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Post subject: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 4:37 pm
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Can anybody give me the exact original specifications or the closest fretwire to what is used on the 1987 Stratocaster plus.
I read "Medium-jumbo" by googling it, which is not enough information.

I need to refret mine, frets are played through.

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 11:49 pm
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Quote:
"All had 22 Jumbo Frets and a 9.5” Radius/241 mm."
xhefriguitars.com


The fretwire dimensions can be found here: Fender Fret Sizes
Jumbo alias 6100 would be .110″x.055″ = 2,794x1,397 mm. That's huge - which might have something to do with the playing style of the "Plus target group".

Oh, a disclaimer: just net based info here, waiting for verification. In general: if the fret wire width matches (digital caliper), the original height can be determined by those Fender specs.


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 5:24 am
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Hey retnev,

I just sold my last Strat Plus so I can't take the digital calipers to the frets , but you might find the Warmoth specs helpful.

ps The measurements are for the fret ABOVE the fretboard.


Neck Fret Sizes

Warmoth offers a range of fret sizes and materials to suit every player. Use the information below to determine the fret wire that works best for you. Dunlop fret numbers are provided for reference only. Actual fret measurements will vary slightly from batch to batch.

Standard Nickel/Silver Fret Wire

This is our standard fret wire. It is drawn from the finest 18% hard nickel/silver to give long life with steel strings. The composition of this fret wire, while called "nickel/silver," contains no silver at all. The ingredients are brass and nickel. Our nickel/silver fretwire is rated at HV 170 on the Vickers hardness scale.

Item Number -- Width X Height -- Description -- Used By

6230 -- .080" X .037" -- This is the smallest fret wire Vintage Fender necks

6130 -- .106" X .036" -- Often referred to as "Medium Jumbo" Many Gibson necks

6105 -- .095" X .045" -- Narrow and tall Most popular choice

6150 -- .103" X .046" -- The standard "Jumbo," it is about the same width as the 6130 but a bit taller Modern Fender American necks

6100 -- .118" X .058" -- A very large wire, almost scalloped feel Common on Ibanez necks

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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:21 am
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Why go Warmoth, if (as is IMHO obvious) the goal is to keep the guitar as original as possible?
I'd say with "almostcertainty" that the original wire was Dunlop.


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:31 am
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jmattis

"All had 22 Jumbo Frets and a 9.5” Radius/241 mm."
xhefriguitars.com

I saw that quote too, and that is what brought me here.
I really appreciate the link. That is truly a great help.

I carefully measured my frets and I came up with 0.102"-Wide and 0.050"-High.
Clearly the height would be 0.055, but the width is not something I have seen anywhere. It has never been refretted and it is Fender Factory Frets.
I consistently measured 0.102" width, so these could not be 0.090 or such frets.

These frets are clearly something inbetween Jumbo and Medium Jumbo, with the Width of Medium Jumbo, but the height of Jumbo.

6100: Jumbo. The largest fret wire available (.110″ x .055″).
6130: Medium jumbo (.106″ x .036″).


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:35 am
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[quote="danagos"]

Jmattis, guessed right, and I want to stick to the same frets. They are perfect for me.
The Warmoth list, contains nothing close to what is currently on there.


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:41 am
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[quote="jmattis"][quote]
"which might have something to do with the playing style of the "Plus target group".

If you know the Strat Plus history well, your guess proves accurate. Strat Plus was created by Jeff Beck's liking of Gibson Les Paul Frets, Combined with the overall sound of Telecaster, but with the added benefit of having tremolo.

If you watch Jeff Beck, he hardly plays the middle pickup. He still clearly thinks Les Paul/Telecaster about use of his pickups.

So the Frets are Gibson'ish slightly taken towards Fender, as that is how he liked it.


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 7:26 am
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I was thinking a little wider target group - mainly that the Strat Plus era was when "the shredder style" was also coming to fashion. Tall frets > lighter touch > faster fingers, was the thought - although I have no idea if Fender designers had that in mind.
(BTW, Beck is one of my all time favorites - and IMHO one thing special with his playing is how "the roots" can be heard through his whole career, no matter how far the music style at a given time drifted.)

But to your measurements: at .050 height left, a fret dress (level, crown, polish) might be the way to go. There's still plenty height left.
And in case you really don't find fretwire that you are satisfied with, go for oversize & custom job. Costly, but if you only gotta pay that once in every 30 years, who cares...


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 11:15 am
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Thanks all for the help.

I also have a Jeff Beck Signature fron 1994 which is as new and about never played with hangtags. Amazing guitar, but the plastic-teflon-sounding Lace Sensors makes me not play it. I measured the frets on there and came to exactly the same measurements.
0.102 x.050.

I really dont know. It seems as if they use custom fretwire on these guitars and I did a lot of refrets in my life.


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 11:20 am
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[/quote]
But to your measurements: at .050 height left, a fret dress (level, crown, polish) might be the way to go. There's still plenty height left.
[/quote]

I know that. Thepoint is not reducing the height .. you have to do that anyway during leveling and dressing. So I dont understand the argument. The point is that I cannot find 0.105<W>0.100 while also having 0.05<h<0.06


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 11:41 am
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Didn't have the patience to read all charts , but maybe you will :wink:
lutherie.net Fret Chart


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 12:27 pm
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Thanks Jmattis,
I already looked at that too.
The only options are
Jescar 51108 18% NS .108 .051
Which will mean I have only 0.001 left for levelling and dressing, so it could not have been this wire.
The other option is:
Dunlop 6100 18% NS .110 .055
which gives me 0.005 for levelling and dressing.
This is the closest I will get and I looked at everything online.
It will be fine to use 6100, but I am curious to why the odd dimensions.

I will have to contact fender directly and find out what they used.
If they dont know, or give a shady answer then I will know it is custom.


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 1:34 pm
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Jescar 57110 would give the extra height with a tiny increase in width


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 4:23 pm
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Just got a reply form Fender.

The answer was a non-answer ...(as expected in my previous post)... basically saying "we are not going to answer on guitars that are old".

Well that answer wont make me buy a new one if that was the attempt, or the other options are that the frets were custom, which is exactly what I would expect from something Jeff Beck was involved in.

So I guess my suspicion is correct.
They are custom frets.

I have done a lot of refrets in my life and these sure are something I havent seen.
It is a small difference but it makes a difference in the overall feel of the guitar.

It is now clear to me that Beck most likely asked for Vintage Jumbo frets that were slightly taller. The Vintage Jumbo's gives me the 0.102 width, while there was no way to get to the 0.050" height for any 0.102" wide fret made.

Again thanks for the Fender link Jmattis, it placed everything in a better perspective in hindsight as that is Fender's basis for frets.

So to summarize the Frets in Strat Plus and early JB Signatures are
6150: Vintage jumbo (.102″ x .042″).
except that the 0.042" has been ordered higher as a custom order as 0.052".
I will contact manufacturers and see if there is such a thing in their custom fret-wires.

I think that this is the only plausable explanation.

Thanks all for the helpful responses. At least I know now that I have to follow my own head in this case and that there is no way out.


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Post subject: Re: Fretwire for Strat Plus
Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 7:41 pm
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I measure the fret wire on all of my guitars when I get them and put the info in a file for future use. I've learned two things:
1. you can't rely on manufacturers specs to tell you what you bought. I figure the IT guys aren't gear heads.
2. digital calipers are very sensitive, so you have to include a little room for + or - in your measurements. Finish on a maple fb will affect the measurement.

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