I've used the EVO on several of my guitar builds. With both gold and nickle hardware and it looks great in both cases. As for hardness I haven't read specks on it v SS. But I've used the same nippers for at least 18 years with no damage including the EVO but with SS it left a couple nicks in the nippers. I find the EVO quite a bit easier to work than the SS. But I was very hesitant to use SS because of all the stories about how much more work it is. But nothing to be afraid of if you're well experienced with frets. Your fret work looks very BTW. That high polish- that many techs neglect- is also a part of extended fret life.
Hi there, David. I've been getting your videos in my recommended feed for the past few days and you do excellent work. I'm a hobbyist luthier in Southwest Florida and I specialize the lawsuit era of Ibanez Destroyers as well as a few proprietary models of my own. I wanted to drop a comment because you're the first person I've seen who has talked about this fret wire, which I was turned onto by a contact of mine at the Dean USA Custom Shop in Tampa. When I built him a tricked out Destroyer replica, he recommended these frets and I got hooked immediately. All examples of my own model sport these beauties, and I agree with your take on them fully. Keep up the great content! Sincerely, Donald Ward
Thanks Donald. I mean to update this video. Since making it I have used Evo Gold on about 20 guitars so have a more considered view about this fretwire. Anyway, good luck with all your projects.
Hello David. An odd coincidence...I was researching Evo gold to do a refret on a mandolin I own and I stumbled upon this very useful video and your website. The odd coincidence is that I live within easy walking distance from you in Cheam village! Another luthier I follow on RUclips, Tanya Shpachuk, is in Kyiv, Ukraine and bemoaning the fact that she has just run out of EVO gold and can't get any more.
@@flameguitars5770 It is a shame. There are a couple of websites still selling the smaller sizes, (i.e. suitable for mandolins), but that's about it. Keep the video; it's interesting, even if the fretwire isn't available.
Just a brief addendum; apparently Stewmac are now producing a gold fretwire that they claim is of a similar hardness to EVO gold. There's a debate on Reddit as to its quality, however.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED USING EVO WIRE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE GOLD BEING TO MUCH OF A CONTRAST WITH CERTAIN FINISHES AND PARTICULARLY HARDWARE BUT IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE WHEN I USE CHROME OR NICKEL HARDWARE IT SEEMS TO BE LESS GOLD LOOKING BUT WHEN I USE GOLD HARDWARE IT REALLY POPS.
Check out Summit Luthier Tools. They are what you need for EVO Gold and Stainless Steel Fretwire. Summit Luthier Tools are industrial grade Tools. They look like something you'd see in a factory running three 8 hour Shifts, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Summit's Fret Overhang Cutters are not ground Nippers they are specifically designed for cutting Fretwire. The same with Summit's Fret Pullers and their Fret Tang Nippers. They're not repurposed To like a Flush ground set of Wire Nippers. God Bless. Jimmy in NC....
Do you over radius the fret just like a standard fret, or do you match the radius of the fret to the fingerboard precisely? If you are over radiusing it, how easy does the fret confirm to the fingerboard radius?
I mean to do update to this video. Since I made this video I have fretted about 30 guitars with evo gold. Yes, I slightly over-radius. I have not had any problems with it conforming to the actual radius.
Is EVO Gold fretwire mainly used on electric guitars? Because I was debating on having it used as a re-fret on my acoustic- just later on, at a future date.
Some time has passed since this video was made, have you been able to gauge how this wire wears compared to nickel? I've heard stories of guitars with stainless frets with no wear after years of playing, but haven't heard much about Evo gold. Thanks for the videos.
Yes, I mean to make an updated video. Since I made this video I have installed Evo Gold on at least 20 guitars so have a much better appreciation of this type of fretwire. It does need a bit more maintenance than SS to keep it looking and playing good. It will wear but not nearly as quickly as nickel.
