Stainless Steel Frets

[ebick]

I believe I am in need of a fret job on my 814 (2011).  The last guy that I let work on my guitar is Joel from Seven C Music in St. Pete (I live in Orlando).  Joel and his dad (I believe) both worked for Taylor and that's the shop that Taylor sends you to for local repairs.....so I trust him (besides the fact that he did outstanding work on it last time).

At that time, he urged me to consider stainless steel instead of nickel when the time came.  His reasons were a) I'll never have to re-fret again, and b) there is no significant difference otherwise, contrary to reports that folks say it makes the sound brighter, yadda yadda yadda.

So.....does anyone here have any ACTUAL experience with stainless steel frets?

Ed

[DennisG]

If stainless steel frets are longer lasting, I’m surprised Taylor doesn’t just install them in the first place.  There can’t be that much difference in cost to Taylor.

[StrummingMadMan]

I have them on my Rockbridge SJ 6-string. I don't believe there was any significant change in tone, at least that I noticed. I know it can be expensive to get them and it definitely causes serious wear and tear to the tools used. Overall, since it's not your tools being used and if you're comfortable with the price for the work, it would be a great decision.

[Earl]

I have SS frets on several carbon fiber guitars.  They wear fine and polish up to a glassy smoothness, but CF guitars are different animals tonally than wood guitars.  According to reports, the extra hardness means extra work and considerable extra tool wear, so many luthiers choose to avoid them.  Bob Taylor has said that they tried SS and didn't like the tone, but I also suspect that any increased cost in a high production factory environment is a deal breaker regardless of tone changes.  It's not like you can add much to the price of the guitar just for stainless frets.

Many people use Jecsar EVO gold fret wire when upgrading.  It wears almost as well as stainless, but isn't as hard on the tooling.

[Edward]

Actual experience with SS frets, yes, on an electric.  I will never EVER again refret in nickel ...SS frets feel that smooth, bend with sublime ease, and simply do not wear that I can tell.  I am sold sold sold on SS frets because they feel that good. 

I recall reading that Bob heard a difference and therefore went to Jescar Evo wire as an option for customers because its hardness sits in between SS and nickel but without tonal difference.  His opinion, but I am skeptical, personally.  When I have to refret my next acoustic I will go SS because it plays markedly smoother and I will never have to worry about wear or divots again. 

Edward

[tedtan]

What Edward said.

I love stainless and EVO gold fret wire and will not go back to regular nickel silver fret wire. In fact, I just bought two pounds of stainless steel fret wire from Jescar (enough for 12-14 guitars) and will use this on all of my guitars, electric and acoustic, when the time comes to refret.

Also, older files tended to wear out from the harder stainless steel fret wire, but files made in the past 5-10 years are harder and don't tend to wear from stainless, though it does take a little more time to level. Based on this, there should not be a significant upcharge for stainless steel refrets at this point.

[Guitarsan]

For what it’s worth to you

https://blog.taylorguitars.com/ask-bob-stainless-steel-frets-ceramic-nutsaddle

[Edward]

...I love stainless and EVO gold fret wire and will not go back to regular nickel silver fret wire. In fact, I just bought two pounds of stainless steel fret wire from Jescar (enough for 12-14 guitars) and will use this on all of my guitars, electric and acoustic, when the time comes to refret.

Also, older files tended to wear out from the harder stainless steel fret wire, but files made in the past 5-10 years are harder and don't tend to wear from stainless, though it does take a little more time to level. Based on this, there should not be a significant upcharge for stainless steel refrets at this point.

^^^My boldface, and a point that deserves repeating, IMHO. 
I have spoken to two skilled and highly reputed builders (whose names are notable but I will not divulge, one of whom did the SS refret on my Tele), and this whole "upcharge for SS" thing is largely overblown.  Upcharging clearly benefits the luthiers/techs out there because folks repeat it, and thereby believe it.  But in the experience of these two notables, the add'l wear on tools as justification for hiking prices of SS is minimal, yet has become accepted in the marketplace. 
Now I am no builder, but this is from two who are; nevertheless, I am subject to what the marketplace deems for a SS refret.  But for those who actually know because they do their own, they will note that actual price differences are far less than what people make it out to be.
Thanks, Tedtan for sharing your experience!

Edward