What is jumbo frets made of?

Patricia86 · #1 10-22-2009, 02:11 PM

Hi..

I've just bought a fender Am Std. J-bass and I was wondering what the frets are made of?

I wonder because my fingers gets black everytime I play, so I want to make sure that it aint made of Nickel.. Hope you can help me!

Greyvagabond · #2 10-22-2009, 02:12 PM

They're made from Elephant bones. The black residue is simply the enamel wearing off.

grifff · #3 10-22-2009, 02:14 PM

The frets are most likely nickel.

bassteban · #4 10-22-2009, 02:16 PM

You might see what you're strings are made of- you're likely contacting the actual string far more than the frets.

loend68 · #5 10-22-2009, 02:17 PM

Doesn't Fender use Nickels for stock strings? That might be it...

Stanley Design · #6 10-22-2009, 03:12 PM

If you're touching the frets you must have pretty weird technique.

mongo2 · #7 10-22-2009, 03:27 PM

Check the string material as well...

Frets are usually 18% nickel silver aka German Silver. The formulation of the alloy can vary but it's basically an alloy of copper with about 18% nickel and maybe about the same amount of zinc or tin and traces of other metals.

There are frets made of stainless steel available if you have an adverse reaction to copper or nickel.

202dy · #8 10-22-2009, 05:17 PM

65% Copper
18% Nickel
17% Zinc

Rattman · #9 10-22-2009, 07:32 PM

Sounds like you are having a chemical reaction from the STRINGS rather than the frets. Some people actually are allergic to nickel.. but again, it does sound like your strings are the problem.

gruda · #10 10-22-2009, 07:36 PM

ITS MAGIC!!!!