Jazzer's frets of choice

[rpjazzguitar]

I'm not sure about this because some details are lost to memory, but I seem to recall having a guitar fitted with very large frets and then finding I was pulling notes sharp when I got excited and pressed too hard.

That can happen with smaller frets too. Probably better to stay calm.

Another thing I've wondered about but I've not heard discussed is how frets put a kink in the string. Next time you remove a high E string -- run your finger along it. You may discover that you can feel where every fret was. I can't imagine that's very good for your tone or intonation.

So, based on these two bits of reasoning, a low wide fret might be best. But, when I pick up and try a guitar I never think about it. It feels good or it doesn't. I do check to see if I'm likely to pull notes sharp, although I may be fooling myself on that.

[kris]

The best guitar frets are those that are set correctly on the fingerboard of the guitar and they do not need fret work.

[whiskey02]

To some extent, as with neck carve measurements, the calipers alone give incomplete information; the shape/profile is as or more important than just size. A neck carve that measures .97” can feel much thinner if it has a hard V shape. Round shaped frets feel better to me.
My late luthier (yes, real Luthier) Allen Chester had a client who owned a real 59 burst and one of the earlier Gibson R9’s. He brought it to Allen complaining that “ it doesn’t sound like my 59”. Allen said...let me refret it. Client said..wtf..I just paid $6000, it’s brand new..... Let me refret it. He trusted Allen and when he got it back, with 6130 he was shocked and very happy. Square, bus shaped frets can’t be just rounded off, there’s not room for the files to get to where they need to be.
Yes jumbo frets can allow notes to be bent sharp. That’s a good part of why shredders scallop their boards, it forces one to play with a very light touch. Nothing kills speed than exerting more force/energy/muscle than pressing harder than necessary.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

So that [jescar 47104] is Eastman spec, anyone have an idea what Ibanez use? Specifically looking for SJ300 info . . . . . anyone?

My AF207 came with Sanko / Hosco 213s that are 0.106 x 0.040”. I haven’t seen fret dimensions on catalog spec sheets for current and recent Ibanez models. They seem to have gone to sm-med-large. I think the SJ comes with what they call medium frets. If they still use Sanko / Hosco, that would be the SBB214 or 214H. These are 0.094 x 0.047 or 0.051”.

[Klatu]

Anything but narrow and high

I've got a strat that I dig in spite of its narrow and tall frets. It would be perfect if it had the standard medium jumbos.

[iim7V7IM7]

After reviewing this thread, I guess I should clarified beyond just my archtop guitars. Forgetting wire size, I prefer Jescar EVO wire over nickel or stainless. It does not wear easily, is workable by technicians and its slight warm hue does not bother me in the least.

I do use different sized wire based on the type of guitar because my fretting pressure is not constant based on string gage, alloy and scale length differences and I need to adjust to ensure intonation. Interestingly, as the tension gets higher and bending is not used, I prefer lower frets.

Electric = 0.047” x 0.104” with 25” to 25.5” scale lengths playing D’Addario NYXL11s
Archtop = 0.047” x 0.095” with 25” to 25.25” scale lengths playing TI BeBop 13s
Flattop = 0.043” x 0.080” with 24.9” to 25.4” scale lengths playing D’Addario 80/20 and PB 12s

I do have one guitar with 0.055” x 0.090” (acoustic archtop) and it plays fine. I really prefer the aesthetic of thinner wire. I play it with 80/20s mostly. I think if I ever need to refret it, I would use 0.047” x 0.095”, but after 5 years with EVO wire it shows little signs of wear.

[supersoul]

Recently I bought some frets to refret a guitar o'mine. I bought Dunlop 6105, so I guess that's what I like. Dunlop calls them "jumbo."
Honestly, I bought them because they are tall so I would have room to mess up while doing my first time refret.

[Woody Sound]

Medium Jumbo. And I do like the SS frets I've played on. Would like to try those gold thingies some time.

[deacon Mark]

This was not an option but I like tall frets and a bit wider but not super wide, but definitely not narrow.

To note as a repairman and one who does lots of fret dressing for guitarist, I recommend never to use low frets unless you are only replacing a few worn ones to match the other. Taller frets allow for more fret dressing on a guitar before you need to refret. How many fret dressing a guitar gets is really up to the player and how hard the play. The most important thing is that when the frets start showing wear and divots that can be seen easily, then get the frets dressed even if guitar playing good. The reason is that if you go too long depending on where you spend your time on the fingerboard it can mean they all need replacing sooner. It is better to keep them up and not keep rusted old strings on the guitar. This all contributes to fret wear. Frets wear and divots start appearing it becomes more knife-like by the strings. Best to have them smooth and even less cutting action.

In truth a minor fret dressing to clean and polish without really taking much metal is a good thing. It is easier to do, takes less time, and generally produces more consistent results up front.

[rob taft]

Jescar Evo Gold 47104 i.e 0.47 H x .104 W is my favorite. Good all round feel and very durable.

