How to Choose Fret Wire

[Diane Kauffmds]

Hi everyone,

Here's my idiot question of the day; how do you choose fret wire? I see varying crown height and shape. I'll be replacing the fretboard on my project guitar. I'll be working with an unslotted fretboard. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I play fingerstyle and have fairly weak fingers.

Thanks

[B. Howard]

Most factory acoustics these days have a medium size wire on them comparable to LMI FW74. Jumbo size frets are usually only used on electric guitars but I have done an acoustic or two with them at request. I tend to like a slightly smaller wire in general than most folks, but that solely my preference. You could measure the wires on your other guitars for comparison and gauge feel from that.

[tippie53]

I carry fretwire in different tang widths also

[sylvan]

I find Stew Mac's #149 to be ideal. I use it on electrics and acoustics.

[JLT]

Hi everyone,

Here's my idiot question of the day; how do you choose fret wire? I see varying crown height and shape. I'll be replacing the fretboard on my project guitar. I'll be working with an unslotted fretboard. I don't know if it makes a difference, but I play fingerstyle and have fairly weak fingers.

Thanks

My inclination would be to use fretwire with a lower crown height if you have weak fingers, as you wouldn't need as much pressure to depress each string so that it's touching the fretboard behind the fret. But that might not be an issue if your string gauge is light enough. If you have access to a steel sting guitar that you have no trouble playing with the capo on the first fret (to take a poorly slotted nut out of the equation), I'd just find the fret height of that guitar using one of those micrometers that have a little extension rod to measure hole depth. You can then use that height when you order the fretwire.

Or you can use the standard fretwire that the others recommend, knowing that you can always lower and re-crown the frets to suit yourself. They're probably going to be lowered anyway during the fretboard leveling process. That's one of the wonderful things about "project" guitars: you can do all sorts of horrible things to them without feeling too bad about it, and apply the information you've gained to your better builds. After all, we're dealing with ergonomic issues here, not tonal issues, and and those can be worked out just as easily on a cheap guitar as an expensive one.

[tippie53]

the truth is the the set up can make the feel so much more comfortable. Fret height has little to do with the feel., Nut slot and set up is key

[B. Howard]

I agree with John. From a players perspective I feel the width of the frets but not so much the height.

[Diane Kauffmds]

Thanks to all who responded. I learned a lot. I do my own setup and prefer a fast action. It's true; if I don't like the medium height frets, I can always change the height.

Thank you again!