Fret Sizes

[dstretch]

I am starting #4, (#3 is still in progress). I would like to know what size frets you are using. I have been checking out some other mando's and most have larger frets than I have used. Due to my inexperience, I don't know what size to get. I am thinking the stew-mac medium/medium or the narrow/medium.

Please help.

Danny

[Stephanie Reiser]

Danny, it is all merely a matter of personal preference. If your first two were of narrow wire, and you're building yet two more, I'd suggest try one with medium wire. Personally, not that it matters, I prefer the medium wire - the one that Stew-Mac refers to as "banjo" wire. I love the feel, especially while executing slides.

[dstretch]

Is this the one you use?

[dstretch]

or is it this one?

[batman]

I like the #147 from stew mac. DB

[amowry]

I use the narrow/medium, and I think a lot of others do too. Last I checked, it was about the same as the wire that Collings uses.

[Stephanie Reiser]

I prefer the 0147, too.

[dstretch]

Well I just ordered a few 0147, and 0148. We'll see which I like best.

Danny

[Gail Hester]

I use the 0147 for mandolins also.

I'm refretting an old Martin D18 with the 0148 and I think you'll find it too big since it's intended for Martin acoustic guitar replacement wire.

[Paul Hostetter]

I use several, each has advantages and applications. I use only hard fretwire, 18% nickel and up, plus I'm wading into the gold-colored wire which, so far, I like a lot.

My main ones:

SM 154 #. . . . . 100 #x #50 # - #for Selmer and manly guitars
SM 155 #. . . . . # 80 #x #50 # - #my favorite all-purpose guitar wire
BD 6230 . . . . . #80 #x #43 # - #classic Martin guitar wire since ever, often requested and preferred by mandolinists
SM 147 #. . . . . # 80 #x #40 # - #nice vintage look Gibson guitar and banjo, great mandolin wire too
SM 148 #. . . . . # 84 #x #39 # - #S-M says "The most popular wire for refretting Martin, Fender, Guild, Gibson and other guitars."** #
BD 6280 . . . . . #76 #x #44 # - #nice vintage look Gibson guitar and banjo, great mandolin wire too. Nice and tall.
BD 6310 . . . . . #56 #x #32 # - #vintage Loar-esque Gibson mandolin wire.***

SM = Stew-Mac
BD = Dunlop

**Too wide and too low for me. Why bother? 147 is better.

***The real Loar-era wire is smaller, but this keeps the look and substitutes fairly well. I think real vintage Gibson wire is just too small.

[Antlurz]

I haven't seen (or at least noticed) the gold colored wire advertised. Who all is carrying it?

Ron

[Paul Hostetter]

It's a secret.

[Antlurz]

Ah so.... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[Paul Hostetter]

Alright. It's from Jescar Enterprises, and they say:

We have in stock two sizes of EVO-01 Gold colored fret wire:

FW9666EVO .079 x .037"
FW9662EVO .090 x .055"

Our other fret wire sizes are possible in EVO with a minimum factory order of 22 lbs (10 kgs).

The EVO material is a proprietary alloy that was developed for the optical
industry to avoid skin contact skin sensitivity to nickel. It is basically
a copper alloy and develops a hardness in fret wire of HV5 250 Vickers
scale. This compares to our NS18% hardness of HV5 200, and stainless steel
hardness of HV5 300. All tolerances ar ± 20, but typically maintained
within 5. The primary purpose of this material for frets is its color, with
the added benefit of increased hardness and ease of workability.

The price on the EVO wire is $60.00/lb. One lb minimum per wire size. Yes, the tang is inside the coil.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Jeff Silver
Jescar Enterprises, Inc.
213 Airport Executive Park
Nanuet, New York 10954
Phone: 845-352-5850
Fax: 845-425-1366
jescar.ent@verizon.net

--------------------------------------------------------

So far I have used the larger 90x50 guitar wire and the players are crazy about it. It was very easy to work with.

