Does anyone know the exact "marketing" number of the fret size that Gibon uses on the Les Paul? I was looking through the selection of different fret sizes a StewMac, but I'm not sure which one is the LP size.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies.html
I want to have some heavier/wider frets installed on my Telecaster for improved string bending and fretting...I think Fender used coat hanger wire for their frets :P
TIA!
Phillip
Hello Hello Phillip-
How about Dunlop 6105?? It's higher then stock Fender but not quite as wide as Gibson......better fret dressing and intonation.
Brian.
I would recommend either Stewmac's jumbo (the biggest one) or the one they market for partial refrets - the partial refret one is actually not that low, I used it on a partial refret and it was as high as the stock fretwire (untouched at 22nd fret).
Go with the Wide/Medium Stewmac stuff, or anything that says it is Medium Jumbo. Older LP frets were large, but not by today's standards.
Here we go...a nice little size comparison chart:
http://www.warmoth.com/supplies/supplies.cfm?fuseaction=fretwire
I was looking for the "medium jumbo" or the 6130 size...it's fat, but not very tall, which will allow a lower action without "buzzing"...I hope ;)
Phillip
I like Dunlop 6105 as well. I have it on 2 of my guitars, and while it can be a bit tall, it is quite nice for sheer size and intonation. One thing funny though, is that I swear I have the same fretwire on both my Gibson and my Fenders...
Phillip, I think you may be misunderstanding something. Fret height has nothing to do with how high or low your action is. String height is measured from the top of the fret, not from the fretboard. A 1mm string height is a 1mm string height, regardless of fret size. Bigger frets will not guarantee less buzzing. The only thing that can take care of that is a *GOOD* fret dressing. I like larger frets myself, bending is much easier for me, but don't switch to them if you think they'll help intonation and buzzing. They won't. There are better reasons to switch (like getting rid of the coathanger wire, like you mentioned already :lol: ).
Erlewines 'guitar repair method" is a good read for fret info.
What deteremines low acition/no buzzing is the frets all being the 'right' height [not the thickness of the fret material but up and down the fretboard alignment]....I would say 'straight' but some 'relief' helps I think, so "Even' frets....ie it's the high or low one that causes the buzz or excessive string raising to get rid of it.
I just want some heavier frets to make string bending easier and to get rid of the low quality coat hanger fretwire that Fender put in the neck. I think I'll go with the 6130, since I love the feel of the short and fat Gibson frets, and that's the major size the Gibson uses.
Now to find someone locally who knows what they're doing....
Phillip
petemoore: Relief is only necessary when the fretboard radius is small, like on vintage Fenders with the 7" radius. Bent notes have a tendency to fret out on those unless you have enough relief, and even then it's dicey. Larger radiuses (12"-14"+) don't need relief, unless you are a weirdo and want relief anyway. :lol:
phillip: I'm with you. I hate small frets. I can't bend worth a damn on them. :?