Seems to me that if you have nickel frets, then use nickel strings to reduce wear and string breakage. Matching hardness to hardness, problem solved. Correct?
i have question,is it hard to level the jescar evo frets?because i bought ibanez QE54,when i bend the 1st and 2nd string all over the fret from first fret to 13 frets,the note reach only two note and it immediately lost,the note become muted (died) because it touch the other frets,and i need to level it,,
hi ive got a very old acoustic parlour guitar that im keen on refretting because the frets used was so skinny and it rubs and slides against the strings when you play it.. what size of fret can you recommend in terms of height and depth? fingerboard was already sanded down on mine..thanks
Im planning to refret my acoustic guitar, what's better in terms of comfort, playability, and overall improvement? I'm torn chossing medium size jescar stainless steel or evo gold. My stock frets are jumbo size and the feel is so rough when bending a string. You can feel the collision of the string and the fret which is very uncomfortable. Please help
Acoustic guitar strings wear nickel frets quite quickly. Either Evo or SS frets will be an improvement. I've got a couple of more recent videos on SS frets which may help you decide.
@@flameguitars5770 Thank you very much for the answer. I have a Taylor on the original frets made of nickel, I want to put bronze and I'm afraid that the high ones will be added.
EVO IS GREAT WIRE IT'S MY WIRE OF CHOICE. I HONESTLY DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR STAINLESS IT'S OVERKILL. IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO WEAR OUT EVO WIRE PLUS FROM WHAT I HERE IT'S HYPO ALLERGENIC AS WELL. NICE GUITAR NECK BY THE WAY.
Thanks for the comment Eddie. As for hardness, I haven't seen any guitars that have had Evo fitted for 5 plus years to see how it compares with SS. All I know is that on your tools it feels more like SS than nickel.
It's not "brutal". It's just that it's real metal, and many old time luthiers hate that they have to work with something that isn't soft as butter. SS shows who the real masters are, rather than wannabes who like to shape butter. Diamond files take material quite well. It is old time luthiers that have held SS back with lies on top of lies about SS. Causing so many players massive frustration. EVO wire is disgustingly ugly, you should have gone SS.
How easy is steel to work with in regards to fret leveling? Of course a good luthier probably wouldn't have to worry about that but I'm new and will likely have to do it. I also would expect better sustain with steel which is another reason I'm interested in it.
It's a MUCH MUCH harder material. It is very different to work with. There are pluses and minuses. One swipe won't ever take too much material with steel. But those extra strokes, probably 10x more strokes, means 10x more chances of touching the file to wood by accident. But there are harder files one can use, and they do cost a lot more. What nobody ever talks about: The real difference in tone is in the contact point of the string on the fret. With nickel, the contact point flattens out almost immediately, and this gives a guitar the broken in feel many love. And this flat point GREATLY contributes to tone, IMO. When working on steel, that needs to be taken into consideration. When people speak of different tone, it's true, but only moderately. The "high end" or "pinging" sound has more to do with fret shape than the material. With steel, that contact point must be engineered because it would be YEARS to naturally create the small flat spot that happens with nickel almost immediately. Of course, tone wise...in the mix of actually playing with a band....it means nothing. But saying all that, I prefer steel, because I've had WAY too much stress with frets wearing fast. It's a no brainer, and frankly, I'm kind of shocked steel is not already the standard. I'd like to see different types of steel tried. There are probably hundreds of different kinds of stainless steel, and I'd like to see some tested. Nickel was only ever used because it's easy...TOO easy....to work with. But it's butter soft. Everyone is different, some guys claim they haven't needs a fret job in 20 years, etc. Those are usually guys with 20 guitars that say that. Or they play with 8's. Or the style they play is very light, etc.
All good points. My position is to first focus on the quality of the build. While I understand the temptation to rely on effects to obtain the tone, one is looking for, there's much one can do on the guitar itself. And I contend would in the end, make one a better player and luthier. I bought a cheap student guitar which I intend to mod and learn on. It was $50, so it comes with very cheap parts, so I'll be working through it, end to end. A fret job will the very last thing I do. Since it's nickel, I'll be sure to use nickel strings to slow the wear. My first fret job will be nickel (thin and high) and as I learn, I'll later look into transitioning into steel.
