Opinions on stainless steel frets

Zonular

I've only read about, never play a guitar with them.
I'm debating a new neck for my Tele with them.

What is your opinions on them?
Yay or nay?

mrkb

They’re good - just like I said in the last stainless steel fret thread about a month ago.

prlgmnr

I like them, I wouldn't have them on a Tele, I don't trust any luthier or tech who advises you against them just because they can't be arsed to work with the stuff.

PAL

I have stainless steel frets on my Suhr Standard and I like them the sound is a little different I would say brighter but
 I'm OK with that you need to try one out first and as prigmnr has said it is a bit harder to work so some luthiers avoid them.

bertie

dont like em  - possibly cos they're (on mine) quite high 

Roland

mrkb said:

They’re good - just like I said in the last stainless steel fret thread about a month ago.

This one? https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/218175/

mrkb

No - this one!

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/224092/would-you-buy-a-second-hand-fender-custom-shop-strat-refretted-with-stainless-steel-frets

Philly_Q

I still haven't tried SS frets, I'd still like to.

Sassafras

I wanna try those Evo Golds, they look blingy.

Oldbramwell

Yay to stainless frets. They make bending so easy.,... 

Stevepage

I like them but only because they're harder wearing. I don't feel any inherent difference between SS and regular nickle silver as long as the frets themselves have been dressed and polished properly.

LastMantra

Does it make a difference what type of strings you use? 

Grumpyrocker

Sassafras said:

I wanna try those Evo Golds, they look blingy.

Got those my new Ibanez. Really like them. 

Roland

Grumpyrocker said:

Sassafras said:

I wanna try those Evo Golds, they look blingy.

Got those my new Ibanez. Really like them. 

@GSPBASSES recommended EVO Gold to me. I use it on every neck I’ve (re)fretted. Really like it.

Boromedic

Stainless for the win! Best frets going, and they don't wear out, despite internet lore they make no difference to your plugged in sound. 

BillDL

I have played two guitars with stainless steel frets that were factory fitted.  It's impossible to draw a comparison because I would have to have played the same guitars fitted with standard fretwire.  In general I felt they were much more "slippery" to bend on, but I also felt they were "plinky" when played further up the neck.  The sound wasn't conveyed through the amp, it was just a "plinky" feeling that's hard for me to describe.  It could just be my imagination, or perhaps it was down to the style of the guitars that had very flat radius fretboards and were both strung with 9s when I usually play on 10s.

I have refretted two of my guitars with Jescar EVOgold fretwire.  It's harder to work with (pre-radiusing, levelling and dressing) but I felt that for me it was probably the best compromise between workability and durability.  I wouldn't even try to do a refret with stainless steel and if I was buying a guitar with stainless steel frets it would have to be a pricier one guaranteed to have excellent quality of fretting because I wouldn't fancy dressing rough stainless steel fret ends or do any spot levelling.

FelineGuitars

I like them and we do a fair number of refrets with them. 

I think they do add a touch of brightness, but that can be good on some guitars (I'd be careful on an already bright tele)

The job does take longer to do.(especially on the supersize ones)

They do hurt your tools (and your hands too if you are cutting super jumbo size ones like the Jescar FW58118 as we have been doing this week)

So expect the job to cost a bit more as a result 

But we do them happily of course

darthed1981

Must also be aware that this is very different from "stainless steel threats" as you can get in a lot of trouble waving a steel bar at people.

BillDL

Something like that could tarnish your reputation.

wraub

My main Strat needs new frets and SS frets have been suggested often- not sure I'll like them, bit of a gamble with the cost- Unless I can play a guitar with SS frets first to truly know, I may just stick with traditional. I'm pretty sensitive to high frequencies, I don't need more ping and zingy-ness.

Zonular

FelineGuitars said:

I like them and we do a fair number of refrets with them. 

I think they do add a touch of brightness, but that can be good on some guitars (I'd be careful on an already bright tele)

The job does take longer to do.(especially on the supersize ones)

They do hurt your tools (and your hands too if you are cutting super jumbo size ones like the Jescar FW58118 as we have been doing this week)

So expect the job to cost a bit more as a result 

But we do them happily of course

Funny I have my Tele so long, it's just what I have at this point, not sure if it's a bright Tele or not? I've got bkp piledrivers in it with 500k pots and I would tend to use the tone control a lot 
Funny I picked up a humbucker equipped guitar for the first time in ages and I simply prefer a single coil.


Btw to the rest of the thread, expect a maple Vs roasted maple thread soon.