[Toat]

6150s medium jumbo. But I don't usually play archtops. I recently got a hollow body with medium frets and it's hard to adjust

[Alter]

Different types of frets make all the difference in how a guitar plays. The most difficult frets for me to get used to have been the low wide ones my 70s 335 has, I used to hate them for years. But this guitar plays like no other I have seen, extremely low, effortless action with no buzzing, as long as you keep a light touch. But wide frets, you better keep them in top shape because they really get out of tune if not!

I have a tele with jumbo frets that I really like. I think jumbo frets are the easiest for me to play jazz on, chords and stuff.

I need to go measure stuff on my guitars, as the time has come to refret my 335 and I need to decide. Probably will go with something Gibson puts on them?

[JCat]

Different types of frets make all the difference in how a guitar plays. The most difficult frets for me to get used to have been the low wide ones my 70s 335 has, I used to hate them for years. But this guitar plays like no other I have seen, extremely low, effortless action with no buzzing, as long as you keep a light touch. But wide frets, you better keep them in top shape because they really get out of tune if not!

I have a tele with jumbo frets that I really like. I think jumbo frets are the easiest for me to play jazz on, chords and stuff.

I need to go measure stuff on my guitars, as the time has come to refret my 335 and I need to decide. Probably will go with something Gibson puts on them?

My 2002 ES-335 got the same fret wire as my 2013 Les Paul (ref to 6105 in the chart below). Gibson calls them "medium jumbo", but they are narrow compared to what players associate with jumbos today (but they are wider than old vintage frets). They came too high for my liking, but it appears that current Gibsons are once again lower. My contemporary Epiphones got slightly wider frets (ref to 6130), more in line with my understanding of the meaning of jumbo.
The Historics have used Jescar 45100 for years. It is .045 tall by .100 wide", a good size according to the jazz guitar forum poll (current standing)

[pingu]

My 2002 ES-335 got the same fret wire as my 2013 Les Paul (ref to 6105 in the chart below). Gibson calls them "medium jumbo", but they are narrow compared to what players associate with jumbos today (but they are wider than old vintage frets). They came too high for my liking, but it appears that current Gibsons are once again lower. My contemporary Epiphones got slightly wider frets (ref to 6130), more in line with my understanding of the meaning of jumbo.
The Historics have used Jescar 45100 for years. It is .045 tall by .100 wide", a good size according to the jazz guitar forum poll (current standing)

anyone here know what Ibanez
jazz boxes use .... ?

[Alter]

I need to decide this week.. 6105 or 6130 for a Gibson 335 that now has the "fretless wonder" frets..

I haven't completely ruled out putting the same low-wide frets it has now either.. but I'll probably go with 6105.

[bluejaybill]

I need to decide this week.. 6105 or 6130 for a Gibson 335 that now has the "fretless wonder" frets..

I haven't completely ruled out putting the same low-wide frets it has now either.. but I'll probably go with 6105.

I am mostly familiar right now with the two fret sizes that I have on two luthier-made jazz guitars: Dunlop 6150, which is .102 x.042, on an acoustic arch top, and .92 x .048 on an electric arch top.

Both were the stock frets used by luthiers. Both feel great, but I personally wouldn't want to go higher than .048. If you are used to flat frets I think you may really feel the increased height of the 6105, and you may encounter intonation problems as well if you are used to fretting harder with your left hand. YMMV etc.

On the other, .102 x .042 feels really great, and I would consider that on a guitar where I was bending strings as well. I probably have Jescar 45100 (.100 x.045 of course) which is said to be used on Gibson Historic LP's (I have an R8), and is very similar to those on the acoustic arch top. I would probably prefer that on a 335 as well, especially if you bend once in a while. Good luck!

[pingu]

anyone here know what Ibanez
jazz boxes use .... ?

I would recommend them if i knew
what size they were !
they feel just right to me ….

[richay]

The bigger the better.

Curious to know your reasoning

[JazzerEU]

I prefer medium jumbo frets on my guitars. I don't like the feeling of my fingers making contact with the finger board but at the same time I don't want the feeling of a scalloped fret neck. I had jescar EVO frets installed on one of my guitars and they made the sound of my guitar brighter. Next time I need fretwork on that guitar, I'm going to get the frets replaced with nickel frets.

[Old Nick]

anyone here know what Ibanez
jazz boxes use .... ?

I would recommend them if i knew
what size they were !
they feel just right to me ….

Ibanez calls the frets on my AF86-VLS "medium"

Seem just fine to me

[coyote-1]

I think frets are less impactful on jazz guitar than on rock. The whole vibrato-sustain thing just isn’t that prevalent in jazz, so the need for “the perfect frets” is less.

[Christian Miller]

I’m not sure my main guitar has frets tbh


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[ruger9]

I thought for years I preferred medium and even jumbo frets, because the 2 guitars I had, had those fret sizes. I even steered away from guitars I might otherwise want but read "small frets".

I was wrong.

For me, it doesn't matter. I have guitars with vintage small frets and super jumbos. The only things that matter are fret finishing/polishing, intonation (crowning). As long as those are good, and the guitar can be set up with the action and relief I prefer, fret size does not matter.

On a related subject... I DO prefer stainless steel frets, and if I could change ALL my guitars (including the acoustics) to stainless steel, I would.