Official Luthiers Forum!

I've been using the "regular" .085" wide 18% nickel wire as found pretty much everywhere (I get mine by the pound from Euphonon). It's fine, but I find there is always slight variations in height, and always in need of light milling after installation when all the frets are perfectly seated.
What do you guys think of the Jescar fretwire? Is it more consistent? Easier or more difficult to work with? I'd be willing to try the stainless steel wire, is it really that more durable?

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Laurent my friend I can't speak about fret wire from Euphonon but I have and do use wire from Jescar and I am very pleased with it.

As for consistency for the NS and EVO wire leveling is still required and not so much because of any variance in the wire but in the technique of the person installing it....

It's good stuff!

Anyone know approximately how may linear feet are in a pound for standard wire.

I've heard only good things about LMI's EVO wire and may give it a try soon. They don't have the size I usually favor (StewMac 155: tall, medium wide) but they have a few standard sizes.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Depending on the wire and according to StewMac, between 44 and 92f. The "regular" medium/medium wire gives 68f for 1lbs. That's a lot of guitars…

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

I like the standard stainless steel wire. The durability is amazing,, but a little harder to work with. But not as hard as I thought. Using the Stew Mac diamond crowning files makes crowning easy. Worth trying.

Chuck

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Laurent, you might check in with Mario P.(Grumpy), and see what he's using. He frets the board before installing, and does not, normally, have to level. I do know that he presses his frets in.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

I use wire from Jescar. I tried stainless and didn't like it. It sounded to bright to my ears. Bright sounding is not always a good thing.

I've been using Jescar SS fretwire more recently and have had great results on 3 builds. This material is definitely harder than the more traditional nickel-silver wire so it requires different cutting techniques. I like the fact that their wire arrives in a neatly consistent coil which obviates the need to run it through the fret radius jig. Installing is no different (I pound) and I find they seat more securely. Filing and polishing takes slightly more time but the frets stay polished and smoother much longer... I've never had to re-polish in over a year and there are NO string wear marks as well.

Waddy...Mario posted his technique some time ago...check the archives under Grumpy. I have followed that advice with great success. I rarely have to level and re-crown a newly installed fretboard. BTW...he has been using Jescar SS wire for years now and won't use NS on a new guitar. There are some folks who, when they publish tips and advice, are sure bets to steer you in the right direction.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Is Jescar fretwire available direct, or do they sell through distribution? If distribution, who sells it?

TIA,

Chris.

I've bought directly through Jescar. http://www.jescar.com/

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thanks Todd.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I'm pretty sure that Shane at High Mountain sells Jescar wire, and he would be my first choice of who to check. Hey Shane, if you are reading this, maybe you could list your stock wire sizes right here.

Howard, I don't know in what quantity he needs to order for a minimum purchase of a specific wire size, but I'd ask him.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia