Mandolin sized frets?

[GODSBASSMAN]

Sklar uses mandolin sized frets on his basses? Why? (read this somewhere). Why?

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Other companies use them as well (I believe Lakland does, or they at least use a very small fretwire). My fretted has them as well. Smoother feel and sound when sliding, and just a much different feel overall. The sound is probably different as well- it's been a long time since I played a fretted without them, so I don't remember at the moment

 

[pasta4lnch]

my buddy made a tribute of Lee's P bass and used Mandolin frets and swears by them. Never had a chance to check it out though . . .

 

[Bassamatic]

I have an old Aria Pro II with very tiny frets, and it is really easy to play. I expect that setup and alignment are more critical.

 

[Double Agent]

It allows you to get lower action, they feel smoother, and they contribute to a "woodier" tone. My Dingwall AB1 had banjo frets (bigger than mandolin frets, but smaller than most frets you'll find on a bass), and I loved it.

One thing though, smaller frets require more accurate fretting on the player's part. You have to get your fretting finger right behind the fret. It required a slight adjustment in my technique, but it actually made my playing a little better on all my basses.

 

[ethompson2]

My Lakland has small frets and I love it, with the right setup it is effortless to play. Just feels like you can just simply lay your finger on the board and there's the note.

 

[spade2you]

I have an old Aria Pro II with very tiny frets, and it is really easy to play. I expect that setup and alignment are more critical.

Perhaps, although I would suspect that on average most basses with smaller frets would be custom and tend to have a quality fretjob in general. I don't have any small frets that I know of, but perhaps this might be something interesting to try down the line.

 

[Slowgypsy]

My main player... MIA 62 RI Fender Jazz... "vintage frets", which are rather like the frets on my mandolin. Standard issue on those instruments.

FWIW, smaller frets don't get you lower action. Action is measured from the strings to the top of the frets. Smaller frets do, however, get the pad of your finger closer to the fretboard... which for some folks is a positive thing.

 

[koobie]

Are 'mandolin' size frets much smaller than the 'vintage' frets used on early Fenders?

 

[GODSBASSMAN]

Aah, I see. Cool. Thanks, y'all. Will do it next job.

 

[Rockman]

Other companies use them as well (I believe Lakland does, or they at least use a very small fretwire). My fretted has them as well. Smoother feel and sound when sliding, and just a much different feel overall. The sound is probably different as well- it's been a long time since I played a fretted without them, so I don't remember at the moment

Lakland's frets are definetely tiny. I went from playing a Fender with jumbos to the Lakland with the tiny frets. I immediately loved it for fingerstyle. But I'm just now realizing that maybe thats why I'm not in love with the slap tone/playability on it. I also almost feel that you can't dig in as hard with the smaller frets, but that could always just be a discrepancy in the setups.

 

[tjclem]

Where can you get Stainless Mandolin fret wire?

 

[Slowgypsy]

Where can you get Stainless Mandolin fret wire?

Lots of places to get that, but here's one reliable source...
Invalid Link Removed

 

[tjclem]

Lots of places to get that, but here's one reliable source...
Invalid Link Removed

not stainless

 

[Slowgypsy]

not stainless

Not for nothing... you're correct of course... but all I just did was a quick Google search for "Stainless Fret Wire". Here ya go....

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