jawkneenowak
Joined: Apr 09, 2013
Posts: 7
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Posted on Apr 21 2017 10:04 AM
Since bending strings is not generally "Surfy" .....what type of frets do you like ? Tall ones are great for bends , but can make it difficult to play some chords without playing out of tune. What are some of the best guitars for lower profile frets?
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Apr 21 2017 10:18 AM
Width of a fret can also contribute to less than accurate intonation, not just height.
Guitar brands with lower, smaller frets typically would be vintage style Fenders, Rickenbackers and Gretsch.
Older Gibsons from the 50's have smaller frets.
Most current, mid level priced guitars have medium to jumbo sized frets.
Cheers,
Jeff
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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Chippertheripper
Joined: Mar 11, 2011
Posts: 819
Semass
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Posted on Apr 21 2017 10:32 AM
My squier cab has vintage-y sized wire, so I guess it's individually spec'd for each model, and not brand specific at all.
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CrazyAces
Joined: Jul 31, 2012
Posts: 4052
Nashville, TN.
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Posted on Apr 21 2017 10:40 AM
Chippertheripper wrote:
My squier cab has vintage-y sized wire, so I guess it's individually spec'd for each model, and not brand specific at all.
Yes, within the modern Fender/Squier lines the fret spec is all over the place, specific to each model as you said. Some companies though such as Rickenbacker and Gretsch do not vary their spec as much and older and vintage versions rarely did.
— http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic
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so1om
Joined: May 10, 2012
Posts: 492
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Posted on Apr 21 2017 03:53 PM
For whatever reason, I like the frets as large as possible. Whether I'm bending or not and regardless of genre. I should clarify, as wide as possible, crowned to flat in cross section.
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JakeDobner
Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
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Posted on Apr 21 2017 05:23 PM
There is a neck radius vs. fret height/width ratio that feels right to me. I love small skinny frets on any guitar, but I don't mind wide ones on flatter radius guitars. Don't really like tall and fat, but more acceptable on a flatter radius.
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Reverbenator
Joined: Jul 26, 2015
Posts: 257
San Diego, Ca
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Posted on Apr 21 2017 06:55 PM
I prefer larger frets. I affectionately refer to Jumbo frets as 'speed bumps'. Medium Jumbo frets are popular because most people can, at the very least tolerate them. I like them just fine.
I had both of my '63 Jags refretted with Jumbo frets, because the frets in both guitars were worn out when I got them.
Having played the new Professional Series Jaguars and Jazzmasters with the narrow-tall frets (and slightly flatter fretboard), I'd have to say that I like them as well as, or maybe even slightly better than the Jumbos. In fact, I REALLY liked the way that new Jag played. I've even entertained the idea of thinning the herd a little, to help raise money for one of the new Jags. We'll see.
As far as Vintage frets are concerned, meh, not much of a fan.
— -Cheers, Clark-
-Less Paul, more Reverb-
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crumble
Joined: Sep 09, 2008
Posts: 3158
Guildford England
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Posted on Apr 22 2017 06:56 AM
I agree with Jake. I have three guitars, a vintage Strat with skinny frets, a standard Strat with mediums and a Rob Chapman speed metal type Strat with extra large frets. From guitar to guitar I notice the neck shapes more so than the frets. I would have thought the bigger frets would be more slippery but when I'm concentrating on playing I don't notice it at all. I once re-fretted my vintage (7.25" Radius) with fat Gibson frets and ended up retiring it and buying a replacement with skinny frets, for whatever reason the Gibson frets didn't work well (for me at least). Fatter frets seem to work better with flatter radius somehow, I am unable to explain why though. Out of all my guitars I've grown to love my American Standard most, it's isn't as comfortable as the vintage but I make less mistakes while playing, it has a flatter radius, some neck tweaks and medium size frets, I guess it's a step towards Gibson style and certainly works for me.
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Badger
Joined: Nov 16, 2013
Posts: 4536
Wisconsin
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Posted on Apr 22 2017 07:50 AM
jawkneenowak wrote:
Tall ones are great for bends , but can make it difficult to play some chords without playing out of tune.
It can also depend on your touch. If the tendency is to grab a chord like a vise-grips you're going to go sharp with the taller frets. I have no aversion to the typical medium-jumbo fret but prefer vintage frets - primarily because they're usually on the radius I prefer, which matters more personally.
What are some of the best guitars for lower profile frets?
Jeff is right that Fender has radii & fret size going on all over the place across its various models. For vintage radius the AVRI series and (less expensive) Classic 60's Lacquer series have vintage radius & frets.
— Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel
DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.
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