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Post subject: Fret Material
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2019 7:11 pm
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Hey All,

I had a question concerning the type of metal Fender uses for their frets - do all of the countries use nickel/silver alloy (USA vs Japan vs Korea vs Mexico)? I know the American and MIM instruments do but I can’t find information online about the guitars made overseas. I’m allergic to nickel and would love to know.

Also does anyone know when Fender started using nickel/silver alloy? Hoping I can find a vintage instrument that has stainless steel frets.

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Fret Material
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 1:23 am
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Off the top of my head, can't recall any factory stock Fender model from any era with stainless steel frets.

But a refret of your favorite neck is a nice option.
Or order an aftermarket neck with your favorite headstock, profile, radius, truss rod, wood & other features - and with stainless steel (/nickel free) frets.

https://www.jescarguitar.com/fret-wire-specifications/


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Post subject: Re: Fret Material
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 10:04 am
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Stainless frets are fairly recent. They've only been widely available for 20 years or so. Fender couldn't use them back in the vintage years because they didn't exist, and doesn't use them now because they're difficult to work with during installation.

The earliest guitars had brass frets, but nickel silver became the universal choice long before Leo started building guitars. All Fenders and Squiers have nickel silver frets.

There are some makers who use stainless on some models. But if you want a Fender, either look for a used one that's been refretted, or plan to have your new guitar refretted.

Besides stainless, Jescar EVO Gold fretwire is nickel free. Many luthiers who won't install stainless due to its difficulty will happily install EVO -- it's almost as easy as regular fretwire but has much greater durability than nickel silver (though not quite as indestuctable as stainless).


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Post subject: Re: Fret Material
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2019 11:26 am
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strayedstrater wrote:
Stainless frets are fairly recent. They've only been widely available for 20 years or so. Fender couldn't use them back in the vintage years because they didn't exist, and doesn't use them now because they're difficult to work with during installation.

The earliest guitars had brass frets, but nickel silver became the universal choice long before Leo started building guitars. All Fenders and Squiers have nickel silver frets.

There are some makers who use stainless on some models. But if you want a Fender, either look for a used one that's been refretted, or plan to have your new guitar refretted.

Besides stainless, Jescar EVO Gold fretwire is nickel free. Many luthiers who won't install stainless due to its difficulty will happily install EVO -- it's almost as easy as regular fretwire but has much greater durability than nickel silver (though not quite as indestuctable as stainless).


Ahh I see. The only guitars that I've played have been vintage Rickenbackers and Gibsons which haven't caused any allergic reaction. I assumed it was because nickel/silver frets weren't used until recently. They seem to absolutely everywhere now.

It's very helpful to know that Fender has long used nickel. If that the case then I'll have to spend additional money to refret. Thankfully all the other hardware is chrome...

Thanks for the info!


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Post subject: Re: Fret Material
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 10:48 am
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If you haven't had reactions to Gibsons and Rics with nickel silver frets, you're probably ok with Fenders.

Nickel silver is typically 60% copper, 18% nickel, 22% zinc (the percentages vary, but 18% nickel is common). And in an alloy, the nickel is bound up -- it reacts much differently than pure nickel.

Plus, your fingers shouldn't actually make much contact with the frets. You're much more likely to react to most strings than to the frets.


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Post subject: Re: Fret Material
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 11:18 am
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Quote:
Plus, your fingers shouldn't actually make much contact with the frets. You're much more likely to react to most strings than to the frets.
String bleed is very common w/ people whom have excess acidic sweat. Perhaps you should try a set of coated strings before dishing big money for a difficult re-fret.


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Post subject: Re: Fret Material
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 2:52 pm
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sfceric64 wrote:
String bleed is very common w/ people whom have excess acidic sweat. Perhaps you should try a set of coated strings before dishing big money for a difficult re-fret.


I recently purchased an American Performer Mustang bass and put LaBella flatwounds (nickel-free) on it. While it immediately didn't effect me after an hour of playing I could start to feel the nickel on my skin and begin to dry out my lips (which is what usually happens when I touch nickel). I do find my fingers making considerable contact with the frets due to my playing style. Overall I didn't like the bass enough to get a refret so I sold it.

I use LaBellas on my other guitars and I've had no issue with allergic reactions. I did some digging and found that Rics used brass/nickel alloy so I'm guessing it has less nickel content than the usual nickel/silver.


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Post subject: Re: Fret Material
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2019 8:20 pm
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You could try a Vox, Brian May signature model. I believe those are standard w/ SS frets, FWIW.

Edit: Sorry I am wrong.
1. Not a VOX, it's a BMG
2. Only the $2+k guitar is SS, the least expensive model comes standard w/ nickel-silver


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