Frets - stainless ? other ?

[essexbasscat]

Hi all

Raised this thread as I didn't want to hijack another one where a question about stainless steel frets has come up.

A recommendation was made that a fret crowning file is best avoided for use on stainless steel frets. This raised a few questions for me, such as;

- How would you recognise stainless steel frets ? or come to that, how would you know what material a fret in made from ?

- Why is it best to avoid using crowning files on stainless steel frets ? (once you know you have them in front of you that is)

- What else do you use, or how do you, shape or level and finish stainless steel frets ?

- What material do you use to level SS frets ?


As you can see, the whole shibang really. Just really curious now

Thanks all

T

[Mr. Foxen]

No reason not to use a crowning file on stainless frets, they are much harder though, so will be tougher going.

[RhysP]

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1330609741' post='1560296']
How would you recognise stainless steel frets ?
[/quote]

They won't have any stains on them.

[Mr. Foxen]

The goo along the edges isn't green.

[MoonBassAlpha]

here is one of Ed Roman's rants on stainless steel frets. Not a big fan apparently!
[url="http://www.edroman.com/techarticles/stainlessfrets.htm"]http://www.edroman.com/techarticles/stainlessfrets.htm[/url]

[warwickhunt]

Buy a Warwick and you have a nice 'bell-metal' alloy... defo NOT Stainless Steel.

[BigRedX]

If Ed Roman hates then I want them all my basses.

[Mr. Foxen]

I know I'm always gutted when my frets wear faster than my strings.

[Mr. Foxen]

Blaming tools.

[Mr. Foxen]

Someone who bought suitable tools.

[Ou7shined]

There's no shortage of proper tools.

[essexbasscat]

Don't fret about it