6000s I think are XJ which I’m guessing is what ESP and Jackson usually use but 6105 seems to be considered narrow jumbo or medium tall; I like how they’re taller than medium jumbo but skinnier so you have more space between the frets and away enough from the board, but I don’t know how many years it will take before I need to replace the frets on my two guitars anyways.
2:03 that's not a disadvantage of jumbo frets. That's a player who has no control over their playing. 3:29 false. A rounded jumbo fret will not buzz more than a medium fret that is also crowned. A jumbo fret is HIGHER which has nothing to do with how much metal the string is touching. That is a matter of CROWNING. If a fret is crowned, the fret top is ROUND and the string will touch at one point. If your strings are HEAVIER, it will buzz even LESS because the heavier strings need more TENSION to get them up to pitch and thus they become.... TIGHTER and will not buzz as much as a LOOSE (smaller gauge) string. #3 is simply your personal preference. It isn't a disadvantage of jumbo frets. Not having the wood slow my bending or affect my string bending is a HUGE ADVANTAGE! You are now pushing ONLY THE STRING whereas with short frets you are fighting the fret board while trying to push the string. 6:13 is patently false and detrimental to anyone watching. I already explained why above. and 7:54 is the worst! Rounded tops are the ideal profile for any fret size. If you have a FLAT topped fret, where is the string really vibrating from? The back side? The middle? The front end? It MUST vibrate from the middle in order to INTONATE properly. You will also get more BUZZ with those flat topped frets because they are .... FLAT! With a rounded top, there is nothing for the string to flap against! Worst video I have seen on this topic.
@@dreamforfreedom always fully rounded! You can get a more precise string action and better intonation a flat or slightly rounded fret can cause buzzing even at ideal neck relief and string height put in the extra effort and yee shall be rewarded
@2:03, dmometalguitar is correct, from my experience, and from all the articles I've read on the subject. As a kid, I learned to play on cheap guitars that required some finger muscle to get a clean note. When I switched from vintage to jumbo frets, I had a problem with sharp notes, at first. I was all..."WTF?" Yeah, I can play faster and BETTER with jumbo frets, but I had to change the way I played, especially chords, and that didn't happen overnight. It took me quite a while. On this point, I agree with dmometalguitar.
No need to troll this video. This is a really good, thorough explanation of different fret choices. It appears to me anyway.. that a lot of effort was put in to making this video and we should be (as viewers) grateful for the education lessons.
@Lyle Wilson Anyone can bitch and cry about how bad someone else's video is, especially when they haven't even uploaded 1 video. Lets see that high quality video you made and i will go watch it. Everyone on you tube is a critic. Free videos but they act like they paid for it and want a refund.
Lmfao I love that analogy but before I go and use it myself....I have to know what YOUR true meaning to “plays like he eats nothing but jalapeño chili peppers” means....diarrhea?? Lol
And this whole time i thought JUMBO FRETS was the size of the spacing between the metal frets themselves. What a dummy ;) My B.C. Rich Bich has jumbo frets and i'm satisfied!!
well it does effect spacing which is why i like narrow frets but i like them tall too so it’s like a scalloped board which would probably be best with short frets unless you want that floating finger effect to be extreme though there wasn’t much difference in playability with alexi’s models since they only have them at the end
I had a malmsteen strat. You will gain a whole new level of respect for his playing. The scalloped fretboard leaves no room for error. You cannot flub a note. It's like using roller skates on an ice rink if you have no control.
3:30 entirely false. Jumbo, small, neither has any effect on string buzz. If your fret is ROUND and not FLAT and if they are perfectly EVEN with respect to each other, your buzzing is then just a result of strings being too low or a bowed neck, etc. In fact, LARGER gauge strings buzz less because they have to be tuned TIGHTER to reach the same pitch as smaller gauge strings and this tighter string will not allow the string to vibrate up and down as much as the floppier small gauge string at the same tension. If your frets are leveled and crowned and polished and your neck is set up right, you should ideally have NO buzz unless you have insanely low action. That's all.