[Paul Hostetter]

And while we're at it, their whole catalog:

Jescar Fret Wire Price List – 2005

Available in the highest quality pure 18% Nickel Silver in Vickers hardness
of HV5-200, bright Stainless Steel for impeccable playability and wear
resistance, and our exclusive rich gold color “EVO” nickel-free alloy.

Manufactured in our factory in Germany with the strictest quality control
standards and tightest tolerances available in the industry, Jescar Fret Wire has
become the fret wire of choice for the most demanding guitar manufacturers.
We believe that you will find our wire to be superior in dimensional accuracy,
surface quality, hardness, consistency and ease of installation and playability.

The fret wire is available in coils, individually cut pieces to specified lengths, or straight lengths.

Ref. # # # # # # #Crown Size (WxH) # # # # # # # # # # # #Alloy # # # # # # #Price/lb. # Price/>5 lb.
FW 9672 # # # # # # # # #.078” x .050” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $26.75 # # #$24.25
FW 9673 # # # # # # # # #.095” x .047” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $25.75 # # #$23.25 #Stainless: $44.00 $40.00 #
FW 9665 # # # # # # # # #.104” x .047” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $25.75 # # $23.25 #Stainless: $44.00 $40.00
FW 9666 # # # # # # # # #.079” x .037” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $25.75 # # $23.25 #Stainless: $44.00 $40.00
FW 9671 # # # # # # # # #.108” x .051” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $25.75 # # $23.25
FW 9675 # # # # # # # # #.100” x .045” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $26.75 # # $24.25
FW 9662 # # # # # # # # #.090” x .055” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $25.75 # # $23.25 #Stainless: $44.00 $40.00
FW 9676 # # # # # # # # #.080” x .043” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $25.75 # # $23.25 #Stainless: $44.00 $40.00
FW 9677 # # # # # # # # #.040” x .039” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $39.00 # # $37.00 #Stainless: $49.00 $47.00
FW 9685 # # # # # # # # #.110" x .057” # # # # # # # # #NS18% # # # # # # $25.75 # # $23.25 #Stainless: $49.00 $47.00

Prices and specifications subject to change without notice. #Please contact Jescar for details and ordering information.

[Antlurz]

Thanks. I'll bet that could lend a very nice visual to a gold outfitted instrument!

Ron

[Antlurz]

I see Warmoth carries some as well...

http://www.warmoth.com/supplies/supplies.cfm?fuseaction=fretwire

[Frank Ford]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'd been waiting about three decades for that .040 wide high wire that Gibson used in the late 20s. It's my standard refret wire for the old mandolins (antique banjos, too) now that Jescar has it (9677).

[Paul Hostetter]

Now if we can just get them to do these (in gold):

http://www.lutherie.net/loar.fairy.frets.jpg

[Howard Klepper]

My impression is that players want narrow, like SM 0764 (.053x.037). #If that impression is wrong and they like the .080x.040, someone please correct me.

[Paul Hostetter]

Some players want narrow, others want wider. I deal with a couple of these each week, week in and week out, and I do what folks ask for. The skinny frets seem to be favored by players who for one reason or another are reluctant to break with the old look. Once they've really tried wider and taller frets, they see they're easier to get around on and last longer, and then they make the jump.

[dstretch]

Wow Paul what is the size of those frets? Do they give the fretboard a scalloped feel? How does it make the action feel?

[Hans]

I use .053", .068", and .078" wire depending on what the customer wants. .068" is a great compromise wire for mandolin. Not too large, and not so small that you can't get a fret dressing or two out of it. I've always liked the 068" for my own instruments, but lately I've come around to liking the .053". Don't care much for the .078" personally.

[Paul Hostetter]

Danny - you're talking about the image above? Those are Lloyd Loar's "Fairy Frets" which were used on his Vi-Va-Tone Guitars. It's the notion that 'a higher fret is easier to play because getting clarity requires less finger pressure' carried to an extreme! I have only played on these a couple of times. I suppose I could adjust to them, but doubt I'd really want to try!