Those above that state don't worry about it are right. Use whatever string gives you the tone and feel you like. At the end of it all, a bass refret isn't the end of life for a bass. It is expensive but not nearly as expensive as tires on a car. Are you going to only drive on 25mph straight roads in order to preserve your tires a little longer? Me neither. Get out there, tear it up, and live without fear or regrets.... with ss rounds!
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Do Stainless Steel Roundwound Strings Still Eat Frets?
- Thread starter EdO.
- Start date
I've only been using steel for about 2 months but I am playing aggressively 5 to 6 hours a day and haven't noticed any wear (amd I'm watching carefully)
I have noticed that the steels have cut my nut deeper (some kind of plastic nut material)
The channels are both deeper and wider and its becoming an issue. I'll have to change nut materials if Im going to keep using steels.
I have noticed that the steels have cut my nut deeper (some kind of plastic nut material)
The channels are both deeper and wider and its becoming an issue. I'll have to change nut materials if Im going to keep using steels.
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Ric frets were also filed flat on the tops, with no crowning. They had to do that because the laquered fingerboard created little "ramps" of laquer that walked up in the edges of each fret. A true hemispherical crown job would cut into that finish. The fret wear is a lot more noticeable with more flat surface area at the fret tops. The laquer looks great, for a while, but inevitably gets whitish lines along the fret edges as the wood board and metal frets expand/contract differentially.
I am doing the same thing. Whatever stock nut is on here is trash. I ordered a Tusq XL.
depends on the frets. I have a fender from around 2000 late 90s with extremely soft frets. SS strings probably would kill those in a year.
I recently asked a knowledgeable string purveyor about this and was told they think it has more to do with whether or not you have a gorilla grip.
it can, depends on playing style. If you bend notes & stretch strings, yes it will. I hate when someone plays my bass & they do it to my strings & frets. To me, its like me doing a burn-out in your car,
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I think rotosounds probably got a bad wrap (no pun intended) because they were the first to market with roundwounds. They were roundwounds, and the only offering of roundwounds for a awhile.....nothing I've seen makes them inherently harder on frets than any other set of rounds.
Appreciate the inputs and opinions, thanks to all who've responded. My assumption going in was that most frets on newer instruments are probably nickel/silver unless stated otherwise. Specifically Googled "what materials are Fender frets made from" and the response was "Fender uses standard nickel/silver fret wire, which is made of brass and nickel. This material is also known as German silver, and is typically 18% nickel and 80% copper".
As to the comments about playing style etc, I'm in agreement. Over the years my technique has improved significantly and I don't "dig in" like I did in the early days, much lighter touch and if I'm doing any sort of string bending I'm not aware of it. Basses I've had for a number of years show little to no noticeable fret dents/wear (other than my 1981 Stingray that was my main/only instrument for probably 25+ years, but that's another issue) so I think I'm basically OK on that front. But as stated I've only used nickel round wounds on all of them.
Another comment that struck home -
As to the comments about playing style etc, I'm in agreement. Over the years my technique has improved significantly and I don't "dig in" like I did in the early days, much lighter touch and if I'm doing any sort of string bending I'm not aware of it. Basses I've had for a number of years show little to no noticeable fret dents/wear (other than my 1981 Stingray that was my main/only instrument for probably 25+ years, but that's another issue) so I think I'm basically OK on that front. But as stated I've only used nickel round wounds on all of them.
Another comment that struck home -
I'm getting to the age where I probably have less than 10 years of shelf life/gig-ability left in me (probably less...). I do gig a fair amount (40+ per year) and practice/rehearse almost daily, so all things considered I'm thinking I'm probably good to go for this lifetime. Thanks again for all of the input and responses.
I heard when SS round wounds eat frets the next morning is really rough.
It is physics, if the string material hardness is higher than the fret material, it will end up wearing it.
However, as many people pointed, I think usage frequency, technique and string height are the most significant factors to result in high fret wear. I play Rotosound almost exclusively, rotating between 3 and 5 instruments and had to re-fret two basses in 30 years.
However, as many people pointed, I think usage frequency, technique and string height are the most significant factors to result in high fret wear. I play Rotosound almost exclusively, rotating between 3 and 5 instruments and had to re-fret two basses in 30 years.
it makes me wonder how Roto stayed in business since so many of us scared of the damn things 
- Oct 22, 2015
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I don't know "still", but they did. Used them in the late 70s and early 80s, and have the luthier's bill to show for it.
You just "shouldn't" set a bass up so the strings are zinging the top of the frets with mild plucking, they could chew though frets that way in a week or less but most people wouldn't do that.
Otherwise the wear is greater but in actual use it's not a problem. If you'd never wear out the frets you still probably won't, if you will wear out the frets it'll just happen a bit sooner
Otherwise the wear is greater but in actual use it's not a problem. If you'd never wear out the frets you still probably won't, if you will wear out the frets it'll just happen a bit sooner
If you have a piece of fretwire and both types of strings, you can just try to saw a fretwire with the strings. Whichever grabs better, will wear the frets faster. I use only nickel plated steel strings and these just slide around on the surface of standard nickel-silver fret as if it was surface of glass. That said in time, it will wear out.
As they say, dripping water hollows out stone.
As they say, dripping water hollows out stone.
Depends on your grip.
Imo the preassure needed to produce a note is not enough to create damage between two different metals
Imo the preassure needed to produce a note is not enough to create damage between two different metals
Short answer no. So basically anything with newer fret technology either nickel steel or stainless or bell brass if you have a Warwick means that it'll take years and years of aggressive treatment to do anything to frets even with the harshest steel string. The only thing I'd worry is if you have a very old vintage bass like a 70's 4001 Ricky or something comparable. Those were built with softer metal back then. They have since figured it out made stronger frets. Of all the basses I've had I can say that none of mine had the frets eaten and steel roundwound is all I use. Even on my fretless it's not chewing through anything.
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