Best "fret size" for jazz/blues???

[doruondun]

Hi, I'm going to refret my guitar, but I'm really confused about variable fret sizes. Btw I'm going to order from stewmac.com.

Narrow/tall or wide/low? Or which one below is good for playin' jazz/blues?

Fender's sizes:

6230: The smallest fret wire found on older Fender necks (.078" x .043").
6150: Vintage jumbo. Much wider but not as tall as 6230 (.102" x .042").
6105: Modern narrow and tall; currently very popular (.090" x .055").
6100: Jumbo. The largest fret wire available (.110" x .055").
6130: Medium jumbo (.106" x .036").

Stewmac's sizes:

STEWMAC.COM : Medium Fretwire
STEWMAC.COM : Wide Fretwire

Thank you!..

[BigDaddyLoveHandles]

If you play a lot of slides but not big bends, I like the vintage frets -- 6230. For more bends the 6130. It depends on your touch: if you have a light touch you can get away with higher frets. If you have a heavy touch, you'll be pulling notes sharp.

And there is even bigger wire: 6000 (.118" x .058") railway ties! For basses only, I hope!

[mr. beaumont]

for jazz and blues? maybe some magical fret that could change sizes!me, i like 'em small-- my teles have 6230's, my Godin's look even smaller. But I have no need for big screaming bends in my life, really...

[doruondun]

I only bend when I play blues, but usually don't bend for jazz... I think 6230 is much better for bends than 6130, because 6230 is narrower and taller... Logically taller frets give scalloped, bumpy feel that many shredders like, and wider is better for slidings...

My current guitar has kinda medium jumbo (6130) frets. It's nice, but also it's really low so I can't feel the strings sometimes (like playing guitar with no strings). I like a little bit wider, 6230 are like mandolin frets for me...

6150 is a good one, but it's fender's frets... So which fret at stewmac's is equivalent to the 6150???

[derek]

Funny. As much of a gear geek as I am, I couldn't tell you what kind of frets I have on any of my guitars, or what I prefer. I only notice frets when they are really big or really small. Otherwise, I just don't notice. Guess I better fix this hole in my cork sniffing pickiness.

[doruondun]

Originally Posted by derek

Funny. As much of a gear geek as I am, I couldn't tell you what kind of frets I have on any of my guitars, or what I prefer. I only notice frets when they are really big or really small. Otherwise, I just don't notice. Guess I better fix this hole in my cork sniffing pickiness.

You really get picky when its time for changing something on your guitar

[cosmic gumbo]

Get huge wire and grind 'em down as they wear.

[X-500]

Greetings doruondon,

I'm not sure what is best for blues or jazz, but I do love the feel of Dunlop's 6150 on my Guild X-700. It was due for a refret and I had it refretted with the 6150s' after measuring the equivalent size on my Guild X-500. I like the fatter feel for chord solos. Ultimately, it is a personal preference. FYI, my other two Guilds have smaller frets @ .084" x .039"
which gives a slightly different feel. And in my humble opinion, I believe they work best for blues if you're bending notes.

It's whatever you like. You'll adjust to anything. After you adjust, you can bend on low frets, or play complex chords on high frets without pushing anything out of tune.

On the other hand may as well make life easy.

Go with 6150, or even the slightly higher Stewmac 0149.

A narrower fret at the same height will slow you down for vertical moves in Blues. Again, you can adjust to ANYTHING, but narrow/tall is sort of a pain for some players. Also narrow/tall will wear significantly faster than a 6150 or SM 0149.

Don't get them too big then grind them down unless you have a very good luthier to restore a good crown shape on them (and be ready to pay $$$ for this time consuming job.). And don't go for wacky shapes like the Stewmac "pyramid".

All the above is one irresponsible web opinion,...

[doruondun]

Originally Posted by chrisp

It's whatever you like. You'll adjust to anything. After you adjust, you can bend on low frets, or play complex chords on high frets without pushing anything out of tune.

On the other hand may as well make life easy.

Go with 6150, or even the slightly higher Stewmac 0149.

A narrower fret at the same height will slow you down for vertical moves in Blues. Again, you can adjust to ANYTHING, but narrow/tall is sort of a pain for some players. Also narrow/tall will wear significantly faster than a 6150 or SM 0149.

Don't get them too big then grind them down unless you have a very good luthier to restore a good crown shape on them (and be ready to pay $$$ for this time consuming job.). And don't go for wacky shapes like the Stewmac "pyramid".

All the above is one irresponsible web opinion,...

Thank you chrisp, Stewmac 0149 (wide/medium) is also what I'm thinking about, but there is also a Stewmac 0141 (medium/high), what do you think?

[jason30]

I purchased a vontage neck with small fret wire and i absolutely HATED that neck!!!! I took it off and put a warmoth neck on with jumbo frets and i love the way it feels!!!!

>>>Stewmac 0149 [vs.] Stewmac 0141, what do you think?

Yeah, the 0141 s sort of a width between medium and jumbo.

The arguable upside is that there is less tonnage of fret to re-crown if you get them dressed after they wear a bit.

The downside is that the crown will be a bit narrower in radius.

The narrower crown will feel a but bumpier as you play up and down the FB even though the height of the two fret sizes (0149 , 0141) is the same.

The narrower crown will wear slightly faster, but not to the point that it is a big deal in my opinion.

At the height these two frets have, I'd go 0149 for the smother feel when moving up/down the FB. But the 0141 is not a freakishly tall medium, so it will also be OK.