Fret wire / dressing preference?

[fretlessman71]

Okay, TBers... let's see who's REALLY picky!

Do you have a favorite gauge of fret wire, and a favorite way you like it crowned? Are you that picky about tone and intonation that you have to have it a certain way?

Luthiers, is there a "bass fret wire" that you use exclusively, and why?

Reason I'm asking is because I just had a fret level done on my Jazz V last month, and it's really good save for the high notes on the G and D strings (yes, I know I'm not supposed to play those notes, but it happens, so sue me). They warble like there's a bad chorus on them, and nothing I do with the pickups seems to be an issue. New strings didn't change it either, and I'm wondering if the frets are simply too flat (like a Les Paul) now to make those higher notes sing properly. (The fret work is warrantied for a year, but if I'm going to bring it back, I need to tell him what I want him to do.)

Thoughts, folks? Thanks in advance.

[Widdershins]

Just commenting on the 'chorus' sound.
I have an 11 year old P-Bass that has had the same problem for a little while now & intonation is also getting trickier. It's because the frets are wearing down and becoming flat. When I do take it in to the shop, I'll be getting the frets' level checked and, to fix the problem, re-crowned.

[fretlessman71]

Okay... so is it possible that these frets have been crowned flatter than they ought to be for a modern bass? Maybe they need more of a point on top...?

[Widdershins]

Originally Posted by fretlessman71

Maybe they need more of a point on top...?

Yep! They 'should' be round(er) if you are used to a low(er) action. You can experiment with string height to get rig of that chorus sound, but your intonation is still going to suffer some either way.
That is unless you can fret the 'exact' same way with the 'exact' same pressure every time to have the string terminate in the same spot, therefore allowing consistent length... but we aren't robots.

(or maybe some of us are?)

If your frets were totally flat, the termination point could be anywhere in the width of that fret... and it doesn't take much to throw off intonation. Also, the chorus you are hearing is kinda like the "mwahh" you hear from the string vibrating against a fretless fretboard... only it's happening on the fret.

Sometimes it can sound like a laser shot on the note decay... frustrating when it's on a demo you just recorded. Subtle enough not to hear it at first, but when you do hear it you can't "un-hear" it.