Stainless steel frets

**bluemtgrass** · Jan-08-2008, 3:39am

After many replacements of frets especially the first 6,
I took the mando for a refret w/ S.S. That should end the constant refretting. I'm expecting a slight sound change perhaps more of a ring ? Actually I'd prefer it not to change but a friend of mine had his done last month and is quite satidfied with the results.

**danb** · Jan-08-2008, 3:59am

I've got ss frets, and played a couple of the Loars Charlie did with SS. I haven't ever before & aftered one, but to me they seem great

**GVD** · Jan-08-2008, 9:32am

Originally Posted by

I haven't ever before & aftered one,...

Could you maybe rephrase that in English so I can understand it? #

GVD

**mandroid** · Jan-08-2008, 11:31am

Allow me to translate, engeltacht is my native tongue.

DanB said he had not played the same Loar before the frets were replaced, and then played that same one again
after the stainless replacement fret-job.

**Jim Roberts** · Jan-08-2008, 12:36pm

GVD...go out and buy a really fine bottle of Single Malt, pour and consume a couple stiff ones and you will understand exactly what Dan said. #Nothing to it!

My Gavin Baird oval hole has SS frets and I love them (and the mandolin, too!)

There was a recent thread on this so you might do a search.

Cheers!

**bluemtgrass** · Jan-09-2008, 5:00pm

Did the search. One thing that it didnt seem to touch on was the fact that fret wire may have more of an effect on the sound than a nut change simply because the nut has no effect when notes and chords are used. Since ( and please let me know if there are ) I dont know of any songs played on all open strings, the frets come into play constantly.
The luthier said I may notice a cleaner sound, but not much more than that. Fine with me.. And these will be wider than the regular mandolin frets. In any event I'll find out Friday whether it was worth the effort ( on his part ) and the money ( on my part )

**danb** · Jan-09-2008, 5:29pm

Originally Posted by (mandroid @ Jan. 08 2008, 17:31)

Allow me to translate, engeltacht is my native tongue.

DanB said he had not played the same Loar before the frets were replaced, and then played that same one again
after the stainless replacement fret-job.

Humph. I have an English degree, which is valid as a poetic license in most civilized countries

My current mando has (thin, Loar-style) ss frets. They are nice.

**bluemtgrass** · Jan-11-2008, 7:12pm

Well, they are in.. I must say, this guy must be a master luthier. This thing plays like butter. I have no idea why this isnt much more popular. Very pleased.. He even made an ever so slight radius on the fretboard and frets. One thing I immediately noticed was a difference in the sound, more clear and to my ears, a bit more of a ring but not tinny. I'm sure his superb setup is one of the reasons I'm so satisfied and the S.S. frets may be secondary.
If I get another mando, this will be one of the first things I do to it. Not having those stupid grooves in the frets in a couple of months will be a godsend. I dont know if they will last for a lifetime but 5 or 10 years would be good.

**bluegrassjack2** · Jan-11-2008, 7:22pm

Is there an added cost to install the SS frets?

**Roger Renfro** · Jan-11-2008, 8:09pm

This thread from last month has most all of what you would want to know about ss frets

go here

I have them on a guitar that I play a couple of hours each day. #After more than two years. there is NO noticible fret wear. #And I don't notice any tonal changes at all. #I like'um a lot.

**F5G WIZ** · Jan-12-2008, 4:50am

I had Andy Poe install SS frets on my new mandolin a year and a half ago. I love them. He charged an extra 100 bucks but they are well worth the money. I have another mandolin with standard frets and less playing time than my Poe and they are noticably worn. I highly recommend them to anyone.

**bluemtgrass** · Jan-12-2008, 9:25am

I cant speak for the added cost but this guy must have felt sorry for me since the whole job ( true fretboard, adjust neck
remove old frets and install new were less than $ 150.00 ) And I've had a so called set up from another guy that called himself a luthier than ran almost half that amount and wasnt anywhere near, make that on the same planet, as this one.
Another luthier quoted a price of 200 to 400 dollars for the S.S. frets depending on what he ran into. This was after looking at the mandolin.

**F5G WIZ** · Jan-12-2008, 2:09pm

Yeah, you got a steal on that deal! Where is he located?

**bluemtgrass** · Jan-12-2008, 4:41pm

NE Pa. near Sinking Springs. If interested, PM me and I can give you his email address.

Jan-12-2008, 6:53pm

"Another luthier quoted a price of 200 to 400 dollars for the S.S. frets depending on what he ran into."

"Ran into" what ... a boat payment?

**bluemtgrass** · Jan-13-2008, 8:11am

No.. He also lives in NE Pa. and winter is in full swing. And oil is over $ 3.00 a gallon and is bouncing up and down ( mostly up ) Maybe he's figuring on an uphill " bounce " Did I also mention he recently moved from the N.Y. area to a small town in Pa. ??