Fuck off. "disgustingly ugly" is your personal opinion, which nobody asked for. If you're such a fucking badass, then why don't you have any videos showcasing what a "master" you are? Also, don't tell people what they should or shouldn't do. It's his channel, his tools, his money and he can do with them what he wants to. If you don't like it, you can easily pound sand and go whine somewhere else.
@@ragnaroksangel The real question is, why are you so mad about a year old post about gold fret wire? Why are you so angry at strong opinions? Why do you say, no one asked my opinion? How stupid of you. OF COURSE my opinion was asked, this is a public forum and everything that everyone posts is subject to my opinion, and yours and everyone elses. I don't have videos of luthier videos because I am not a luthier. Giving an opinion is valid here. You just don't like my opinion so you need to demonize the messenger. You're a sick angry little man.
Nickel are 170, EVO gold are 250 and stainless are 300 on the Vickers hardness so you are correct, EVO is closer to stainless than nickel.
Depending on the alloy, nickel can get as hard as 200.
I've used the EVO on several of my guitar builds. With both gold and nickle hardware and it looks great in both cases. As for hardness I haven't read specks on it v SS. But I've used the same nippers for at least 18 years with no damage including the EVO but with SS it left a couple nicks in the nippers. I find the EVO quite a bit easier to work than the SS. But I was very hesitant to use SS because of all the stories about how much more work it is. But nothing to be afraid of if you're well experienced with frets. Your fret work looks very BTW. That high polish- that many techs neglect- is also a part of extended fret life.
Hi there, David. I've been getting your videos in my recommended feed for the past few days and you do excellent work. I'm a hobbyist luthier in Southwest Florida and I specialize the lawsuit era of Ibanez Destroyers as well as a few proprietary models of my own. I wanted to drop a comment because you're the first person I've seen who has talked about this fret wire, which I was turned onto by a contact of mine at the Dean USA Custom Shop in Tampa. When I built him a tricked out Destroyer replica, he recommended these frets and I got hooked immediately. All examples of my own model sport these beauties, and I agree with your take on them fully.
Keep up the great content!
Sincerely,
Donald Ward
Thanks Donald. I mean to update this video. Since making it I have used Evo Gold on about 20 guitars so have a more considered view about this fretwire. Anyway, good luck with all your projects.
@@flameguitars5770 A more considered view? Why? Didn't they hold up like you expected?
Hello David.
An odd coincidence...I was researching Evo gold to do a refret on a mandolin I own and I stumbled upon this very useful video and your website. The odd coincidence is that I live within easy walking distance from you in Cheam village!
Another luthier I follow on RUclips, Tanya Shpachuk, is in Kyiv, Ukraine and bemoaning the fact that she has just run out of EVO gold and can't get any more.
I'm afraid that EVO gold is not made any more, which is a real shame. I probably need to take down this video!
@@flameguitars5770 It is a shame. There are a couple of websites still selling the smaller sizes, (i.e. suitable for mandolins), but that's about it. Keep the video; it's interesting, even if the fretwire isn't available.
Just a brief addendum; apparently Stewmac are now producing a gold fretwire that they claim is of a similar hardness to EVO gold. There's a debate on Reddit as to its quality, however.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED USING EVO WIRE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE GOLD BEING TO MUCH OF A CONTRAST WITH CERTAIN FINISHES AND PARTICULARLY HARDWARE BUT IT HASN'T BEEN AN ISSUE WHEN I USE CHROME OR NICKEL HARDWARE IT SEEMS TO BE LESS GOLD LOOKING BUT WHEN I USE GOLD HARDWARE IT REALLY POPS.
Those frets are gorgeous.
Beautiful looking. . I love it. Great work.
Thank you very much!
I REALLY LIKE YOUR GUITARS THEY ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE FLAMES WHEN RESTING IN A HANGER. ALMOST REMIND ME OF DANELECTRO BUT BETTER. NICE WORK.
