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fret size and playability

dougazbass

dougazbass

Supporting Member
May 6, 2011
957
220
Mesa, AZ
#1
I have a a Fender jazz, G&L JB2 and Dean Bromberg Sig.
Just got the Bromberg so I need to put flats on it to really compare but I'm thinking that The jumbo frets on the JB2 make it much more "user friendly".
The JB2 is just easlier to sound good on than the Fender jazz.
I am just learning so this helps me.
In other words I don't have to hit as close to the frets on the JB2 to hit the note. I think that this is due to fret size.
Any thoughts?
 
#2
dougazbass said:
I have a a Fender jazz, G&L JB2 and Dean Bromberg Sig.
Just got the Bromberg so I need to put flats on it to really compare but I'm thinking that The jumbo frets on the JB2 make it much more "user friendly".
The JB2 is just easlier to sound good on than the Fender jazz.
I am just learning so this helps me.
In other words I don't have to hit as close to the frets on the JB2 to hit the note. I think that this is due to fret size.
Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

I think fret size is more of a personal 'feel' issue. Some like big frets, some like small.

Either way, I don't think that either is more forgiving when it comes to fretting- just that different people like different feels. Your bigger frets on your JB2 aren't as likely to affect playability as action/string height. I bet your Jazz has higher action?

I personally like really small frets. I like to feel the fingerboard a little. Some studio cats believe that smaller frets play more in-tune up the neck. I'm not sure I notice any significant difference in intonation, but the idea is out there.
 
#4
I don't get it as to why one needs medium jumbo frets on a bass---and a flatter radius (like 9-1/2" or more). My '01 American Jazz has all that. Makes sense on a guitar if you're playing light guage strings, and bending them more than a whole step. The higher frets make it easier to grab and hold onto the string, and the flatter radius keeps the string from bottoming out while stretching. But on bass? I don't bend bass strings.

Now, my old '87 Jazz Bass Special has low frets, a 7-1/4" radius, and even a D-shaped neck. It feels much more comfortable in my hand.

That's the way it is for me.
 
#5
Totally depends on execution. The two best fretted necks I've owned were a Norstrand with small frets and my Fodera with large frets. They felt best because the fretboards were prepped perfectly and the fretwork was immaculate.

Measurements only tell a small part of the story.
 
#7
Russell L said:
I don't get it as to why one needs medium jumbo frets on a bass---and a flatter radius (like 9-1/2" or more). My '01 American Jazz has all that. Makes sense on a guitar if you're playing light guage strings, and bending them more than a whole step. The higher frets make it easier to grab and hold onto the string, and the flatter radius keeps the string from bottoming out while stretching. But on bass? I don't bend bass strings.

Now, my old '87 Jazz Bass Special has low frets, a 7-1/4" radius, and even a D-shaped neck. It feels much more comfortable in my hand.

That's the way it is for me.
Click to expand...

People don't just get flatter fingerboards for string bends. I don't string bend either, but I love flat fingerboards. Much easier to play on for me.
 
#8
is it bad that I have been playing for 25 years and don't really feel a difference between the fret size? I have a 72 p-bass; 80 j-bass and 84 Charvel...the all have distinclty different frets, but O feel more difference in the neck parameters than the actual frets
 
#9
I have discovered over the last five or six years that I greatly prefer small frets. I love to do slides down or up the neck to a note, and the small frets don't seem to be the speed bumps the jumbos are. I also play fretless, and that may be a factor.

My main guitars are a Fender '51 RI and an AV '57 (both with "vintage" [small] frets), with a Godin fretless; I also have a Fender Standard P with the medium jumbos and, after playing it a bit recently, think it'll get traded off before long.
 
#11
dougazbass said:
My point was that you need to be more accurate on finger placement with smaller frets. Iwould think that this would be even more critical with fretless necks.
Click to expand...

In my playing experience, no - as long as the frets are level and spaced properly, they should be equally easy to 'fret' a note accurately.

Fretless, yes! You need to be much more accurate!
 
#13
Depends heavily on technique. A tall fret can allow for easier accidental bending of the string which will sound like bad intonation.

How much of a "speed bump" the frets feel like is also tied to technique. If you have a fairly light left hand touch slides feel about the same between small and large frets. If you dig in hard then they'll feel different.
 
#14
lpdeluxe said:
I have discovered over the last five or six years that I greatly prefer small frets. I love to do slides down or up the neck to a note, and the small frets don't seem to be the speed bumps the jumbos are.

My main guitars are a Fender... AV '57 (with "vintage" [small] frets)
Click to expand...

I to have an AV 57 and the vintage frets make it feel like I'm playing a fretless neck. I am sliding, bending the hold nine yards. Intonation is great, string height hovering just above frets, I love it. Also, have a 00 Jazz with medium jumbos and I do the same things on it but my lefty feels those bumps after awhile. My left hand string pressure varies from light to heavy, but I do like to dig in hard from time to time. Given a choice I would always go with vintage frets .
 
#15
nostatic said:
Depends heavily on technique. A tall fret can allow for easier accidental bending of the string which will sound like bad intonation.
Click to expand...

+1. If you mash your strings down when you fret them, small frets are going to give you better intonation than tall ones. On the other hand, you might need the durability offered by taller frets if you regularly mash strings into them.
 
#17
I don't find any difference in accuracy or intonation, myself. My technique (whatever it is---I try to be light) seems to play equally on tall or short frets. I just don't particularly NEED tall ones.

I still prefer the feel of a 7-1/4" radius over 9-1/2". And that D-shape on my JB Special really feels good---to me.
 

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