| Author | Message | ||
| jazzyvee
Senior Member Username: jazzyvee Post Number: 1240 Registered: 6-2002 |
I have an alembicised strat that looks like it needs a refret job pretty soon. It's a 1984 maple neck USA Strat and before I send it off to Jaydee for a refret, I'd like to know what my options are regarding fret size and fretwire material and what difference if anything it makes to playability, sound, action etc etc. As for setup my preference is for as low an action as possible without buzzing or choking string bends and prefer to use D'daddario XL 9's but for touring I prefer Elixir coated strings only because they last longer. I know you guys have a lot of knowledge so It seem sensible to tap into that before I decide on what to have done. In the main I use this particular guitar for Reggae and blues so it's mainly used clean, not sure if that has any influence on fretwire choice but there it is. It's only information related to guitar I'm interested in thanks. Jazzyvee | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 3235 Registered: 7-2004 |
Jazzyvee: When I first got my '61 Strat (back in about '75) it looked like the original owner had never learned a barre chord, or anything else above the 3rd fret, as the first three frets were pretty chopped up while the rest were in much better shape. Not really being hip to the "pre CBS" mania, and being a 20 year old kid with no concept of what it might be worth someday, I had it completely refretted. I never liked the stock Fender frets (narrow and sharp) and had it re-done with wider, lower, rounded off Dunlop frets. They're still on it today. Even if I devalued it with the re-fret, I glad I did as the improvement in playability was dramatic (at least to me). Like you, I also prefer to play clean (you know, Good ol' Grateful Dead yada yada) and the larger Dunlops sure work for me. You might try hitting a guitar store and playing a few guitars with different profile frets to see what works best for you. Good luck. Bill, tgo | ||
| jalevinemd
Senior Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 670 Registered: 12-2003 |
It also depends on your technique. I fret very hard and with lower frets I often find myself pushing on the fretboard when I'm bending strings. Of course, the downside is that with taller frets I can go sharp if I'm not careful. |