I agree with you but i may think fret heights and shape have to do in the whole equation.. Don't you think? And i felt as you shortcut your explanation as if what you know (that i know lol) is well-known by everybody... You'll be surprised how people even in the net era missed a lot of everything so please dont censure yourself and go on... I know we can dig it deeply and find you saying a lot of unknown things for us....for my part.. Can't get enough of knowledge even things i know but told differently by others... It sounds good and interesting like music... I know the chords but don't play them like other people which is all the magic of colours, differences and how communication brings them together .. Thanks by the way.
The whole thing of going out of tune with jumbo frets is not a show stopper. I think most players can get used to it -- unless you have a really hard touch against the fretboard. After playing my guitar for a while, I learned how to touch the jumbo frets with the right amount of pressure, so the strings don't go sharp. Of course, I can't speak for all players, and maybe some players may find it more difficult. That's why I thought it was important to discuss the issue.
Loving that cheesy keyboard theme. Rocky was probably listening to that before he got in the ring. A soldier probably plays that just before he charges into the fray. I hear it will blast out over every PA system in the world at 1 minute before midnight on New Year's Eve 2017.
There is no other guy on YT who is so precise in understanding the guitar. I have had many considerations about how every guitar piece affect playability and finally I found the right information source. I'm very grateful for your approach, no bullshit, only experience and attention to details. Thanks man.
I'm not a shredder or metal player by any stretch, but this video is hands down the best I've seen so far regarding the topic. Would be great to see another one regarding how fret material and size affects the sound
Great video man. The only point I don’t agree with is with the perfectly rounded crowns. They produce a much more defined sound, more accurate intonation and help with slides.
I love the extra jumbo frets on my Schecter. I have barely any contact with the fretboard now as compared to my Gibson Flying V. I am pretty sure it has medium frets. I have to press the strings a bit harder on the V.. It takes some getting used to adjusting from a harder grip on the Gibson to having such a light touch on my Schecter. I much prefer the Schecter now as it is much faster, not to mention the overall feel and sound.
hey man,you are correct on the minute 7:44 ,flatter frets feels great and also best for string bend,i play since 1991,and i have Grant les paul standard copy made in Japan in the 70s,i learnt on that guitar,playing it for years without an amplifier cuz i hadnt have the money to buy,,,my point is i feel every note with those frets,they feel incredible,chords,and soloing,but my question is,nowawdays what is the size number of custom made frets used my companies such as Warmoth,USACG,and music craft,do they use these flatter frets jumbo or medium jumbo? thank you
It's difficult to say because there are no standards. What one company calls jumbo, another company will call it medium. If you want to replace frets, the best thing to do (if possible) is show the luthier a guitar with the type of frets you like.
I thought the whole point of crowning frets was to make the string contact be right above where the fret slot is cut, so the guitar plays in tune. If you have very wide/flat frets that will mess up your intonation.
I have been teaching myself to do light guitar maintenance since I own 9 of them and I am also currently in the process of leveling the frets on a Squier Strat. I got a book on fret work from StewMac I just started to read and haven't come across the part about Slightly flattened vs full crown yet! You got a lot of info in this short video. Thank You!
04/02/2023: I am a beginner bedroom player. I just bought an Eart T-380 with HH splitable pickups. This guitar sound good to me, and has a lot of features for an inexpensive $400.00 guitar to include stainless steel frets. I have as bad habit of notching fret wires no matter what size, so I though steel would be great for me. But, they are very small, narrow, and highly polished rounded tops, and highly polished rounded ends. The action for 10-46 is very low with no buzzing. They feel OK for me, but will they last is my question to you?
Even though I am not into this kind of guitar playing at all, I appreciate the video. If you do a lot of sliding of barre chords around the neck, low-wide frets are the best. Tall "jumbo" frets tend to feel like speed bumps.
I never seen the lower frets get in the way of shredding. I've definitely experienced the opposite where the bigger everything is the less smoothly it seems to play
As other guy mentioned, radius has its role too. Shredding on Ibby with 17" or guitars with no radius at all (not that common, mostly custom ones, not counting classic music guitars) is totally different than playing on some 7" radius Strat.
