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Joined:
February 2004
Posts: 70
Location: kansas | I've decided to try replacing the frets on my old Applause(with aluminum neck) by honing down the old frets and gluing on stainless steel frets(tangs removed). [I got the idea from seeing a guys Parker guitar: composite neck with stainless steel frets bonded on] I'll do this a fret at time and see how it goes... Hopefully these frets will last longer than the original nickel 'hardened' frets machined as part of the neck. Anyone have any experience with stainless steel frets?:
wear, playing action, sound quality? |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | good luck. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Keven: Parker guitars do indeed have stainless steel frets; however the equipment that they use to bond the frets in place is state of the art and the process absolutely, positively cannot be duplicated by hand, no matter how much time you spend or how careful you are. Precise placement of the frets is critical for proper intonation. My understanding is that the old aluminum necks had aluminum fets which wore out quickly. All Ovations, except those with the aluminum necks, have very hard nickel based frets that last a very long time even with daily use of the guitar. I have several Ovations that are over 20 years old with the original frets that are still fine and have many, many years of life left in them. My advice-get a new/used guitar, but not one with the aluminum neck. |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Also; stainless steel is hard but brittle which it hard to work with. Taking the tangs off of stainless steel frets ain't my idea of fun! |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Hey, speaking of nickle frets...I noticed the fret ends on my cowboy chord positions (hehe, first three frets) have a gunky green patina on 'em. WTF is up with that? Skin oil reacting with the copper in the alloy? |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 79
Location: Toronto, Canada | I found this thread here:
http://www.vintageguitar.com/bulletin_boards/details.asp?forumID=21&topicID=11165)
on re-fretting an aluminium neck, although it appears that regular frets were used instead of stainless steel.
I'm not recommending you do this; I have no experience with aluminium necks- just posting what I found:
Quoting the relevant section:
"I've owned two of these guitars. On one of them, a previous owner had attempted to re-profile the frets by adding new metal and machining back to the right level. That really didn't work well at all, and I wouldn't recommend it.
The other guitar, I have owned for 23 years and was finally forced to face the re-fretting issue a couple of years ago. I trusted the instrument to my ex-boss, a bond trader turned luthier (!!). Having discussed the options, we decided upon an experimental and rather drastic solution - it was clear that once begun, there would be no going back. The procedure was as follows:
1. Cut fret slots through the existing frets (in order to maintain correct intonation).
2. Machine off residual fret material flush with the fretboard.
3. Glue new conventional frets into place.
I'm pleased to say that the operation was a success, and the patient has made a full recovery. It caused a few sweaty moments for the surgeon performing the procedure, though.... "
End Quote |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 648
Location: Florida | Forget taking the tang off stainless frets, or even nickle-silver frets for that matter
Stainless frets are not really a whole lot harder to work with. They bend easily by hand or by machine to match the radius you need.
They dress a little harder if your fretboard is not really level (ie, you're trying to make up for an uneven board in the fretting). Probably the best "file" is a stiff straightedge covered in a little coarser sandpaper than you would have normally chosen. The paper will wear quickly.
They do polish out well...gotta say that. And you dont get the green verdegris crap under 'em. Of course if you CLEAN your guitar, that wont happen either.
I have no idea what the aluminum neck is like, but I wonder if it can be machined to take a slab wooden fretboard? |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 265
Location: Warrenton, Virginia | Sounds gutsy. I wouldn't attempt it.....but I'm not gifted that way anyway |
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stainless steel frets
