A Summary on Frets

Hello, it's Kaoru the composer!

This time, I would like to talk about the frets used in guitars and basses.

The frets is a part that is rarely paid attention to, but its material and size can greatly affect the playing comfort and sound.

For beginners, this is a bit of a niche topic, but it is worth knowing, so please read on!

What are frets?

A fret is a bar-shaped metal part that is embedded in the fretboard of a guitar or bass (some guitars are fretless, meaning they have no frets).

They are very important because they allow the player to visually see the pitch of the notes when playing.

These frets are worn away when they come into direct contact with the strings when the strings are held down.
As they wear away, it becomes impossible to capture the sound accurately, and chattering occurs. In other words, it is a consumable part.

Also, if the strings are not stored in a proper environment or if maintenance is neglected, the frets can float and scratch your hand, so regular checks are necessary.

By the way, fret replacements require quite a bit of specialized knowledge and skill, so please consult with a music store or repair store!

Differences and characteristics by material

The advantages and disadvantages really depend on the material of the fret.

Nickel Silver

Nickel silver is the most popular material among all the fret materials, and is used in quite a few models. It is also used in knives and forks that we are familiar with, so you have probably come into contact with this before.

Although it is called nickel silver, it is an alloy of copper, zinc, and nickel, so it does not contain silver. One of its characteristics is that it is a soft material that is easy to process and has a certain level of strength.

However, it’s not suitable for long-term use because of its weak durability, which makes it easy to scrape off.
Sanko Seisakusho is famous for domestic products, and Jim Dunlop is famous for overseas products.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a material that has been increasingly used in high-end models in recent years.
It is an alloy of iron, chromium, and nickel.

As the name “stainless steel” (doesn’t stain) suggests, it is stain resistant and retains its unique metallic beauty indefinitely.

It features high durability and rigidity. Since it’s a harder material than the strings, it is almost impossible to scrape off.

In terms of sound, the high frequencies are more noticeable, so this will depend on your taste.
Some people replace the fretboard with a stainless steel fretboard in order to improve the sound even when downtuning!

Fret sizes

There are different sizes of frets, so you need to be careful when purchasing.
Here is a brief explanation.

Difference by width

The narrower the fret is, the less the area where the fret meets the string, so the longer the sustain will be.
However, the fret can be felt when playing the slide technique or the grease technique, so it is necessary to select the fret according to the playing style.

The standard is shown below.

2.0㎜→Narrow
2.4㎜→Standard
2.8㎜→Wide

Height

The higher the height, the closer the distance to the strings, so you can press the strings with lighter force. This makes it easier to use techniques such as chalking and hammering/pulling.

This also depends on the genre and style of playing, so it is necessary to find a setting that suits you.

The standard is as follows.

1.0㎜→Low
1.2㎜→Standard
1.4㎜→High

How was it?
Please make sure to check it carefully when you purchase an instrument!

Let's pick up the recommended items available at Sound House!

MUSIC NOMAD / MN225 GRIP Guards

A set of fret board guards are ideal for fret polishing and other tasks.

The set includes one for small frets, one for medium frets, and one for jumbo frets, and can be used for basses and ukuleles as well as guitars.
They are made of high quality stainless steel that is non-magnetic, corrosion resistant, and heat resistant for long-term use.

Maintenance will be easier as you will no longer need to use masking tape when polishing the frets!

HOSCO / 3 in 1 Diamond Fret Crown File TL-FFD600 #600

A convenient tool that combines files for small (R=1mm), medium (R=2mm), and jumbo (R=3mm) in one fret file.
By moving it along the fret, it becomes remarkably smooth.

It also has excellent durability due to electrodeposition of diamond particles.

MUSIC NOMAD / MN125 F-ONE Unfinished Fretboard Care Kit - Oil, Cloth, Brus

This set includes everything necessary for fretboard maintenance. It has a fretboard brush, F-ONE oil, and a scraper.
If you don't have a single maintenance tool yet, this is the one for you!

These are some of the things that I said about frets.
Let's protect our precious instruments by performing regular maintenance!

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