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Recommend someone for a stainless refret - NYC or...?

brunning

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
126
83 Standard, original frets are low and flat. Plays great, but feels like work compared to my necks with big SS frets

I've called a few top shops here in NYC and I'm getting a lot of resistance to SS.

Guys claiming they are "nearly impossible" to work on, or are going to "change the tone a lot". I know both of those things are false, and I definitely want SS, so I'm looking for recommendations. Do you know any great repair guys in NYC who will work with stainless? Nearby? Someone I can ship the guitar to?

Thanks!
 

gdenton71

New member
Joined
May 25, 2008
Messages
63
83 Standard, original frets are low and flat. Plays great, but feels like work compared to my necks with big SS frets

I've called a few top shops here in NYC and I'm getting a lot of resistance to SS.

Guys claiming they are "nearly impossible" to work on, or are going to "change the tone a lot". I know both of those things are false, and I definitely want SS, so I'm looking for recommendations. Do you know any great repair guys in NYC who will work with stainless? Nearby? Someone I can ship the guitar to?

Thanks!


I've got a great luthier in Mass that will do them. He is the real deal. PM me if you'd like his details. He'll give "the look" because SS will destroy tools (durability comes at a price), but will not let the guitar go home until "it's right".
 

montesada

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2008
Messages
713
...it will also destroy strings at an alarming rate. I have a guitar with stainless frets, new strings last about +/- 2hrs before the windings are flattened or worn through...
 

Don

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 1, 2001
Messages
5,732
The stainless steel frets on my Carvin don't affect string life at all. I'd have them on all my guitars if I could. The guitars eight years old, the frets look like new and the guitar plays so smoothly!
 

jtees4

Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2010
Messages
209
I had a Parker Fly with stainless and thought they were great. In fairness I guess I didn't have it long enough to really know about if they killed strings or not, but they felt and sounded great.
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
...it will also destroy strings at an alarming rate. I have a guitar with stainless frets, new strings last about +/- 2hrs before the windings are flattened or worn through...

This has not proven to be true at all. All my new builds are with stainless. They quite simply work better and are superior in every aspect of their function.
 

Cholo

Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2002
Messages
35
Anyone else?
I've got 2 guitars that I refretted with Stainless Steel frets and 1 with EVO Gold frets. They do NOT chew up strings faster than usual. Believe me, I am sensitive to changing strings since I sweat a lot through my hands. It's been a mission for me to change strings as necessary. I've been picky about dead strings for 30+ years and SS does not impact the wearability whatsoever.

I too have heard they will chew them. The luthier I used to refret with EVOs is very, very experienced (think Dan Erlewine) and he warned me about this, but I have not found that to be true at all.

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Amp360

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 16, 2012
Messages
852
Barry Lipman in CT (not too far from NYC) is top-notch. He was Ed Roman's main repair man for years.
 

Winkyplayer

Member
Joined
May 1, 2021
Messages
74
...it will also destroy strings at an alarming rate. I have a guitar with stainless frets, new strings last about +/- 2hrs before the windings are flattened or worn through...
Not in my experience. The SS frets on the one guitar I have with them (a Godin) are so polished and smooth that the strings just glide across them with no real wear to either the strings or the frets.
 

Winkyplayer

Member
Joined
May 1, 2021
Messages
74
This has not proven to be true at all. All my new builds are with stainless. They quite simply work better and are superior in every aspect of their function.
I'd agree. SS frets that are chewing strings may have not been properly finished. They should be properly crowned and polished to a mirror shine. Because the SS is so hard, any roughness, edges or micro-burrs will be very hard on strings. The strings won't smooth them out either as might happen with softer material.
 
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