Official Luthiers Forum!

Is there a preferred fret wire size for fretting a new acoustic guitar? Why are there so many choices? Are there attributes to certain sizes. Thanks for any help,this is my first guitar build.
Chance

Any "medium" size fretwire, like stewmac medium high or medium higher will do just fine. If you start paying attention to the frets on guitars that feel good to you, you will start to form an opinion, until then, medium is popular for good reason.

Aside from tone and feel, the main benefit to using semi high fretwire is that they last longer before needing a refret.

_________________
Jordan Aceto
Ithaca, NY

Thanks for the reply jordan. So does crown height or width have no affect on sound or playability? I just wondered why there are so many choices.
Chance

well I am not an expert , but the way I see it is the higher the crown of the fret, the more chance there is to get some 'sharping " when the strng is fretted. I just did mine with the smalest available guitar wire, and I am happy with it . the next smaller wire would have been for a banjo. for what its worth . Jody

Fret size is very subjective. Some people prefer small frets so they can feel the fretboard, others prefer very tall frets so the finger does not touch the fretboard. Some players will even scallop the fingerboard to make sure they never touch the fretboard. Bigger frets last longer before refrets, so if you like small frets it might be better to use a longer lasting fretwire like stainless steel. In general most acoustic rhythm only players will want smaller frets and speed metal players will want huge frets. If you're building a guitar for someone else then you'd ask them what size do they prefer, if it's for yourself then use whatever you're comfortable with.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

My normal fretwire has a crown width of .080" and a height to .043". I don't mention fret size with my customers unless they ask. I've done a couple with different sizes by customer request but I've never had any complaints about my standard size.

_________________
I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Thanks for all the replies. Much appreciated.
Chance

I use med. /med..084 wide,.039 crown,and.055 tang. It's what most popular guitars use and most people are use to them.Too high and or too low can have it's disadvanges.So i find these to be a good choice overall.

Chance,
One of the reasons Stew-Mac and LMI offer so many different size fret wire is for refretting. One might have a slightly wider fret slot which would cause you to need a fret wire with a wider tang or smaller which ever the case. Also in refretting you might run across an area on the fretboard where you would need a high crown fret to match up with the existing frets.

Just one reason they sell different wire. For you first, just go with the standard medium and you'll be fine.

_________________
"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

my standard ire is Stew Mac's 148 for acoustics and 152 for electrics

_________________
John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I'm only on number one, but on the guitars I play actions set almost identical I find the ones with jumbo wire easiest to play, and by that I mean a crown width 2.8mm and height 1.1mm don't know quite how that compares.

_________________
Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes