Need Help With Strings

fgnbtz · #1 01-31-2010, 01:38 PM

Hey guys I really need your help. I just put some D'addario Stainless Steel (I believe) onto my Jazz bass and I just noticed that there is some fret wear (on the E and A string, there are grinding marks from the strings).
Should I swap them out for something not SS? And what do you guys recommend?

Meatrus · #2 01-31-2010, 03:51 PM

My guess would be the wear was already there, and you just noticed it because you were thinking about the SS strings. If you have only just put them on, they will not have worn the frets yet (it takes a very long time). Grinding also doesent sound like fretwear, its normally like a groove under the string.

The SS wear thing is over exaggerated massively, and you dont need to worry about SS strings. I'm not saying your frets arent worn, but it will have nothing to do with the D'addarios and will be old damage.

mccartneyman · #3 01-31-2010, 05:26 PM

How old is the bass? Older Fenders had softer fretwire. I had a '59 P and when I went to rotosounds, they ate the frets in about a year of daily gigging.

ReMmy · #4 01-31-2010, 11:17 PM

R. Cocco nickels and you won't use anything else again!

eyecandy · #5 02-01-2010, 07:01 AM

i havent experienced a really worn fret... but previously i borrowed my cousin's 18 year old bass.. the strings in it was never changed for like 10 years.. the frets are still in good shape..

rumblethump · #6 02-01-2010, 12:15 PM

First question is, do you like the way they sound? If you do, don't worry about the fretware. Its the cost you pay for your tone. Any roundwound string leaves tiny grooves in the frets. If you don't like the tone of the strings, you might look at halfrounds, groundrounds, flatwounds, tapewounds, or nickel rounds. All are easier on your frets and none of them sound like SS roundwounds.