Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver, Do You Hear A Difference

[Torren61]

Do you have any guitars with stainless steel frets? Do you hear a difference between stainless steel and nickel silver?

I have one guitar with stainless steel frets and I don't hear a difference.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

I kinda thought I mighta sorta heard more pingy brightness with SS frets.

 

[3bolt79]

I kinda thought I mighta sorta heard more pingy brightness with SS frets.

Me too. I had Suhr and Anderson guitars with SS frets. They were pingy sounding. I prefer nickel silver.

Exception for Zero frets. Nickel silver wears down quickly.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

Me too. I had Suhr and Anderson guitars with SS frets. They were pingy sounding. I prefer nickel silver.

Exception for Zero frets. Nickel silver wears down quickly.

My cognitive problem is my tone follows my mood and I cannot trust my degraded hearing!
But I would not choose SS.

 

[3bolt79]

My cognitive problem is my tone follows my mood and I cannot trust my degraded hearing!
But I would not choose SS.

I had one Suhr that was extra pingy, It sounded like crap though the amp, and was the worst of the bunch.

I had an EVH. An American made one, with little SS frets. I played that one for 2 years and managed to get divots in the frets. SS last longer, but not forever. They also wear out the strings quickly as well.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

I had one Suhr that was extra pingy, It sounded like crap though the amp, and was the worst of the bunch.

I had an EVH. An American made one, with little SS frets. I played that one for 2 years and managed to get divots in the frets. SS last longer, but not forever. They also wear out the strings quickly as well.

I may doubt my own perceptions more with all the internet claims that nobody can hear anything besides pickups pedals and amps.
Or if I hear subtle things it is just no longer enjoyable to share about them on the internet because of the perception police ready to attack.
Hard to say much lately without offending someone, which I really do not intend to do.
But yeah.

 

[HazyPurple]

SS frets probably sound better because they cost more.

Psychology comes into play... again

 

[Cerb]

How can you even tell, if you don’t compare different frets on the same guitar?

This is the only guitar I’ve owned with SS frets, it certainly wasn’t pingy. It was a joy to play though. The next guitar I refret will get SS.

 

[Jerseystratfiend]

I can hear a difference with new strings. SS sound more 'zingy'... but only whens strings are very new.

 

[henderman]

i - think - i hear a tiny bit of difference acoustically but it is zero problem for me even if i am right.

gold evo and stainless frets are wildly better to me for the no wear and stay slippery factor.

 

[Fireball XL5]

To date, I've now had 7 of my long time owned/played guitars refretted with SS frets (4 Les Pauls, 2 Strats, and an ES-335), and I hear no tonal negatives having SS frets vs. NS frets installed on any of my guitars.

 

[somebodyelseuk]

Do you have any guitars with stainless steel frets? Do you hear a difference between stainless steel and nickel silver?

I have one guitar with stainless steel frets and I don't hear a difference.

No.
I bought a Strat Ultra last summer, and mistakenly thought it came with SS frets and thought it sounded different, as a result. Found out it didn't and didn't hear it anymore.
Few days later was watching a 'tube video from a guy who had SS frets fitted to his Les Paul and had done a before and after video. Most people claimed to hear a difference. Sounded the same to me.

I think we hear differences when we think there's a difference, because we want there to be a difference.
At the end of the day, whether it sounds different or not, are you going to rip the frets out just to change the tone slightly? No, me neither.
At least you won't need a refret any time soon.

 

[dogletnoir]

i like stainless steel frets for their feel and for their longevity.
All three of these tracks were recorded with guitars equipped with stainless steel frets:



Do you think 'That sounds kinda pingy.' when you hear them?
Well, i wouldn't say so myself but we all hear things differently,
so i suppose it's possible that you might even if i don't, LOL..

 

[CyFan4036]

I hear a small difference that can be easily remedied with a small tweak of the tone knob...if you want. It isn't like it sounds bad necessarily, just a little different.

 

[Delphic]

I thought the point of SS frets was that they lasted longer - at the expense of wearing out strings faster instead. But strings are cheaper than a refret.

I am surprised that they allegedly make any difference to the sound.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Like, the words? Because yeah.

 

[Ronkirn]

Ive done hundreds of guitars with Stainless... the only time I hear anything pingy is when I drop a box full of ball bearings onto a sheet of metal....

and.. I've never had anyone complain about those guitars shipped with the Stainless frets... I guess we're all deaf..

 

[Slider58]

Perceived difference? Maybe.
Actual difference? Probably not.

 

[Slacker G]

Choices, choices, choices..... life is so difficult.

 

[jvin248]

.

Most of these comparisons are done where original condition has old strings, modified condition has new strings.

Old vs New strings change the tone a lot.
Brighter, pingier, etc.

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