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FRET wire options
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Author:  herry tze [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:33 am ]
Post subject:  FRET wire options
Hai,... need help for fretwire option.
I'm building acoustic guitar on OO Model from Grellier.fr. but I make the thinner body (slim) bliss eek from 10.5cm to 8.5cm (tail)
and from 8.6cm to 6.6cm (heel) and I'll add the acoustic pickup.
I have 3 types of fretwire
1. gold "evo" alloy)
2. stainless steel ) from LMII and
3. Dunlop 18% nickel silver
What is the best choice for this guitar?
thank's alot, herry [uncle]
note: B&S Mahogany, Top WRC, Neck Mahogany, Fingerboard Ebony, Bridge Ebony
Author:  bluescreek [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
evo is a great fret wire. it wears well and works with standard tools. Stainless is a toughie.
Author:  jfmckenna [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
I hear great things about Evo but I just don't like the way it looks. Stainless is depending on who you talk to, harder on tools and more difficult to install, but it endures. I'm thinking about trying SS in the near future.
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
I'm a total EVO convert, and I try to convince all my customers to try it. I think it is actually easier to work than German silver, it polishes beautifully, and according to some, will last longer than SS, as it work hardens with use. I haven't installed any SS so I can't say if that's true, but I'm not in a hurry to find out, EVO is way better that what most are used to, anyways. About the color; once installed and behind the strings, I don't think its very noticeable. If anything, it matches regular phosphor bronze strings better than GS or SS. I've not had anyone come back and demand that I install German silver, or anything other than EVO, once they tried it.
Author:  CharlieT [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
I'm curious what size wire you guys prefer for the instruments you play. I planned to use the FWG74 EVO wire on my current build, but Todd's comment, and others I've recently read about preferring taller frets have me reconsidering.

Here's a list of the EVO wire from LMI's web site.
Author:  DennisK [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
That chart is lower accuracy than LMI's... the crown heights are:
FW9666 .037"
FWG74 .043"
FW9665 .047"
FW55090 .055"
FWG110 .057"

I prefer low frets myself, so I go for the 9666 on my own guitars. The hardness compared with nickel silver is definitely a good thing there, since you can't go grinding too much off if they ever wear down.

The color of the evo wire doesn't look good with everything, but functionally it's the best. You can use your regular nippers and other tools on it just like nickel silver. Stainless steel is both very stiff and springy, which is a major pain because it's difficult to bend it, but you have to bend it to match the fingerboard almost perfectly or it'll pop up in the center or at the ends.
Author:  CharlieT [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 12:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
DennisK wrote:
That chart is lower accuracy than LMI's... the crown heights are:
FW9666 .037"
FWG74 .043"
FW9665 .047"
FW55090 .055"
FWG110 .057"


My bad...Excel will be the end of me. Thanks for the correction, and the info Dennis!
Author:  Tai Fu [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
If you are not yet too familiar with fretwork, I would suggest sticking with nickel wires. There's already a lot that can go wrong with fretting without more things being thrown into the mix (specifically stainless steel aren't too forgiving about the radius, you must bend a consistent radius, any sharp bends stays forever)

Plus its so difficult to nip the tangs of a stainless steel fretwire. With nickel I can do it with the same tool I use to cut the frets, but with stainless steel I cut them with an abrasive wheel, then grind the tang off.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 1:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
Funny thing about EVO is if you're using it on a steel string with bronze colored strings then it just tends to blend right into the background. I have yet to have one person look at my guitars and mention that the frets are a different color. Not sure how it would look with silver-colored strings but I would still use it cause I like the way it wears (or doesn't as the case may be).
Author:  B. Howard [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
I really like the EVO. It's been working well for me on my personal guitar and I am fairly tough on frets. Definitely seems to wear about as well as stainless but is easier to work. I use Gold hardware and have had customers comment on the matching "gold" fretwire. I still use nickle wire on my personal guitars that have chrome hardware though, as the gold color looks really out of place to me on them. I simply dislike stainless, yes it wears better, but as I said I am tough on frets and level and crowning stainless is a real drag. Not to mention tough on tools, so I would rather level and crown nickle slightly more often in those cases.
Author:  SteveSmith [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
Todd Stock wrote:
I'll offer a differing opinion...if you have the methodology for good fret work down, it does not matter too much what wire is used. I've had students use both Evo and 18% on their first guitars, and the fretwork is routinely excellent in either material.


I would agree in that I didn't find the transition to Evo any different than using regular fret wire. It's not quite as soft but not to a significant degree.
Author:  EddieLee [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
Anyone have a picture of Evo on a guitar they would like to share?

ELB
Author:  David Newton [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
I've used Evo on exactly one guitar, and I liked it, especially how sharp the tangs were.
It was an early batch of wire, I wonder if on later batches the tangs are more rounded as the dies in the factory wear?
Image
Author:  B. Howard [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
Just finished this one a few weeks back.
Author:  Bob Matthews [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
elb_flys wrote:
Anyone have a picture of Evo on a guitar they would like to share?

ELB


Here's one. I simply love the Evo wire and will never go back.
Author:  EddieLee [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 8:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
Thanks, Very nice. Do you use silver or gold hardware with the Evo?
Author:  Shaw [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
I am using standard fret wire that I get from Jescar. I use various sizes. I haven't tried stainless or this EVO. I have many pounds of the stuff so I prefer to use it up before I try something new....Mike
Author:  Link Van Cleave [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
I think EVO is easier to work than standard wire. A little harder so less "gummy". Easier to file and easier to nip the tangs cleanly on a bound fret job.
L
Author:  herry tze [ Fri Jun 15, 2012 11:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
Thank's every one, I think for SS maybe for next time I use it and I save it, wait for the hardware tools, I'll use the EVO, I ever try twice for EVO with the standard hardware I have.. and I think as easy as nickel silver... but sometime I feel for color macthing with the accesories...
now my question is how much difference the sound produced If we use EVO, SS or NS 18%
maybe you may know here in my local city, there are some musical shop sell cheap fretwire with maybe TIN material, producing bad sound...
this is repairing guitar with EVO
Author:  B. Howard [ Sat Jun 16, 2012 6:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
herry tze wrote:
now my question is how much difference the sound produced If we use EVO, SS or NS 18%



I don't think there is enough of a difference in mas or density between these materials to make any real difference in tone or sustain, at least I have not been able to hear one. Any bad sound that can be traced to the frets is usually a result of poor work and not the fret material. Frets that are not seated properly or don't fit the slots correctly seem to sound thin and rob sustain. Frets that are not nicely crowned and polished sound gritty when bent and often don't produce good sustain either. Uncrowned or badly crowned frets can also cause intonation problems leading to a bad sounding guitar. IME cheap fretwire simply wears away much quicker. I've seen really cheap import guitars have divots worn almost through the frets in a few months.
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Sat Jun 16, 2012 2:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
Since I took pictures of the latest batch today... These instruments all have EVO fret wire

Image
Author:  Billy T [ Sun Jun 17, 2012 11:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
David Newton wrote:
It was an early batch of wire, I wonder if on later batches the tangs are more rounded as the dies in the factory wear?
The dies don't work that way. The tips would be that same, as it has to do more with the pressure used to deform the metal. The roots of the tangs would become softer though. I'm pretty sure all frets are rolled.
Author:  theguitarwhisperer [ Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: FRET wire options
herry tze wrote:
..
now my question is how much difference the sound produced If we use EVO, SS or NS 18%


Having done partial refrets with stainless steel, I haven't noticed any difference with stainless steel fret to fret, and no one has been able to pinpoint the steel frets by sound.

I think any tone difference is negligible, if any at all.
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