does anyone know what size fretwire is on a MIA deluxe jazz?

[Dredmahawkus]

It seems to be lower then my MIM and I like it much better. I have to order a neck and want pretty much the same as my MIA deluxe...does anyone know what size fret wire fender uses so I can order the same?

[testing1two]

The best method is to go to your local shop/tech and have somebody measure your frets with calipers. Fender tends to use vague terms like "medium" or "medium jumbo" but if you're ordering a neck then you'll want to have the Dunlop or Jescar fretwire number. Here's a chart: http://www.lutherie.net/fret.chart.html

If you like the feel of shorter frets, mandolin frets are fantastic but smaller frets means you can only level them once or twice before they need replacing (that may or may not be an issue depending on how your playing style wears on frets).

A word of advice: whichever size you choose, go with stainless steel or EVO fretwire as they last much longer than standard nickel silver.

[Rocky McD]

Almost all production Fenders use the same wire. Some artist signature series are different.
Fender calls it medium jumbo. To ge sure, measure yours with some calipers and order the exact same wire. It will vary according to how much was filed off when yours was fret leveled at the factory. The Deluxe's have more finish work on the frets than the standard instruments. Measure the width and height of the frets that look to have the least amount of filing done to them.

[Dredmahawkus]

you dont think the stainless changes the tone? I was going to do stainless....but was a little concerned about tone and not being able to work with the frets incase the neck comes back and needs fret work. I bought a MIM 9 weeks ago and I think the necks warped and gone already. its at my luthiers now and its been there for a week so I think I will be ordering a neck really soon! I already put fralins in the MIM so I really dont want to take them out to send it back to fender and wait months for it to come back. better off just getting a neck myself.

[testing1two]

Stainless doesn't change the tone to any noticeable degree and they can be leveled and dressed like any other frets. I think people are under the impression that alloy used in stainless steel frets is armor plated. It's not. It's harder than nickel for sure but not so much as to be difficult to work with. In fact, the only thing that's difficult compared to nickel is clipping them and even that's not an issue with the right cutters.

[Dredmahawkus]

Thanks! ok stainless it is! now I have to decide on warmoth or musikraft.....those roasted necks on musikraft look awefully nice. new neck pickups and going to get a bridge for my MIM....only thing left is the body!

[testing1two]

Add USA Custom Guitars to your list of potential neck suppliers. I've had necks from all 3 and while they are all very good USACG is my top choice in terms of quality.

[Dredmahawkus]

happen to know the turn around time for uscustom and musikraft? if they build one you want.....it seems warmoth wants a ton for like AAAA birdseye compared to the other 2 places. If usacustom feels the best I will get one from them. Since I am going to dump about 2k into a $600 MIM I might as well put the best on.

[testing1two]

You definitely want to call to discuss lead times. There are a lot of factors involved depending on what options you choose.

Also, if you want a one-piece neck with a maple fingerboard, Musikraft will tell you that they can give you better figured maple if you get a 2 piece neck (separate neck and fingerboard) instead of a one piece neck. I did this on a tele neck and to be honest it looks silly, especially since they still put a skunk stripe on the back. Lesson learned.

Also, keep in mind that figured maple necks only look pretty. They don't sound better and by nature they are less stable than plain, straight (or quartersawn) grain. The roasting process sorts out the instability but the tradeoff is that the wood becomes more brittle. Roasted maple also costs an arm and a leg.

With all that said, if I wanted a neck to satisfy my figured maple fetish I would go with roasted flame maple. If I wanted a neck to play every day and everywhere until I wore the finish off I would go with plain quartersawn.