Fret-sanding?

Nociceptor · 05-15-2006, 02:24 AM

So I was thinking, I still like the sound of frets (for slap and ****) but I also love the slide of a fretless . . . so is it possible to just sand or file down the frets to make them a little less obtrusive? Or am I just smokin way too much of the wacky weed?

Az_Holl · 05-15-2006, 05:46 AM

You could make it fretless and get a slap plate. That seems a bit more sensible than sanding your frets down.

Akira · 05-15-2006, 06:13 AM

A. I don't think that would make it sound any more fretless.
B. Studies have linked nickel dust to lung cancer in rats.

Az_Holl · 05-15-2006, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

A. I don't think that would make it sound any more fretless.
B. Studies have linked nickel dust to lung cancer in rats.

Bah, Pepsi Max gives you cancer. Accidentely breathing in a little bit, once probably wont hurt.

*not condoneing the snorting of nickel*

wicked_child · 05-15-2006, 07:18 AM

i dunno if this would work but how about sanding down the frets under the D and G strings? so you'll have a fretted E and A strings while having a defretted D and G strings. saw that concept somewhere.

pitchfork · 05-15-2006, 09:06 AM

Just buy a fretless and get a slap plate.

Peg Dizzler · 05-15-2006, 05:10 PM

The majority of fretwire is made from copper.

Knowledge++

Son of Magni · 05-15-2006, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peg Dizzler

The majority of fretwire is made from copper.

Knowledge++

Copper fret wire? Are you kidding?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nociceptor

So I was thinking, I still like the sound of frets (for slap and ****) but I also love the slide of a fretless . . . so is it possible to just sand or file down the frets to make them a little less obtrusive? Or am I just smokin way too much of the wacky weed?

Since I'm mainly a fretless player but would like the possibility of a conventional slap sound, I have thought about doing just what you're talking about. Very low, smooth, narrow frets. But I haven't built it yet.

LewsTherin · 05-15-2006, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peg Dizzler

The majority of fretwire is made from copper.

Knowledge++

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoM

Copper fret wire? Are you kidding?

He's right. Its a mix of copper, nickel, and sometimes zinc. Its typically only about 20% nickel, and 50%+ copper.

Son of Magni · 05-15-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewsTherin

He's right. Its a mix of copper, nickel, and sometimes zinc. Its typically only about 20% nickel, and 50%+ copper.

Ah, normally considered a nickel alloy. But anyways, I wasn't aware there was that much copper in them.

In any case, you don't sand frets you file them. So if you were to get a good file for fret leveling you could lower them, then re-crown them to get really low smooth frets.

Peg Dizzler · 05-15-2006, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LewsTherin

He's right. Its a mix of copper, nickel, and sometimes zinc. Its typically only about 20% nickel, and 50%+ copper.

Yeah it's something like that. I know the standard is 17% nickel; any higher is too difficult to produce, any lower is just too soft. I know at least 50% is copper though. I'd have to look it up again.

I do want to try stainless steel frets though. They're hard to shape when you first install that, but after that they basically last forever. I know some luthiers use them and the only production company that I know of that uses them is Parker.

LewsTherin · 05-15-2006, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peg Dizzler

Yeah it's something like that. I know the standard is 17% nickel; any higher is too difficult to produce, any lower is just too soft. I know at least 50% is copper though. I'd have to look it up again.

I do want to try stainless steel frets though. They're hard to shape when you first install that, but after that they basically last forever. I know some luthiers use them and the only production company that I know of that uses them is Parker.

Warmoth has them as an option too, although in a fairly limited number of sizes.

hellonearth07 · 05-15-2006, 08:23 PM

the only thing to watch for in stainless frets is a difference in tone. I have yet to hear 2 guitars side by side with each type of fret job to hear the difference, but i heard of people that liked the tone stainless makes, and others that absolutely hate it

Peg Dizzler · 05-16-2006, 05:06 PM

Well stainless steel is much harder, so I'm sure you can imagine the tone difference. It's probably noticeable too, because it's in direct contact with the strings.

I'd imagine stainless creates more sustain and has a brighter sound than nickel, but on the downside, I imagine it would also kill the "wood tone" of whatever neck wood/fretboard wood is in the guitar, maybe body too.

t3h_m013 · 06-22-2006, 11:30 AM

if you started with a fretted and defretted it except the very top fret, would that work as a slap plate? might have to file it a bit, but im considering trying it.

pitchfork · 06-22-2006, 12:41 PM

I doubt it, when you fret anything it would just give loads of fret buzz

the101er · 06-22-2006, 04:30 PM

Can someone explain a slap-plate please?

LewsTherin · 06-22-2006, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the101er

Can someone explain a slap-plate please?

its a metal plate installed on a fretless.

its so that:

a) your slapping sounds more like fretted slap than slap on a regular fretless

b) supposedly, slapping with rounds on a fretless will tear up the end of the board. its also to "protect" the fingerboard.

Low_End_Communications · 06-22-2006, 07:22 PM

You are not going to get a fretless tone from a bass with frets. Impossible. You can get the smoothness of slides and vibrato by using very low, shallow frets, like mandolin fret wire, ala Leland Sklar.

If you're going to leave the last fret in, you're going to have to file it down pretty severely if you hope to get low action.

Slap plates are kind of rare, but when you think of it, the string is coming down on the last couple frets during slap, but what abouting popping? The string is pulled up and then comes down on a larger area of the fingerboard.

It'd probably be cheaper for an entire refret with mandolin fretwire.

sunshineplaysbass · 06-22-2006, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

A. I don't think that would make it sound any more fretless.
B. Studies have linked nickel dust to lung cancer in rats.

Rats aren't humans, it's been proven that rats aren't always a good indicator of problems, keep in mind every part of their body is smaller so more susceptible to illness.....The only good indicator of illness in humans in humans...but i believe the Geneva Convention doesn't like people making tests on humans. hah

05-15-2006, 02:24 AM	#1
Nociceptor We're all crazy here. Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Everywhere and nowhere. Posts: 187	Fret-sanding? So I was thinking, I still like the sound of frets (for slap and ****) but I also love the slide of a fretless . . . so is it possible to just sand or file down the frets to make them a little less obtrusive? Or am I just smokin way too much of the wacky weed?

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05-15-2006, 05:46 AM	#2
Az_Holl MX Zoids Pilot Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Planet Zi Posts: 10,162	You could make it fretless and get a slap plate. That seems a bit more sensible than sanding your frets down.

05-15-2006, 06:13 AM	#3
Akira MX Conklin Club Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 19,229	A. I don't think that would make it sound any more fretless. B. Studies have linked nickel dust to lung cancer in rats.

05-15-2006, 07:18 AM	#5
wicked_child time to rock and roar Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,688	i dunno if this would work but how about sanding down the frets under the D and G strings? so you'll have a fretted E and A strings while having a defretted D and G strings. saw that concept somewhere.

05-15-2006, 09:06 AM	#6
pitchfork Beerman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swindon Posts: 5,822	Just buy a fretless and get a slap plate.

05-15-2006, 05:10 PM	#7
Peg Dizzler look I'm a TBF wannabe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still in the luthier's workshop... Posts: 5,065	The majority of fretwire is made from copper. Knowledge++

05-15-2006, 08:23 PM	#13
hellonearth07 Dont let this be ur music Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Somerset County, PA Posts: 812	the only thing to watch for in stainless frets is a difference in tone. I have yet to hear 2 guitars side by side with each type of fret job to hear the difference, but i heard of people that liked the tone stainless makes, and others that absolutely hate it

05-16-2006, 05:06 PM	#14
Peg Dizzler look I'm a TBF wannabe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still in the luthier's workshop... Posts: 5,065	Well stainless steel is much harder, so I'm sure you can imagine the tone difference. It's probably noticeable too, because it's in direct contact with the strings. I'd imagine stainless creates more sustain and has a brighter sound than nickel, but on the downside, I imagine it would also kill the "wood tone" of whatever neck wood/fretboard wood is in the guitar, maybe body too.

06-22-2006, 11:30 AM	#15
t3h_m013 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 17	if you started with a fretted and defretted it except the very top fret, would that work as a slap plate? might have to file it a bit, but im considering trying it.

06-22-2006, 12:41 PM	#16
pitchfork Beerman Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Swindon Posts: 5,822	I doubt it, when you fret anything it would just give loads of fret buzz

06-22-2006, 04:30 PM	#17
the101er MX Bassworld Whore Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Midhurst, West Sussex Posts: 4,581	Can someone explain a slap-plate please?

06-22-2006, 07:22 PM	#19
Low_End_Communications Bassist Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The U.P. of Michigan Posts: 7,759	You are not going to get a fretless tone from a bass with frets. Impossible. You can get the smoothness of slides and vibrato by using very low, shallow frets, like mandolin fret wire, ala Leland Sklar. If you're going to leave the last fret in, you're going to have to file it down pretty severely if you hope to get low action. Slap plates are kind of rare, but when you think of it, the string is coming down on the last couple frets during slap, but what abouting popping? The string is pulled up and then comes down on a larger area of the fingerboard. It'd probably be cheaper for an entire refret with mandolin fretwire.