What experience do you guys have with different sized frets? I know Dingwall uses banjo and mandolin size (smaller... especially the mandolins) frets, and they claim it gives the bass a more "woody" sound. I know a few people on here play Dingwalls, would you guys agree? What about larger frets? I'm guessing they're gonna give you more fret noise when sliding up and down the neck. Are the larger frets going to give you more of that (sometimes intentional, sometimes not) growly fret buzz (i.e. Flea's sound)? I know it's all in the fingers, but is that pretty much the effect that different fret sizes would have?
I know that guys like Billy Sheehan use smaller frets starting at the 12th for better innotation which makes a lot of sense when you need to get clear notes at the top of the fret board.
I don't know about smaller frets, but have you listened to the dingwall sound samples at basstasters.com? They sound really bright to me, not "woody" at all. I think they sound great, just not "woody". Of course, I've never played one.
Smaller frets, when properly crowned, will be almost round in cross section. this makes for a smaller contact point between string and fret. This makes for more precise intonation. A Jumbo fret is more of an oval in shape and there is more string in contact with the fret. The intonation can vary a bit depending on the skill of the luthier. The smaller fret also leaves a little more real estate for a finger to occupy, which is important to some. As far as sound goes, it's metal to metal. Some say that a small fret imparts a glass-like, bell tone. Jumbo frets are supposed to sustain longer. Those are the typical descriptions. You will have to judge this for yourself.
