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Stainless Steel Fret Wire
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Stainless Steel Fret Wire
Hi,
does anyone have experience with Stainless steel fret wire on acoustic guitars or more specific on classical guitars?
Up to now I only used the traditional Nickel/Silver fret wire but recognised that after a few months they start to get mat or tarnish despite polishing them. I wonder if that is because of the origin (Producing Company) of the fret wire or due to the alloy?
During my search for fret wire that is not Sintoms and also available in Europe I stumbled across stainless steel from Jescar. Does anyone have experience with that (also other companies)? Would you say yay, nay or definite NO under any circumstances?
Any experience if it even works for acoustic guitars and if it has a big impact on the sound or string wear out?Thougths?
I´m also thinking about the rare players who might have an allergy and what possibilities there are.
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3 Replies
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I can say that yes, stainless will change the tone. Mostly the electric guitar guys like it because it lessens the wear and tear, and since most are playing through pedals, and effects the tone change isn’t an issue. We tried it on several acoustics at Taylor and because Taylors are naturally more voiced in the mid-range and treble it made them sound terrible. So, in my mind that means harder material brighter tone. It would be interesting to A and B stainless in a Nylon, but it might make the wound strings too bright yet enhance the nylon strings? I put some EVO gold in a Guild for a guy and he hated the tone, we went back to nickel silver… Keep us posted if you go down the stainless road.
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I just re-fretted an original Taylor for a customer in Stainless and the customer was over the moon with the results and can’t get over how well it plays now. Really depends on the player I think. I just about exclusively use stainless on all fretting jobs and have yet to have complaint.
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I too think stainless changes the tone. It’s definitely brighter. Maybe “pingy” sounding for lack of a better term. I have used EVO when it was available and found it wasn’t quite as bright as stainless, but still brighter than nickel silver.
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