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Post subject: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:19 pm
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New here, so this has prob. been covered.............I think Fender should offer these, no matter what the up charge.
It's a shame I'll have to consider a Carvin just because I want long term playability on the same neck.
With all the competition maybe Fender will open it's eyes someday.


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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:39 pm
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Hi yomammaaho, welcome to the Forum.

Mike Eldred, head of the Custom Shop, has stated that he won't do stainless steel, because of all the extra work and damage to tools it causes. So, for better or worse, I've a feeling we won't be seeing stainless from Fender any time soon.

Personally, I can see this from both sides. There are good and fair reasons a player might want stainless steel frets. On the other hand, they really do wreck tools: here's what just two snips of steel fret ends did to my (hitherto) beautiful and not inexpensive fret end nippers:

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The gentleman I was doing the work for was so honourable as to buy me some replacement nippers without my asking. There's few who would be so considerate.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:47 pm
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I like SS frets. But Carvin and Fender have different business models, so I don't think offering them on production guitars would work for Fender. I don't know if Fender offers them through the Custom Shop, but since the wait is so long I guess it doesn't really matter. I bought a Carvin a few months ago and the SS frets were part of the buying decision. But, in my case it was Gibson who lost a sale to Carvin. You can always choose SS for your first refret. That's probably what I will do on my Tele which is already showing wear.

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 3:51 pm
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Drew365 wrote:
I don't know if Fender offers them through the Custom Shop...

Hi Drew: they don't. See my previous post.

There was a long and somewhat bad tempered thread about it on Mike Eldred's forum while it was still running. No SS from the CS.

Cheers - C

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 4:13 pm
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Yep....Totally agree there's prob. a lack of affordable tools out there capable of easily handling stainless.
Who am I to argue with a custom shop guru, but one has to wonder how Carvin can offer stainless (for $40) off the production line and Fender cannot. Maybe it's because they HAVE to to maintain their nitch.
Thanks for the soapbox.


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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 4:49 pm
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Sounds like a lame excuse for me. I mean a guitar company like Fender worrying about breaking tools? My uncle offers SS frets on all his guitars, and he's just a very small guitar shop.

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:27 pm
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The difference is, Carvin's are made to order, so Carvin knows the owner is going to want SS frets because he ordered it. Fender's guitars are sent all over the world to sit in shops until someone buys. If that someone doesn't want SS frets they lost a sale. They can't afford to send thousands of guitars out to sit in stores unless they're positive they will sell. So, SS frets becomes a complication for them that they don't need to deal with since the number of people wanting SS frets is probably a pretty small percentage. Plus the cost of tools and a slower production line isn't good for the bottom line. Now, why they wouldn't offer them from the Custom Shop, I have no answer for that.

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:41 pm
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Seems to me that in the same way a drop down box can offer you guitar finishes/colors/trem- (ie: Musicians Friend online order), one could also be offered stainless steel frets.

Even if it were limited to a small number (at least initially to establish if there was demand), why not? If there's money to be made.........And the Customer can be made happy, seems like a win-win proposition to me.

My fear is that Fender eventually buys Carvin and discontinues offering stainless frets.
Planned obsolescence.................


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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:42 pm
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I can't imagine not buying a guitar you like because it has upgraded frets. Warmoth offers SS for $20 extra. It's not that hard to work with and there are tools/methods that would hold up. It's a matter of cost vs what would increase sales. If they thought it would increase sales by 10% they would be using SS by tomorrow. Or if it becomes a big enough trend that they will lose more sales than it would cost for the SS frets, they would change. I'm not sure now is the time for the risk of increased cost because of slow growth of the American economy. Although I would like it.

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:53 pm
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Precisely Because of the economy.........and Fender's presumably trickle down effect by such, that Fender SHOULD make the leap and begin offering stainless. It is times like this when a smart company looks outside the box with such an obvious improvement and never looks back.


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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:03 pm
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yomammaaho wrote:
Precisely Because of the economy.........and Fender's presumably trickle down effect by such, that Fender SHOULD make the leap and begin offering stainless. It is times like this when a smart company looks outside the box with such an obvious improvement and never looks back.


Well, maybe so. like I said, I would like it.

I tell you what, if Fender makes me CEO I will make it happen. :D

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 6:14 pm
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Fender could begin with offering a "limited edition" model with stainless steel frets, like they do with countless other guitars and amps. If there's anyone that could get the price reasonable in order to manufacture the necks accordingly, Fender should be able to do it.
I'm not here to $@!&* about Fender at all, but it appears that the glaring reason Fender would not offer stainless, would be so that the purchaser would be more likely to return when worn frets became an issue.
Yes............it's definitely part of a "business model".


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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 9:36 pm
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It could have something to do with the Dealers and Auth. Service Centers.

Having long-lasting (dare I say Lifetime) SS Frets doesn't allow the Dealers and Auth. Service Centers to 'Wet Their Beaks' post sale.

Stainless Steel is used extensively by any number of industries, Automotive, Appliances, Kitchen aids & tools, Flatware, Pots & Pans, Medical/Dental use, etc. to name just a few.

It's hardly an exotic material. The technology is well-understood and economical to work with. There are LOTS of things using SS priced well under $100.

Mike E. either doesn't understand how to work with it, or there are reasons other than his stated ones for not using it.

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 9:38 pm
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Doesn't the Eddie Van Halen Wolfgang(made by FMIC) come with stainless steel frets? Other than that...I don't know of any companies using stainless steel, including the boutique guys...which says alot.


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Post subject: Re: Stainless steel frets
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 5:15 am
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ceri if you notice the plyers arent chipped but the metal has been moved on them squashed. thats because they are not properly hardened. if they were too hard and brittle they would have chipped. the thing that you need if you or anyone want to do stainless frets is tool grade steel plyers. made of either a-1 steel or d-1 steel that have been properly hardened and tempered. with that you can cut stainless frets all day and nothing would happen. i have an old large set my father used to use when he drew wire for a living. the wire would work harden so cutting it was very tough. i still use them . and recently was cutting off large nails that were protruding through a wood project. you have the wrong tool for stainless is the problem not the frets themselves.


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