splitting frets!

[mothytim2001]

Recently bought a new Epiphone Thunderbird pro bass.
I've noticed that the fret/fret wire looks like its splitting on most of the frets. Not sure why, I've heard various explanations...coating on the fret wire? or nickel strings rubbing against nickel fret wire?
I've still got the factory strings on since I got the bass.
I'm not sure if its a fault in the fret wire material.
comments advice greatly needed.

[erikbojerik]

Never heard of such a thing.

[santucci218]

picture?

[Benjamin Strange]

It sounds like you're just got some fret wear, which is totally normal. If you want to fix it, a fret level would be the way to go.

[Randall]

On a new bass? I have to see pictures of that Please.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

???

Originally Posted by erikbojerik

Never heard of such a thing.

+10000

There's always a possibility that the stresses while cold rolling the frets make the crown split over time, but as a BEng I find that very, very hard to believe on a profile like that.

Regards
Sam

[PilbaraBass]

not splitting...look closer...

wire is dulling on top where the string is contacting...

looks like a split, but is not...

solution...replace the old, nasty strings and clean the frets & fretboard while you're at it.

[tjclem]

Either that or possibly the slackers that made it sprayed the whole neck and didn't clean the spray off the frets when it dried? Now it is cracking and looking like hell?

[vbasscustom]

thats probably it. i had a really old crappy guitar from japan that this happened on exactly. once the strings wore through the finish to the frets, the laquer started to peel and loked like the frets were cracking. some tape and a wire brush took care of it.

[Musiclogic]

any pics of this occurance may aide in explaining what you are seeing.

[3dec3]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

if you want answers, post in the proper subforum. if you want to be relentlessly goofed on, keep posting in forums that have nothing to do with your problem.

"Bass Central Bass Central invites you to participate, chime in, and sound off, about gear or anything else bass related!"

Describe the problem more, is it the frets peeling away from the fingerboard or is it the actual fret getting ruined. But I have never heard of coated frets before.

[mothytim2001]

Well its the actual fret wire that appears to be splitting, if you look at a metal fret wire going across the neck mine has lines/ splits in them I can almost get my fingernail into them. It seems to be happening to most of the frets

[mothytim2001]

Thanks for your help, I appreciate it

[john turner]

i've merged all the threads on this topic into one thread.

please use this thread for further questions. thanks.

[zombywoof5050]

Originally Posted by mothytim2001

Well its the actual fret wire that appears to be splitting, if you look at a metal fret wire going across the neck mine has lines/ splits in them I can almost get my fingernail into them. It seems to be happening to most of the frets

That's most likely a groove worn into the fret by one of the windings of a roundwound string.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by mothytim2001

Well its the actual fret wire that appears to be splitting, if you look at a metal fret wire going across the neck mine has lines/ splits in them I can almost get my fingernail into them. It seems to be happening to most of the frets

While I still believe this is the reason:

Originally Posted by zombywoof5050

That's most likely a groove worn into the fret by one of the windings of a roundwound string.

I'd really, really like to see a pic of the splitting frets. I'd make a wild guess that I'm not the only one either.

Like I said earlier, I've seen such splitting on other cold rolled copper alloy items, but never on frets. And I've seen/worked on frets from all over the world .

3dec3, You have never seen painted/laquered fretboards where the frets have recieved their fair share of said plastic???
You must use/test quality instruments only. Even Fender USA is guilty of that sloppiness IME.

Regards
Sam

[JLS]

Originally Posted by mothytim2001

Well its the actual fret wire that appears to be splitting, if you look at a metal fret wire going across the neck mine has lines/ splits in them I can almost get my fingernail into them. It seems to be happening to most of the frets

Please. Post. A. Photo.

[mothytim2001]

Thanks for all comments/help. I'm gonna get some photo's taken and post them

[mothytim2001]

...also if it is roundwound strings wearing a groove into the frets, then the quality of the frets must be terrible, I mean its never happened on any other bass I've had

[john turner]

i've seen grooves worn in frets on both my 73 ric and my 77 fender jazz.

both got played a lot.

my conklins get played a lot too, but i have yet to see anything like this on them.