Well done and very helpful video, thanks
Check out Summit Luthier Tools. They are what you need for EVO Gold and Stainless Steel Fretwire. Summit Luthier Tools are industrial grade Tools. They look like something you'd see in a factory running three 8 hour Shifts, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Summit's Fret Overhang Cutters are not ground Nippers they are specifically designed for cutting Fretwire. The same with Summit's Fret Pullers and their Fret Tang Nippers. They're not repurposed To like a Flush ground set of Wire Nippers.
God Bless.
Jimmy in NC....
Do you over radius the fret just like a standard fret, or do you match the radius of the fret to the fingerboard precisely?
If you are over radiusing it, how easy does the fret confirm to the fingerboard radius?
I mean to do update to this video. Since I made this video I have fretted about 30 guitars with evo gold. Yes, I slightly over-radius. I have not had any problems with it conforming to the actual radius.
@@flameguitars5770 Thanks man
3:50 Is it just about look or somethin about the tone also?
Is EVO Gold fretwire mainly used on electric guitars?
Because I was debating on having it used as a re-fret on my acoustic- just later on, at a future date.
I'm afraid that Evo Gold has been discontinued.
Some time has passed since this video was made, have you been able to gauge how this wire wears compared to nickel? I've heard stories of guitars with stainless frets with no wear after years of playing, but haven't heard much about Evo gold. Thanks for the videos.
Yes, I mean to make an updated video. Since I made this video I have installed Evo Gold on at least 20 guitars so have a much better appreciation of this type of fretwire. It does need a bit more maintenance than SS to keep it looking and playing good. It will wear but not nearly as quickly as nickel.
@@flameguitars5770 thanks for the update. Seems like a nice balance between workability and wear. Might have to make the plunge on one of my guitars.
@@flameguitars5770 - can you be more specific about the more maintenance?
It’s a great look. Thanks
Seems to me that if you have nickel frets, then use nickel strings to reduce wear and string breakage. Matching hardness to hardness, problem solved. Correct?
Nope. Nickel on nickel = wear, ss on ss = wear. With ss i’d use nickel strings.
i have question,is it hard to level the jescar evo frets?because i bought ibanez QE54,when i bend the 1st and 2nd string all over the fret from first fret to 13 frets,the note reach only two note and it immediately lost,the note become muted (died) because it touch the other frets,and i need to level it,,
Evo gold is harder than nickel but not as hard as SS. Use same technique as you would for nickel, the process just takes a little longer.
I would be curious to know the tonality of evo gold not only on an electric guitar but also on an acoustic guitar. Martin, Gibson, etc. thank you.
I refretted my own late 70's Guild with Evo. I cant say I noticed any tonal difference. Just know it wont need any fretwork for many years.
Where do you get yours in the bundles? All I'm finding is 8 inch pre-cut pieces.
I use Tonetech Luthier Supplies
hi ive got a very old acoustic parlour guitar that im keen on refretting because the frets used was so skinny and it rubs and slides against the strings when you play it.. what size of fret can you recommend in terms of height and depth? fingerboard was already sanded down on mine..thanks
Probably look at 2mm wide and 1mm tall
Im planning to refret my acoustic guitar, what's better in terms of comfort, playability, and overall improvement? I'm torn chossing medium size jescar stainless steel or evo gold. My stock frets are jumbo size and the feel is so rough when bending a string. You can feel the collision of the string and the fret which is very uncomfortable. Please help
Acoustic guitar strings wear nickel frets quite quickly. Either Evo or SS frets will be an improvement. I've got a couple of more recent videos on SS frets which may help you decide.
@@flameguitars5770 thanks sir! I Appreciate it :)
Hello friend. Please tell me, the Frets of EVO Gold JESCAR if you put on
Acoustics, they say that they add high ones. Is this really the case?
If fitted Evo to my Guild acoustic and I didn't notice any significant change in the sound.
@@flameguitars5770 Thank you very much for the answer. I have a Taylor on the original frets made of nickel, I want to put bronze and I'm afraid that the high ones will be added.
are they jescar 55090?
Please make more videos!
