Stainless steel frets

[mikeswals]

I really like them. Mike Lull fretted my Wal with SS frets and they feel and sound great. I do like them better than the factory nickel frets.

 

[ghoulbug]

If you have the dough for something as extravagant as stainless steel frets, I'd recommend you save some money by going with stainless steel blocks and binding.

I did it to my SX bass and it totally improved the tone and bottom end, giving it an unprecedented level of sustain and growlgirthwoof.

Now the thing's finally good for metal!

 

[Rickett Customs]

if you think SS is expensive, then don't look at gold frets

 

[mongo2]

+1 for stainless steel frets. Got them on my Warmoth J, and they give me a pretty decent approximation of Entwistle's tone from The Kids Are Alright's live stuff; nice and growly when used with Rotosound RS66s.

This begs the question: Did Entwistle have SS frets back then?

Titanium is really where it's at.

 

[ghoulbug]

GOLD FRETS

Seriously, though, my point still stands.
Changing the material of the frets WILL change your tone, whether you like it or not!
If you think it'll add too much high-end zing, you could go with a smaller size fret than what you originally wanted.

 

[Thunder Pulse]

If the material you're fretting against doesn't matter, why is there such a variety in materials nuts are made from?

 

[Mystic Michael]

Stainless steel frets probably do add a little more high-frequency zing and sustain to one's tone. For me, that's generally a good thing.

Even if you don't like what SSF do to your tone, it's relatively easy to EQ their effect out of your sound, if necessary. Either way, it's worth it to enjoy their greatly increased durability and longevity.

MM

 

[Dbassmon]

Have em, don't love em... I appreciate the added life but there is a clanginess when the string strikes them that is pronounced. Not a deal breaker but it is not what I am used to.

 

[billoetjen]

They're also better because they aren't typically found on Fender basses.

Oh, snap!

 

[darkkent1]

Thanks for all of the responses folks. Benjamin Strange, I'm gonna have to agree with your comments in particular. I actually just got a Carvin SB5000 with stainless steel frets and while the bass sounds pretty good overall, there's just a little something missing. I just cant get that "thing" that grind I can get on my other basses of similar woods, fretboards etc. The only varying factor are the frets. I actually had my Lakland refretted at S.F.Guitarworks about a year and a half ago and Geoff and the crew did a great job! You may be seeing me soon to hook up the Carvin.

 

[GregDunn]

The string had better not be vibrating against the fret at all - or else you're not fretting the note correctly. That's called fret buzz. The fret point is a node for the string (the other node being the bridge), and it should be essentially motionless.

 

[XtheDeadPawn]

I am not sure if SS frets are different tonally from nickel or not I only know that Stainless Steel by the very nature of their manufacture WILL last longer than nickel for the very fact nickel is a soft metal while SS is a hard metal.

They don't make building frames out of nickel right?

So that's the only difference I can see from SS and nickel frets.

Personally I don't get how we made a tone argument thread out of a fret post.

 

[Blues Cat]

SS frets are all about maintaining a pro set up for a way longer period of time.

Nickle frets will have you chasing the perfect set up throughout the life of your bass, until the frets are worn too far down. Then you have to start the whole process over, new nut...

 

[NKBassman]

They... feel slippery smooth to the touch. Bending is generally smoother, ...

This has been my experience as well.

 

[Jazz Ad]

At some point I used the same strings on 2 of my basses. The one with SS frets ate them WAY faster. I don't want frets that eat my strings so quickly.

 

[hdracer]

At some point I used the same strings on 2 of my basses. The one with SS frets ate them WAY faster. I don't want frets that eat my strings so quickly.

Would you rather have your strings wear your frets out first? Something has to give.

 

[kidgloves2]

I had a Carvin with SS frets. Every note I fretted would make a *clack* sound. After the clack I would have a very clear tone with great sustain. But I couldn't get over *clack clack clack clack>!!!!>>!>* So I got rid of it.

clack clack clack clack clack!!!

 

[ModuMan]

I was browsing the Carvin site and I was wondering about this as well. Does anyone else experience that kind of clacking just from fretting? Would sliding just sound like a mess?

One other question that was asked but I didn't see an answer to... what about bell brass frets, like Warwick uses? I haven't had any issues on my Streamer. Do others use brass frets? If not, what would be the reasons?

Thanks!

 

[FunkMetalBass]

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Color is the only difference. "Bell brass" is really bronze/silver and is equally as strong as the nickel/silver fretwire most places sell. Actually, after reading that thread about the SS eating up the Warwick frets, I'm inclined to think it may be softer than the nickel/silver.

 

[ModuMan]

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Color is the only difference. "Bell brass" is really bronze/silver and is equally as strong as the nickel/silver fretwire most places sell. Actually, after reading that thread about the SS eating up the Warwick frets, I'm inclined to think it may be softer than the nickel/silver.

Interesting. I don't use SS strings (I prefer nickel) so maybe that's helped me keep the frets in good shape.