Stainless Steel = Eaten Frets?

[ndrifka]

I'm using SS Loriders on my '08 Pbass and heard that SS strings can eat up the frets. Is this true and does anyone have any thoughts on this? It makes sense that the SS strings could wear down the nickel frets, but I was wondering how long it takes for this to happen? With all the SS users out there I'm a little confused. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Thangfish]

All strings wear down the frets (unless maybe you use nylon or something). Never seen a well played instrument without worn frets. Frets can be replaced when worn too far. SS frets will last longer, if you go that route when it's time for a fret job. If you prefer the sound of your ss strings, that is the main thing.

I guess you could change over to a string that you enjoy the sound of less... or for that matter, just don't practice so much!

I mean, I'm just sayin'... you know?

[ndrifka]

Yeah, I hear ya. Any piece of metal vibrating against another piece of metal is gonna cause some wear. TB is great, but after searching something out on here it is easy to get paranoid from all the different views/opinions on things...almost info overload.

[BullHorn]

Don't worry about it.

[CrashClint]

It all depends on much slapping and string bending you are doing. This type of playing wears on frets more. It also depends on the quality of fret wire. A low end import is probably going to have softer fret wire which will wear quicker than your American made basses.

[Sparkdog]

Different brands have very different feels in terms of the roughness on your fingers, and frets.

Years ago I used Rotosound Swing Bass strings on a Precision because it was "the sound" for heavy rock, but they were famous for absolutely destroying your frets. Guys who played aggressively just counted on having a fret job every couple of years.

I stopped using SS a long time ago because I just found them too bright and harsh sounding, and I hated the rough feel...it's like dragging your fingers over sandpaper.

But I recently bought a new active 5 string, and for this bass I wanted something really aggressive and present. I've always heard that DR Highbeams were much smoother feeling and easier on the frets so I bought a set.

It's true! They have all the brightness of stainless, but they are actually smoother than the DAD nickel rounds I have on my Stingray.

Too soon to know about how they will affect my frets, but they sure feel nice.

[JustOpenYourMind]

They do eat frets more than nickels, it won't affect playability until maybe 7-10 years, then you'll be good for a refret

Seriously, I used SS rounds for a couple of years on my P-bass and the frets are as good as new.

[JTE]

Yes, SS is harder than the nickle-silver used for fretwire so they will eat up the frets. How much depends on a lot of variables. How hard to you press the strings down? How coarse is the outter wrap wire? How much vibrato do you apply to your strings? What specific alloy are the strings?

Rotosound RS66 have a (deserved) reputation for being hard on frets. That's due to a combination of a rather coarse outter wrap and very hard alloy. As they were the first, and for a long time, the best-known SS roundwound string, that reputation has been transferred to all SS rounds.

But even then it really doesn't matter. If they give you the sound you want, then fret wear is part of the price of doing business.

jte

[mbrsart]

I've got pretty worn frets on my bass, and I've used nickels every time except the three that I used flats, and the steels I've got on there now (gotten by mistake). I don't notice any difference. And I like the sound of my worn fretwire. Gives it a kind of mwah if I play it right.

[miles'tone]

I used heavy gauge Rotosound 66 (110-50 I think) on my MIA Jazz tuned DGCF when it was new and those strings nearly sawed thru my frets in a year! I was playing hard music at the time though. Had a decent fret dress and have ended up with rotosound 77 flats (105-45) after trying loads of strings out. No fret wear whatsoever now.

[rickfan63]

Originally Posted by ndrifka

I'm using SS Loriders on my '08 Pbass and heard that SS strings can eat up the frets. Is this true and does anyone have any thoughts on this? It makes sense that the SS strings could wear down the nickel frets, but I was wondering how long it takes for this to happen? With all the SS users out there I'm a little confused. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

DR's are easy on the frets. Both nickel and SS versions. I had SS Hi-Beams on a Rickenbacker 4003 that I recently sold and there was little to no fret wear on it. I also have a Rickenbacker 4001C64 with DR nickel Lo-Riders that I use regularly with no fret issues at all. If you like, and stick with the DR's, you shouldn't have a problem with premature fret wear. Lo-Riders are made the same way as Hi-Beams are, except the Hi-Beams have a round core instead of a hex core.

[P-BASSLOVER]

Originally Posted by rickfan63

DR's are easy on the frets. Both nickel and SS versions. I had SS Hi-Beams on a Rickenbacker 4003 that I recently sold and there was little to no fret wear on it. I also have a Rickenbacker 4001C64 with DR nickel Lo-Riders that I use regularly with no fret issues at all. If you like, and stick with the DR's, you shouldn't have a problem with premature fret wear. Lo-Riders are made the same way as Hi-Beams are, except the Hi-Beams have a round core instead of a hex core.

I gotta disagree with you there. DR High and FatBeams are smooth. Especially the Fatbeams. Lo-Riders have a different stainless winding too. They aren't shiny like the Fats and Hi's, they are duller and more gray in color, more like Rotos are.
You can also feel the difference on your fingers.

[Beefbass]

I say it really depends on what you use. I use Fender 7350M stainless for rounds. They are IMHO very smooth for a stainless string.

I noticed the Ken Smith rockmasters are the same way-that is, they didn't feel rough to me at all.

[xshawnxearthx]

i've had nothing but dr hi beams on my mia p bass and after 5 years i've shown little to no wear.