Thanks Dani. More to come
Thanks for that Dani. Next one will be on the repair of a Les Paul with a completely snapped off headstock.
Can this fret fit on a travel guitar takamine acoustic
Yes it will
what size is that wire?
2.6mm wide 1.2mm high
EVO IS GREAT WIRE IT'S MY WIRE OF CHOICE. I HONESTLY DON'T SEE THE NEED FOR STAINLESS IT'S OVERKILL. IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME TO WEAR OUT EVO WIRE PLUS FROM WHAT I HERE IT'S HYPO ALLERGENIC AS WELL. NICE GUITAR NECK BY THE WAY.
Thanks for the comment Eddie. As for hardness, I haven't seen any guitars that have had Evo fitted for 5 plus years to see how it compares with SS. All I know is that on your tools it feels more like SS than nickel.
It's not "brutal". It's just that it's real metal, and many old time luthiers hate that they have to work with something that isn't soft as butter. SS shows who the real masters are, rather than wannabes who like to shape butter. Diamond files take material quite well. It is old time luthiers that have held SS back with lies on top of lies about SS. Causing so many players massive frustration. EVO wire is disgustingly ugly, you should have gone SS.
How easy is steel to work with in regards to fret leveling? Of course a good luthier probably wouldn't have to worry about that but I'm new and will likely have to do it. I also would expect better sustain with steel which is another reason I'm interested in it.
It's a MUCH MUCH harder material. It is very different to work with. There are pluses and minuses. One swipe won't ever take too much material with steel. But those extra strokes, probably 10x more strokes, means 10x more chances of touching the file to wood by accident. But there are harder files one can use, and they do cost a lot more.
What nobody ever talks about: The real difference in tone is in the contact point of the string on the fret. With nickel, the contact point flattens out almost immediately, and this gives a guitar the broken in feel many love. And this flat point GREATLY contributes to tone, IMO. When working on steel, that needs to be taken into consideration. When people speak of different tone, it's true, but only moderately. The "high end" or "pinging" sound has more to do with fret shape than the material. With steel, that contact point must be engineered because it would be YEARS to naturally create the small flat spot that happens with nickel almost immediately. Of course, tone wise...in the mix of actually playing with a band....it means nothing.
But saying all that, I prefer steel, because I've had WAY too much stress with frets wearing fast. It's a no brainer, and frankly, I'm kind of shocked steel is not already the standard. I'd like to see different types of steel tried. There are probably hundreds of different kinds of stainless steel, and I'd like to see some tested. Nickel was only ever used because it's easy...TOO easy....to work with. But it's butter soft. Everyone is different, some guys claim they haven't needs a fret job in 20 years, etc. Those are usually guys with 20 guitars that say that. Or they play with 8's. Or the style they play is very light, etc.
All good points. My position is to first focus on the quality of the build. While I understand the temptation to rely on effects to obtain the tone, one is looking for, there's much one can do on the guitar itself. And I contend would in the end, make one a better player and luthier. I bought a cheap student guitar which I intend to mod and learn on. It was $50, so it comes with very cheap parts, so I'll be working through it, end to end. A fret job will the very last thing I do. Since it's nickel, I'll be sure to use nickel strings to slow the wear. My first fret job will be nickel (thin and high) and as I learn, I'll later look into transitioning into steel.
Fuck off. "disgustingly ugly" is your personal opinion, which nobody asked for. If you're such a fucking badass, then why don't you have any videos showcasing what a "master" you are? Also, don't tell people what they should or shouldn't do. It's his channel, his tools, his money and he can do with them what he wants to. If you don't like it, you can easily pound sand and go whine somewhere else.
@@ragnaroksangel The real question is, why are you so mad about a year old post about gold fret wire? Why are you so angry at strong opinions? Why do you say, no one asked my opinion? How stupid of you. OF COURSE my opinion was asked, this is a public forum and everything that everyone posts is subject to my opinion, and yours and everyone elses. I don't have videos of luthier videos because I am not a luthier. Giving an opinion is valid here. You just don't like my opinion so you need to demonize the messenger. You're a sick angry little man.