Thank you for this video. I was told by a guitar tech that my guitar might need to have the frets replaced as "the valleys have become the peaks." This video has given me a little more info on what frets to choose. I imagine refretting a guitar isn't something you want to do too many times. Lol. Thanks again 👍
I like the vintage frets and to me it feels more comfortable and easier to shred, esp with a lot of sliding....cuz you can feel more of the guitar, and the fingers can just know where to go. The tone also is more consistent and smoother I think. It's just a personal preference. I still go back to the jumbo frets from time to time.
Good vid, but needs a couple of corrections. Action is by definition measured from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret so fret height does not affect action. Also, lighter gauge strings move more when you strike them than heavier gauge string do. Even though heavier gauge strings are thicker you can actually get lower action with them without buzzing out.
I think the solution is narrow-tall frets for that twangy sound without fretting out or feeling too much of the wood; I’d like more space between the frets, but I had two guitars close enough with medium-tall frets before. I’ve never come across short and wide, but probably medium jumbo as well as definitely regular jumbo and extra jumbo; I like the typical nickel-plated steel material since you really need matching strings with stainless frets and reinforced strings with gold frets to match hardness though I’ve found that pure nickel strings wears more on all of them therefore would be best with fretless instruments.
Narrow Tall frets ... they label them narrow but they aren't really that narrow, in fact they're wider than the original narrow frets, the Vintage Style frets (6230), those are the real Narrow frets.
I wish there was a compound fret size on guitars, kinda like a fanned fret multiscale or a compound fretboard radius but with the fret size, for example going from medium jumbo on the first fret to extra jumbo on the 24th fret that could be a really cool feature and I'll probably do that to my signature guitar if I'll ever have one
Bar Goldstein I have a custom ibanez guitar with medium jumbo frets but I scalloped the fretboard from 12th to 24 fret, it feels so good for shredding in the high fret but still feels comfortable for chording in the low fret. check my latest video.
I have the USA yngwie and a yngwie replica I made myself. And in all honesty, the USA yngwie is the same amount of awesome as my replica and their playability are both super amazing, and it is due to the super jumbo frets (plus the scallop). And of course the dimarzio hs3's.
Great video! Are there specs on what is considered jumbo, medium and small frets? Like what is the height and width of the fret? Any chance of doing a video on neck profiles and thicknesses and how they affect play ability?
If you generally are more of a rhythm player who obviously still needs that fastness within thrash/death metal. Would you still recommend the jumbos? I often get with some necks that my fingers get "stuck" and that i get tired quickly as hell because i have to press down the frets so hard to actually get sound. do you know what Bc rich generally uses?
For years I thouht when people said medium jumbo for example that they were talking about the size of the frets and not the fret wire if that makes sense. I never gave it too much thought until now when I randomly decided I should in fact find out what is meant. Thank you
Great video, but just a note: fret size has NOTHING to do with string buzz. String buzz is caused by low action and worsened by uneven frets. The action is measured from the top of the fret, NOT from the fretboard wood, so it doesn't matter the size of your frets.
You are very masterful. I hate jumbo frets because I press down too hard. Bad habit I guess. I started out with a 1970 Gibson Melody Maker with low impedience pickups. I now have a 1969 Gibson Melody Maker..the same thing, all made in USA of course. Do you think they are small or medium? I am changing my musical style so I want to sell my Melody maker and get a Fender Telecaster. I can only afford a newer one unless I get quite a bit for mine. So do you think lets say a 1950 remake or a 60th anniversary Telecaster will have medium or jumbo frets?
I was second guessing NOT getting jumbo frets on a Warmoth neck but this explanation put me at ease because I am heavy handed and definitely would be making notes go sharp.
Round frets are essential for intonation. It makes no sense to want flatter frets. Btw, your finger tips should not rest on the fret but ever so slightly behind them.
great video thank you. I have a question, depending on the fret style ( jumbo, medium, small ) do you think that this has an influence on the sustain of the note while playing the guitar with out amplifier ?what is your opinion on that point ?thanks for an answer
I almost change my frets from medium to jumbo but I've changed my mind after watching this video. I know where I belong. Really good information, thank you.
