Large frets

[Tom F]

I am ordering a custom mando and was wondering what the consensus was on larger (banjo) frets vs. regular frets.

The mando will be an MF with hard rock maple back (chunkier sound), wide neck option, with slightly more rounded neck profile than the standard MF neck. I am a guitar player first; mando way second (but who knows?).

I have banjo frets on my 1990 Kentucky KM1000 and I think I like them, but in reality don't really have anything to compare it to.

Just wondering how popular are larger frets on mandolins? Is it common or just a novelty and are there any specific circumstances when they are installed? I am leaning that way but would like some opinions first.

Thanks all !

[bradeinhorn]

hi,

i recently received a custom mandolin with the banjo frets and like them a lot. my other mandolin has smaler traditional mandolin frets. why not find one to try out and see what you prefer. this was recently discussed in a thread last week. maybe go to a store that has gibson mandolins. they have small frets and you can compare it with what you have.
b

[Pete Martin]

Big frets http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Tony Sz]

Randy Wood regularly uses Martin guitar fretwire on his mandolins. I have one and I like it a lot. I know some are cringing right now, but I haven't had a problem in the 8 years I've had the mando.

[MikeEdgerton]

There was a thread a while back where mandohack compared small frets to large frets on the same mandolin. I can't seem to find it right now but as I recall it covered the subject well.

[Paul Hostetter]

What the h*ll are banjo frets, anyway? Larger than what?

Dunlop 6230, what was once (anyway) the standard Martin guitar fret, makes a swell mandolin fret.

Get specific: http://www.lutherie.net/fret.chart.html

[Yonkle]

Whatever fretwire size you use to fret a banjo would be...... hence: "Banjo Frets" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Hummm pretty complex stuff here, maybe this photo will clear up the confusion.
small wire= mandolin frets
Med.wire = banjo frets
large wire= guitar frets
OK, so let me get this straight, if I were to put med.wire on my mandolin, even though med wire is typically used for banjos, then I would say..... "my mandolin has banjo frets!"
Ahhhh it's all starting to make sense!

[Ivan Kelsall]

I think the post re.wider/narrower frets that Brad refered to was mine. My 2 Webers have different fret widths with the Fern having the wider ones on,but it really is a very small difference. I'd have to take the question up with WEBER re.the actual sizes used.
The point i was trying to get opinions on,is that in spite of every aspect of the 2 Mandolin necks ie. width,scale length & string heigh being the same,the differences being that the Fern has a radiused fingerboard & wider frets,why should my 'A' style Beartooth FEEL as though it has a higher action,when in fact the actions are identical ?.I can only put it down to the neck radius & the fret width,but it's very strange to me.
As for having a Mandolin fitted with 'Banjo' frets,the frets on my Stelling Banjo & my Fern Mandolin are pretty much the same & as the Fern is a dream to play,i'd go for that option - just my thoughts,
Saska

[Stephanie Reiser]

This debate or issue arises from time to time here. It is all a matter of taste, or personal preference. If you like 'em with the medium frets, then go that route.
Some big names in mandolin performance use medium-ish frets, including Mike Marshall and Chris Thile. Mike's Loar has a radiiused scooped board and medium frets (I only hope that the original equipment is clamped to a board and kept in a safe somewhere). I own mandolins that I had personally built, initially one with small "mandolin" frets, and then my main axe that has medium "banjo" (sorry, Paul) frets, .080" wide and .040" high - only a tad higher than common mandolin wire but significantly wider. I prefer the mediums, but who the heck cares what I like. There are many who prefer the traditional smaller frets. When Big Joe finds this thread, you will hear a different perspective on the matter.
Just try mandolins of each size, and decide for yourself.

[AlanN]

Gaudreau used to say the larger frets allowed for better note bends.

[mythicfish]

The three instruments I regularly play have different fretwire sizes and I switch from one to the other with no ill effects.
If the instrument is set up well it doesn't matter much ... to me.
Conventional wisdom has it that wider fretwire will last longer.
Some folk will say that "A" is always better than "B". A lot of those people are either repeating what they've heard and/or have no basis for comparison.

Curt

[bluegrassjack2]

A question I have is why mandolin frets wear quicker than guitar frets. I have a 1994 Martin D-35 that has never had nor needed frets and I play it a lot. The few mandolins I have owned, the frets wear much quicker. Has it got to do with the two strings at each note that makes the differnece?

[Steve Ostrander]

Does installing banjo frets on your mando make it louder and more obnoxious?

Of course I'm joking. I meant that in the nicest possible way...

[mandolooter]

[QUOTE]Does installing banjo frets on your mando make it louder and more obnoxious?

In my case just picking it up does that....

[bgjunkie]

The frets on my F9 are really small, but are not rounded on the top like the pictures Yonkle showed. My Epiphone has small, rounded frets that I like better than the taller, thinner frets on the F9. When I come into some money (which means - when the existing frets wear out), I will be getting different frets on the F9.

[Paul Hostetter]

Mandolin frets do seem to wear quicker, and most fret wear has to do with how hard the player's grip is. I do notice larger frets take less player effort to get a clear note and also last longer. Perhaps there's a conclusion to be drawn there?