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Decreasing fret size up the neck.

Discussion in 'Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]' started by Mark Reccord, Nov 17, 2001.

  1. Nov 17, 2001 #1
    Mark Reccord

    Mark Reccord

    Nov 14, 2000
    Sunny St. John's, Newfoundland
    Here's an interesting concept. My best buddy is head tech/luthier at a local guitar shop. He recently did a refret on a Fender JP-90. The owner of the bass wanted him to put jumbos in for the first 7 or 8, then drop down to mediums up to the 14th or so and then drop down another size for the highest frets. I can't remember what frets he made the changes at, but you get the idea. It seems like a cool idea to me. You get the big, meaty frets for lower notes and the easier fingering and of the little guys up high. Have any of you had this done or heard of it? Do any manufacturers do it? Are the advantages real or just preceived? I'd like to know what y'all think. I'm having a refret done soon (for the cost of the fretwire:D, one of the advantages of being buddies with the tech guy!)and I'm considering this. What's the scoop?
     
  2. Nov 17, 2001 #2
    Angus

    Angus Supporting Member

    Apr 16, 2000
    Palo Alto, CA
    Billy Sheehan did the same thing to his Yamaha, and all of the production Yamaha Attitude-Plus's, I believe. Works great, as long as the frets are of the same height. Great bass, too.

    The reason why most do it is because you can get more precise intonation up in the higher register (which is harder to notice down lower), and you can still get all the grind from the frets in the lower register. Not to mention, tall narrow frets are easier to play high up on the neck.
     
  3. Nov 17, 2001 #3
    Mark Reccord

    Mark Reccord

    Nov 14, 2000
    Sunny St. John's, Newfoundland
    Cool, that's exactly what I thought, too. I just hadn't heard of anyone doing it before. Makes sense.
     
  4. Nov 18, 2001 #4
    dancehallclasher

    dancehallclasher

    Jul 21, 2000
    San Ramon, CA
    wow, that IS a good idea!
     
  5. Nov 18, 2001 #5
    BehindTheMoon

    BehindTheMoon

    Sep 7, 2001
    Perth, which is on the empty end of Australia.
    You want to be very careful about which part of the fret is the precise spot which the string takes off from, because that might change with different guage/width fretwire.

    Take a stroll over to the MIMF and ask the people there if you have any questions. The combined luthiery experience there is quite humbling, plus they are incredibly nice.