I have an old Casio midi guitar, and a friend (with skills) offered to scallop the neck for me. I wasn't using it, so I thought why not.. To me, it has the nicest neck of all my guitars. As I always place my left hand fingers next to the fret, and play with minimum necessary pressure, I have no intonation problems. Of course, what it's really all about is personal preference, but I'd recommend to anyone to at least try a scalloped fingerboard.
Hi I have medium frets on my squier vintage hss when I bend the string above tend to slip under my finger and my finger scratches against the fretboard it doesent feel good how can I fix it?
Fingers don't scratch the fretboard - you just accumulate dirt more quickly. I didn't experience tone difference when I leveled the frets of two of my guitars, but what you're saying is possible. A whole refret is a completely different story. I had a guitar that sounded terrible after a full refret. Btw, 1/3 lower doesn't seem right to me - that's way too much leveling.
Thanks for the explanation. Now to find why can't I get medium stainless frets on an acoustic. I hate the way the low soft frets file off from bending acoustic strings. not much metal there to begin with.
Amazing video! The best guitar fret size comparison video. Obviously I would have rathered hear you talk over the music that was very repetitive, so I just muted it until you started playing, then I got jealous, and muted it again lol. I will choose a guitar with medium frets as I like to play my electrics unplugged sometimes at night, and I want less chance of hearing fret buzz.
Where could I find fret wire for my Charvel Pro MOdDk24 that's jumbo but slightly rounded??? Anybody know of any websites that sell this particular fret wire?
Thanks for the vid. I own a Jackson dk2 with jumbo frets which I had it levelled to a luthier due to fret dents, the levelling was about 1/3 lower (the frets lost about 1/3 of their height, so I think they are like medium now. I feel the tone after fret levelling has changed. Is that possible? Is it possible scratching the fretboard when playing, just because my fingers touch more closely to the wood? Thanks man, a video for string action (measuring, lowering it would be great)
Been looking at the PRS Custom 24 and noticed looking at the specs on the colors show fret differences as well. For instance, the less expensive colors do not specify the fret type but the more expensive do; i.e. Number of frets on Charcoal = 24, Number of frets on Quilted Black Gold = 24 Medium Jumbo. Most people would never notice it but I did. Is medium jumbo better?
For those who have no idea about scalloped fretboard don't think about it because your fingers will hurt and sliding along the fretboard is very difficult 😭
This is really the only decent video comparison I have been able to find on this subject. And hell yeah, the LTD JH 600, is that a Jeff Hanneman model?
Ok, so after a fret levelling that kinda failed, I think it's time for a full refret on my Jackson dk2-l. After some internet research I think Jackson uses Dunlop 6100 as jumbo frets. Any opinions much appreciated. I want to make it as the original frets Jackson uses.
I believe your terminology might be wrong. ESP has extra jumbo frets, Jackson has jumbo, and BC Rich has medium jumbo, or at least that's the reality in 2018. It's really hard to find medium these days on a guitar. Plus all the jumbo and extra jumbo have rounded crowns, and yes it sucks.
Thanks for the answer! Really? The original ones where the classic jackson jumbo frets. I just measured now, the height of my frets is just a liiiitle over 1 mm (0,039 of an inch). Is there another way to find out if my guitar was damaged?
What about vibrato? I think I remember in an interview Yngwie stating that's why he uses scalloped frets, and it seems to be a selling point of jumbo frets.
The intonation has probably gotten better because there is not much variability in how much you can push the string. Are the open chords particularly different from before?
Nice summary. Very helpful thanks. I also prefer larger frets. I played the PRS SE range today and because the frets are not large I find that my sweaty fingers drag on the fret board, making bending harder. Other than that the PRS is one of the best guitars I've played. But now I'm guitar hunting again and just wish PRS did a jumbo fret model.
What about fret board radius and neck profile. Both have a ginormous affect on feel, especially for shredding. I can't see how that stuff could be left out. Maybe I missed that part in the vid... I sorta rushed through it- I'm late for work.
As a new player, should I stay away from jumbos? My next guitar is going to be either ESP LTD Arrow, or Jackson King V. They use jumbo an medium frets. I also want the EMG 81/85 combo on my guitar and with ESP I can have them install out of the box. What do you guys thinkg?
