Nibs - what is the point??

[delphic]

I have never played or owned a guitar with fret nibs. They look as if strings could snag between the fret end and the nib, especially if worn or damaged.

So what is the point of fret nibs?

 

[poor man's burst]

Gibson found it simplier to manufacture guitars with the bindings extending in front of the fret's extremities than having the frets passing over the binding.
It is extremly rare that the strings get catched between the nib and the fret.

 

[jb_abides]

This! ... Plus they look cool.

 

[JASIII]

They look good

 

[Offshore Angler]

fret ends don’t need dressing and fret sprout is eliminated.

In other words: it’s a premium feature to enhance playability.

 

[Maguchi]

I got both kinds and playing each of them feels about the same. Fingers crossed, but I never snagged a string between the fret end and the nib before yet.

 

[gary buff]

They do look good especially on a LP Custom neck, they offset the dark ebony board (if it has one) and all that pearl. Playability? Nah....

 

[gmann]

fret ends don’t need dressing and fret sprout is eliminated.

In other words: it’s a premium feature to enhance playability.

How does it enhance playability?

 

[charliechitlins]

When I do a refret, I get to file the nibs off, bring the frets out over the binding and get a little more wiggle room, so to speak.
I have not (and would not) attempted to keep the nibs and put new frets between them.
I get the impulse ..I just won't do it.

 

[LeonC]

I like nibs on my Gibsons because it's a tradition I've come to expect and I appreciate Gibson's adherence to it. Ultimately, I like what Ron Thorn has been doing on his fretwork for years. He cuts the tangs short and files the underside of the fret ends smooth where they extend over the binding. So ends of the frets can extend over the binding and you don't have to worry about sprouting. Definitely more work, but it just demonstrates Ron's commitment to quality.

 

[Wilko]

How does it enhance playability?

Neck/fretboard edge is smoother.

 

[Offshore Angler]

How does it enhance playability?

Man, if you have to ask I don't know how to answer that. Once you encounter fret sprout you may change your view.

BTW, undercutting and filing is how it's been traditionally done on bound guitars for years. It's nothing unique. Even offshore budget manufacturers do it on bound necks. Epiphone's Sheraton II, for example. Heck they even ball-end the frets!

If you live in Florida and your guitar never leaves the house you'll never have to deal with it, but if you play a lot in the North in winter or out in the desert you'll learn all about fret sprout.

If you are comfortable taking a file and sandpaper to your axe it's not that big a deal and just an annoyance, but if you are the kind of player who doesn't like to work on their frets - binding with nibs is the way to go.

It's your money, you can buy whatever you like.

 

[gmann]

I’ve had tons of guitars over the years vintage, Historic etc… and I don’t feel an advantage of one over the other. The only time I’ve ever encountered fret sprout has been on Fenders, maybe I’ve just been lucky.

 

[charliechitlins]

I’ve had tons of guitars over the years vintage, Historic etc… and I don’t feel an advantage of one over the other. The only time I’ve ever encountered fret sprout has been on Fenders, maybe I’ve just been lucky.

If you file the fret edges in the winter when there is maximum sprout, it will never be a problem again.