Most fret damaging strings out there??

[MoeTown1986]

The type of metal does have an effect on strength/wear.

There is something called the Vickers hardness scale. Generally nickel/silver frets are rated at HV170 (softer). Stainless steel at approx. HV 300 (harder). Different manufacturers of fretwire can vary.

So fret wear isn't always about the string used.

dang! so it can actually be the fret wire used from bass to bass?

 

[InternetAlias]

Yes, the more steel there is in the fretwire the harder it will be. Also, higher quality production fretwire will have a more homogeneous alloy and more impervious to damage, regardless of the steel:nickel ratio, so even the percentage of steel isn't the best indicator.

 

[awamori]

But now I have to ask, what if you installed stainless fret wire? Wouldnt it hold up much better to stainless rounds?

It varies between manufacturers of the wire and the formulation of the alloy. IIRC Jescar uses a 15% chromium stainless steel and Dunlop's wire is 13% chromium.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Of the strings I've tried, Cobalts seemed to have the most friction. I'm pretty easy on frets in general, but the Cobalts came off the bass very, very quickly. And no, I'm not going to do a double blind test. You can tell if something is chewing on your frets like little rods of sandpaper or gliding smoothly.

 

[David Jayne]

Reason I asked who'd worn out frets is because I've never come close. But the only axe I'd put a lot of miles on and played continually for about 15 years is a Modulus, and those have frets as hard as glass. Zero wear after all those years, and that's gigging 2-3 nights a week.
But I ran nickel XL's or SlowWounds. No pure steel strings.

 

[BassPlayer900]

Oddly enough, Rotos never did anything horrible to my frets. And I do tend to play aggressively.

 

[David Jayne]

Oddly enough, Rotos never did anything horrible to my frets. And I do tend to play aggressively.

.....and then you hear this sometimes. Who knows. Just play.

 

[Patchbass]

+1 to roto 66s I got them once shredded my fingers and i did notice quite a bit of fretwear.

 

[BillyRay]

On most decent production basses, it shouldn't matter since a fretjob every 10 year isn't the end of the world. I did manage to destroy the first position frets on a cheap barracuda bass in a single summer using Roto 66 when I started, but I think the frets were made of an alloy of nickel and butter.

 

[MoeTown1986]

On most decent production basses, it shouldn't matter since a fretjob every 10 year isn't the end of the world. I did manage to destroy the first position frets on a cheap barracuda bass in a single summer using Roto 66 when I started, but I think the frets were made of an alloy of nickel and butter.

Hmmmm... Wonder if they make nickel-butter strings too?? Talk about fat, smooth bass!

 

[cfsporn]

Rotosound 66 definitely. Love the sound, love the feel, don't really mind any fret damage. A refret or replane every decade or so isn't too bad.