Splendid information, thanks a whole lot. I'm at the beginning stage ofy shredsing and lead guitar journey and medium to jumbo frets will be my best option.
Thanks for the answer. That's a good point about the intonation. As far as open chords are concerned I can't remeber an actual difference in the tone. Unfortunately, overall the fretboard - for my fingers - has lost its playability. I don't know if it is the luthier's fault or if it is only me, but Ι really miss the larger frets. Doesn't feel like a Jackson anymore :(
my guitar is wierd where i have to press down harder on the strings the closer i get to the body. the F barre chord was the easiest barre chord ever. i was able to do it easy the first time. but i cant do 555775 or in particular something like x7775x for the life of me. i just cant press my ring finger down hard enough. is it just me, or is it my guitar?
Nice work , great informative video. My son is 10, want him to start playing. Should I get him a standard sized guitar or one with a shorter neck. his hands (fingers) are average for his age, but linky, I know he'll do well. Also, what do you and others think about the epiphone package with amp, picks etc. from guitar center ($199). thanks in advance...
Great question. A bit hard to answer... But myself, I started playing when I was maybe 10-12 years old. I used a standard size guitar but with short scale/22 frets. If I were you, I'd try a short scale standard guitar, not a mini guitar for children.
John Anderson I know it's a little late to get in on the conversation, but Epi guitars are made very well. They play great too. The pickups are a little weak though volume wise, the P-90's IMO. Their humbuckers are very hot. You'll see when you A/B them with when somebody you're jamming with is playing a Gibson. It only took me once before I found out and replaced my Epiphone P-90's with Gibson's. Best of luck...
This is 2:55 of information, and 8 minutes of “admire me playing a chain of unrelated notes as fast as I possibly can on a distorted amp preventing missed notes from being revealed or the sonic differences in the fret wire.
Although I disagree when you say I am shredding throughout the whole video, you highlighted a very important point. You noticed, and so did I, that when you're playing faster solos, they do come out cleaner with jumbo frets. It's just the nature of jumbo frets - they're usually better for soloing.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
This video was created 6 years ago and is still one of the better ones the subject of different fret wire size. Nice job! Thanks.
Was thinking the same thing!
yes. Only that now it's *this video created 7 years ago
@kennethcharlesrhea confirmed
Here comes the Nine :>
Good Video :)
6000s I think are XJ which I’m guessing is what ESP and Jackson usually use but 6105 seems to be considered narrow jumbo or medium tall; I like how they’re taller than medium jumbo but skinnier so you have more space between the frets and away enough from the board, but I don’t know how many years it will take before I need to replace the frets on my two guitars anyways.
Simple and direct. I miss old youtube.
correct. Nowadays they only care about the money and not about the viewer
WHAT'S GOING ON RUclips! TODAY WE'RE GONNA TALK ABOUT FRET SIZES BUT BEFORE WE GET INTO THAT...
@@semihdyngyldai1895”I’m gonna chuff a egg plant.”
2:03 that's not a disadvantage of jumbo frets. That's a player who has no control over their playing.
3:29 false. A rounded jumbo fret will not buzz more than a medium fret that is also crowned. A jumbo fret is HIGHER which has nothing to do with how much metal the string is touching. That is a matter of CROWNING. If a fret is crowned, the fret top is ROUND and the string will touch at one point. If your strings are HEAVIER, it will buzz even LESS because the heavier strings need more TENSION to get them up to pitch and thus they become.... TIGHTER and will not buzz as much as a LOOSE (smaller gauge) string.
#3 is simply your personal preference. It isn't a disadvantage of jumbo frets. Not having the wood slow my bending or affect my string bending is a HUGE ADVANTAGE! You are now pushing ONLY THE STRING whereas with short frets you are fighting the fret board while trying to push the string.
6:13 is patently false and detrimental to anyone watching. I already explained why above.
and 7:54 is the worst! Rounded tops are the ideal profile for any fret size. If you have a FLAT topped fret, where is the string really vibrating from? The back side? The middle? The front end? It MUST vibrate from the middle in order to INTONATE properly. You will also get more BUZZ with those flat topped frets because they are .... FLAT! With a rounded top, there is nothing for the string to flap against!
Worst video I have seen on this topic.
