What Year Did Gibson Start Using Narrow Tall frets On R7's? Neck Shape?

[DvnLesPaul]

My 2018 R6 has notably skinnier/taller feeling frets that any of my R9's (which range from '02 - '24)

 

[1allspub]

Yep, 2018 is the correct answer… 100%. I bought a 2018 R8 back in, well, 2018… and didn’t realize a the time (bought online from Wildwood) that the CS had changed the frets to the “tall/narrow” type (Jescar FW50078). I’d had previous R8s which were spec’s with the medium jumbos (Jescar FW45100) that I muuuch preferred. It’s easy to spot the visual difference if you know what to look for. A quick look at Reverb will readily show that 2017 model year R8/7s still had the FW45100s… and in 2018 in changed to the tall/narrow FW50078.

I kept that 2018 R8 for 4 years trying to get used to them, in the end though, I just couldn’t. Maybe if I hadn’t had other RIs at the same time with FW45100s I could have trained my fingers to become accustomed to them… but with the constant comparison readily available, it was clearly evident I strongly preferred the FW45100s.

But anyway, it happened in 2018. Wish it hadn’t.

 

[JThunders]

I have not played a new R7/R8 with these tall-narrow frets, but I’m curious about the feel. Any comments about whether they play more or less comfortably than the wider frets that have been used on Historics for the past 20 years? I greatly dislike the narrow-low frets used on vintage Gibson electrics up until 1959, but I’m assuming that the new Historic frets are taller?

They are taller but still narrow and a different feel than the standard medium jumbo on 59 and newer.. I personally had to get rid of a 2020 R7 Junior because of the small frets. I wouldn't call them unplayable but if you're used to medium jumbo you might not like them.. I didn't