunbeams stop or dramatically slow the fret wear?

I am pretty upset given how quickly this has happened, especially since my other bass (1988 Fender P-Bass - Japan) has never had any fret work done on it (I am the original owner) and its frets are in better shape

Nikoubis · #2 10-08-2007, 01:34 AM

DR strings are supposed to be renowned for NOT eating your frets... This should not be happening no matter the strings.

I dunno if nickels will solve your problem, but NEVER try Rotosounds with that bass. No, not even their flats.

Rawkabilly · #3 10-08-2007, 01:42 AM

I have ss Lo-Riders on my SX P-bass and I play it all the time. Fret wear is pretty minimal. Hmmm....I'll have to defer to the experts on this one.

christle · #4 10-08-2007, 08:25 AM

I have had DR SS Lo-Riders on many a bass for several years and have yet to have excess fret wear on any of them. It may be that they used a softer fret wire on that particular bass. Try the nickel Lo-Riders, that may help.

Wilbyman · #5 10-08-2007, 09:40 AM

I have been using them for quite a while on alot of basses and haven't had any problems like you describe.

bassgod0dmw · #6 10-08-2007, 10:39 AM

No problems here either. I have them on all of my basses.

esxmac · #7 10-10-2007, 01:08 AM

I took the bass back to him and we took a closer look at it. I can feel what I thought were scratches/grooves with a fingernail and I showed him the sparkle/speckle. He then took a screwdriver (with my permission) and very gently rubbed the top of the worst fret. Then he had me feel it--it felt a lot better, not perfect, but MUCH more shallow.

He then told me how the finish--satin or otherwise--is applied to the neck. I had no idea that the frets, fresh from the factory, have the satin coating on them! So I went over to the local music store and played a few Deluxe J & P basses. I played them all a little hard and checked the frets. They ALL had some scratches (most likely due to neck finish); most of the scratches weren't as deep, but this may be due to the stainless steel strings on my bass (American Deluxes come with nickel strings from the factory). After shining a bright light on the neck, it also appears that what I thought were worn frets are in fact uneven glare from where the neck finish is scratched off of the fret. And he said that the sparkle/speckle is part of the neck finish. He also said that the satin finish is probably thicker that we would think, which give the impression of scratched/grooved frets.

My tech advised me to give it another week and to intentionally play a little harder, just to see if it is really the finish or if it is the frets.

Anyone ever experience anything like this?