I couldn't agree more with all of your points.
Now I'm not sure if I want rounded fret crowns or slightly rounded crowns...
@@dreamforfreedom always fully rounded! You can get a more precise string action and better intonation a flat or slightly rounded fret can cause buzzing even at ideal neck relief and string height put in the extra effort and yee shall be rewarded
@@johnnyghoul8100 Thanks bubba!
@2:03, dmometalguitar is correct, from my experience, and from all the articles I've read on the subject.
As a kid, I learned to play on cheap guitars that required some finger muscle to get a clean note.
When I switched from vintage to jumbo frets, I had a problem with sharp notes, at first. I was all..."WTF?"
Yeah, I can play faster and BETTER with jumbo frets, but I had to change the way I played, especially chords, and that didn't happen overnight. It took me quite a while.
On this point, I agree with dmometalguitar.
I was not expecting him to be that ridiculously amazing at shredding.
not really "amazing"
lots of noodling
@@sirspongadoodle I'm sure you're much better right?🤣
@@rajeshprasad6016 yes i am, and emojis aren’t an argument.
@@sirspongadoodle That sad, out of time tornado of souls isn't an argument either🤮
No need to troll this video. This is a really good, thorough explanation of different fret choices. It appears to me anyway.. that a lot of effort was put in to making this video and we should be (as viewers) grateful for the education lessons.
@Lyle Wilson Anyone can bitch and cry about how bad someone else's video is, especially when they haven't even uploaded 1 video. Lets see that high quality video you made and i will go watch it. Everyone on you tube is a critic. Free videos but they act like they paid for it and want a refund.
Well said pal.
this guy plays like he eats nothing but jalapeno chili peppers. invormative video tho.
I'm so glad I watched this video. I've been trying to understand what fret sizes actually mean. I was thinking it was spacing until this.
Lmfao I love that analogy but before I go and use it myself....I have to know what YOUR true meaning to “plays like he eats nothing but jalapeño chili peppers” means....diarrhea?? Lol
And this whole time i thought JUMBO FRETS was the size of the spacing between the metal frets themselves. What a dummy ;) My B.C. Rich Bich has jumbo frets and i'm satisfied!!
Visceral Remembrance so did I pfff!
4 years later to the conversation but I too. I was thinking I will need to buy longer strings or something 😅
Same here! I specifically came to this video trying to figure out what the hell a "narrow tall" fret would ever look like
😂😂same here
well it does effect spacing which is why i like narrow frets but i like them tall too so it’s like a scalloped board which would probably be best with short frets unless you want that floating finger effect to be extreme though there wasn’t much difference in playability with alexi’s models since they only have them at the end
I had a malmsteen strat. You will gain a whole new level of respect for his playing. The scalloped fretboard leaves no room for error. You cannot flub a note. It's like using roller skates on an ice rink if you have no control.
Nim Chimpsky You can do amazing bendings and vibratos since there are no wood underneath.
@Nim Chimpsky Sadly I`m also new to this so I haven`t found any yet
@Nim Chimpsky Richie Blackmore. Steve Vai these days scallops his guitars as well.
@@maciejduda5257
Aq
3:30 entirely false. Jumbo, small, neither has any effect on string buzz. If your fret is ROUND and not FLAT and if they are perfectly EVEN with respect to each other, your buzzing is then just a result of strings being too low or a bowed neck, etc. In fact, LARGER gauge strings buzz less because they have to be tuned TIGHTER to reach the same pitch as smaller gauge strings and this tighter string will not allow the string to vibrate up and down as much as the floppier small gauge string at the same tension.
If your frets are leveled and crowned and polished and your neck is set up right, you should ideally have NO buzz unless you have insanely low action. That's all.
I agree with you but i may think fret heights and shape have to do in the whole equation.. Don't you think?
And i felt as you shortcut your explanation as if what you know (that i know lol) is well-known by everybody... You'll be surprised how people even in the net era missed a lot of everything so please dont censure yourself and go on... I know we can dig it deeply and find you saying a lot of unknown things for us....for my part.. Can't get enough of knowledge even things i know but told differently by others... It sounds good and interesting like music... I know the chords but don't play them like other people which is all the magic of colours, differences and how communication brings them together ..
