Hey everyone, Im somewhat of a noob when it comes to guitar terminology... so I was wondering what exactly is meant with 'jumbo frets'? Are the frets wider thus making the neck longer or what? Thanks for your help!

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It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

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It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

They are wider and taller -- they do not affect the length of the neck/fboard, but they will feel MUCH different than vintage-style frets if you are used to that. I advise spending some time with them to see if you like them. Often used on shredding guitars to get a quasi-scalloped feel.

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Addicted to chasing down tone info, and publishing all my findings at my blog: www.WoodyTone.com

Like alreay mentioned, they are taller and wider. Neck is still the same length. I have a Highway 1 that has jumbo frets and love it. I have a CV with classic frets and love it as well. The jumbo frets allow me to do bends and string vibratos easier.

RK

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Just to add a bit about why people use them...

Jumbo frets make it much easier to bend notes, especially when using heavy strings, because less of your fingertip is dragging along the surface of the fretboard when bending. But it requires modifying your attack a little bit because the higher the fret, the more you can bend it out of tune just by pressing on the string. I put jumbo frets on all my guitars, but I don't go for the tallest fret available because it's almost impossible to play a chord in tune with those beasts

Thanks for all your help! Could anyone tell me what type of frets the MIM standard stratocaster has? I couldnt find it in the product description...

I have both types jumbo and vintage. The jumbo's are hardly played at all, the vintage are nearly in need of replacing, about 1.5mm from the fretboard face. I've found no difference at all when it comes to bending notes. Violin vibrato is easier on the jumbos by a fraction.

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No no and no

Hi telekasi: like most modern Fenders they're "medium jumbo". A touch smaller than jumbo (which varies depending on the fret manufacturer), but still ample in size.

Cheers - C

My ESP has Extra Jumbo frets. I love them and have no problem fretting chords in tune.

Why do guitar manufactures use frets that are softer than guitar strings? This is why you get fret wear. It seems that guitars should come with frets that are harder than strings. I guess stainless frets are harder, anyone have thoughts/experiences on stainless frets to share?

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

I can offer a little bit on the stainless steel fret deal.

I had two different Schecter C-1s. A Triple X model and a C-1 Exotic. The Exotic was one of the original ones prior to the Exotic Star and had stainless extra jumbos. Bends were a lot smoother. A lot. And the frets were always nice, shiny, and smooth. The XXX had extra jumbo regular nickel steel frets. Bends did not feel quite as smooth and there was a little fret wear showing after having played it for a while. The frets didn't stay nice, shiny, or smooth.

As far as the sound, it seemed like the stainless frets had a little more top end ping/ring to them, but since the guitars had different pick ups I can't attribute that to the frets alone.

We need a double blind study in a controlled environment

Well, that was the closest I could get ya.

In hindsight, the exotic also had an ebony fretboard vs. the rosewood XXX, but with the huge frets that was more of a look thing since it didn't get touched.

If the stainless steel offer more durability with no tone loss it sounds very attractive but I heard mixed stories.

Yes you should try out guitars for feel. I can play Jumbo's but rather play on Medium's or vintage you can even get tall narrow frets which are taller then jumbo's but thinner. Much has to do with how that fret feels on the radius of the neck. The wider the radius the larger fret can OK for me.

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson