Have you ever wondered about the different materials used in guitar frets? Here at Johnny Foreigner, we use three different kinds of fretwire on our guitars:
- Nickel-silver; our "standard" option
- Stainless Steel: a premium option
- Gold: a premium option
If you want to know what different fretwire material means for your guitar - its playability, tone and longevity - then this is the guide for you.
What is Nickel-Silver?
Nickel-silver frets are made from a combination of nickel, copper, and zinc. Nickel-silver was the original choice when mass market electric guitars started being produced in the 50s and 60s. It is relatively durable, easy to bend into a radius to match the fretboard, and easy to level, crown and polish.
What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is exactly what it sounds like - the same stuff your fridge door is made out of. Stainless steel frets became common among players who simply wanted their frets to last longer. Stainless Steel is much more durable than NIckel-Silver, meaning your guitar should last a really long time before it needs a refret. The downside is that it's a more expensive material, and because it's harder than Nickel-Silver, it is harder to level, crown and polish, meaning more work needs to go into installing the frets and making them playable.
What is Gold?
Gold is a more recent addition to the fretwire material pantheon. It's not really *gold* but a copper alloy that sits somewhere between nickel-silver and stainless steel in terms of hardness. It's also touted as being hypoallergenic which could prove useful if you have a reaction to other fret materials. And it gives a completely different look that might complement your hardware color choices better than the other options.
Does Fretwire material affect TOAN?
No. Of course it doesn't. That's ridiculous.
So which should I choose?
If durability is your primary consideration, you can't do better than Stainless Steel. If budget is more of a concern, stick with traditional nickel-silver, and for all-out bling, gold is an excellent choice.