Thanks by the way.
Well this is rather strange.. I was just watching a couple of your videos literally a few minutes ago! Seems your talents are never-ending sir! /,,/
The whole thing of going out of tune with jumbo frets is not a show stopper. I think most players can get used to it -- unless you have a really hard touch against the fretboard. After playing my guitar for a while, I learned how to touch the jumbo frets with the right amount of pressure, so the strings don't go sharp. Of course, I can't speak for all players, and maybe some players may find it more difficult. That's why I thought it was important to discuss the issue.
Loving that cheesy keyboard theme. Rocky was probably listening to that before he got in the ring. A soldier probably plays that just before he charges into the fray. I hear it will blast out over every PA system in the world at 1 minute before midnight on New Year's Eve 2017.
Lewis Hay...Hay ! You are funny ! Thanks !
There is no other guy on YT who is so precise in understanding the guitar. I have had many considerations about how every guitar piece affect playability and finally I found the right information source. I'm very grateful for your approach, no bullshit, only experience and attention to details. Thanks man.
I'm not a shredder or metal player by any stretch, but this video is hands down the best I've seen so far regarding the topic. Would be great to see another one regarding how fret material and size affects the sound
Great video man. The only point I don’t agree with is with the perfectly rounded crowns. They produce a much more defined sound, more accurate intonation and help with slides.
I love the extra jumbo frets on my Schecter. I have barely any contact with the fretboard now as compared to my Gibson Flying V. I am pretty sure it has medium frets. I have to press the strings a bit harder on the V.. It takes some getting used to adjusting from a harder grip on the Gibson to having such a light touch on my Schecter. I much prefer the Schecter now as it is much faster, not to mention the overall feel and sound.
hey man,you are correct on the minute 7:44 ,flatter frets feels great and also best for string bend,i play since 1991,and i have Grant les paul standard copy made in Japan in the 70s,i learnt on that guitar,playing it for years without an amplifier cuz i hadnt have the money to buy,,,my point is i feel every note with those frets,they feel incredible,chords,and soloing,but my question is,nowawdays what is the size number of custom made frets used my companies such as Warmoth,USACG,and music craft,do they use these flatter frets jumbo or medium jumbo?
thank you
It's difficult to say because there are no standards. What one company calls jumbo, another company will call it medium. If you want to replace frets, the best thing to do (if possible) is show the luthier a guitar with the type of frets you like.
I thought the whole point of crowning frets was to make the string contact be right above where the fret slot is cut, so the guitar plays in tune. If you have very wide/flat frets that will mess up your intonation.
don´t forget the effect of the fretboard radius also as on how you play
I have been teaching myself to do light guitar maintenance since I own 9 of them and I am also currently in the process of leveling the frets on a Squier Strat. I got a book on fret work from StewMac I just started to read and haven't come across the part about Slightly flattened vs full crown yet! You got a lot of info in this short video. Thank You!
Your LTD JH-600 has xtra jumbo frets as installed by ESP/LTD.
Says small frets are hard to shred on, plays over 170 bpm.
04/02/2023: I am a beginner bedroom player. I just bought an Eart T-380 with HH splitable pickups. This guitar sound good to me, and has a lot of features for an inexpensive $400.00 guitar to include stainless steel frets. I have as bad habit of notching fret wires no matter what size, so I though steel would be great for me. But, they are very small, narrow, and highly polished rounded tops, and highly polished rounded ends. The action for 10-46 is very low with no buzzing. They feel OK for me, but will they last is my question to you?
Even though I am not into this kind of guitar playing at all, I appreciate the video. If you do a lot of sliding of barre chords around the neck, low-wide frets are the best. Tall "jumbo" frets tend to feel like speed bumps.
I never seen the lower frets get in the way of shredding. I've definitely experienced the opposite where the bigger everything is the less smoothly it seems to play
I thought same thing regardless of fret size I don't think your finger should ever touch wood that's for sure except your thumb
Totally agree. The FASTEST neck I have ever played was the dreaded "fretless wonder" Gibson. I don't understand the hate for them?
As other guy mentioned, radius has its role too. Shredding on Ibby with 17" or guitars with no radius at all (not that common, mostly custom ones, not counting classic music guitars) is totally different than playing on some 7" radius Strat.
Thank you for this video. I was told by a guitar tech that my guitar might need to have the frets replaced as "the valleys have become the peaks." This video has given me a little more info on what frets to choose. I imagine refretting a guitar isn't something you want to do too many times. Lol. Thanks again 👍
I like the vintage frets and to me it feels more comfortable and easier to shred, esp with a lot of sliding....cuz you can feel more of the guitar, and the fingers can just know where to go. The tone also is more consistent and smoother I think. It's just a personal preference. I still go back to the jumbo frets from time to time.
Good vid, but needs a couple of corrections. Action is by definition measured from the bottom of the string to the top of the fret so fret height does not affect action. Also, lighter gauge strings move more when you strike them than heavier gauge string do. Even though heavier gauge strings are thicker you can actually get lower action with them without buzzing out.
I think the solution is narrow-tall frets for that twangy sound without fretting out or feeling too much of the wood; I’d like more space between the frets, but I had two guitars close enough with medium-tall frets before. I’ve never come across short and wide, but probably medium jumbo as well as definitely regular jumbo and extra jumbo; I like the typical nickel-plated steel material since you really need matching strings with stainless frets and reinforced strings with gold frets to match hardness though I’ve found that pure nickel strings wears more on all of them therefore would be best with fretless instruments.
Narrow Tall frets ... they label them narrow but they aren't really that narrow, in fact they're wider than the original narrow frets, the Vintage Style frets (6230), those are the real Narrow frets.
I wish there was a compound fret size on guitars, kinda like a fanned fret multiscale or a compound fretboard radius but with the fret size, for example going from medium jumbo on the first fret to extra jumbo on the 24th fret
that could be a really cool feature and I'll probably do that to my signature guitar if I'll ever have one
Bar Goldstein I have a custom ibanez guitar with medium jumbo frets but I scalloped the fretboard from 12th to 24 fret, it feels so good for shredding in the high fret but still feels comfortable for chording in the low fret. check my latest video.
I have the USA yngwie and a yngwie replica I made myself. And in all honesty, the USA yngwie is the same amount of awesome as my replica and their playability are both super amazing, and it is due to the super jumbo frets (plus the scallop). And of course the dimarzio hs3's.
Low/wide frets are by far the best - both on electric and acoustic guitars. Why they don't show up on new guitars anymore is a mystery to me.
Before i watch ur video i have 0 understanding of this topic, now i've clear understanding regarding fret size.. Thanks man!
I came here expecting a boring but informational video, was NOT ready for the shred at 0:54 lol
Great video! Are there specs on what is considered jumbo, medium and small frets? Like what is the height and width of the fret?
Any chance of doing a video on neck profiles and thicknesses and how they affect play ability?
If you generally are more of a rhythm player who obviously still needs that fastness within thrash/death metal. Would you still recommend the jumbos? I often get with some necks that my fingers get "stuck" and that i get tired quickly as hell because i have to press down the frets so hard to actually get sound.
do you know what Bc rich generally uses?
For years I thouht when people said medium jumbo for example that they were talking about the size of the frets and not the fret wire if that makes sense. I never gave it too much thought until now when I randomly decided I should in fact find out what is meant. Thank you
Great video, but just a note: fret size has NOTHING to do with string buzz. String buzz is caused by low action and worsened by uneven frets. The action is measured from the top of the fret, NOT from the fretboard wood, so it doesn't matter the size of your frets.
You are very masterful. I hate jumbo frets because I press down too hard. Bad habit I guess. I started out with a 1970 Gibson Melody Maker with low impedience pickups. I now have a 1969 Gibson Melody Maker..the same thing, all made in USA of course. Do you think they are small or medium? I am changing my musical style so I want to sell my Melody maker and get a Fender Telecaster. I can only afford a newer one unless I get quite a bit for mine. So do you think lets say a 1950 remake or a 60th anniversary Telecaster will have medium or jumbo frets?
I was second guessing NOT getting jumbo frets on a Warmoth neck but this explanation put me at ease because I am heavy handed and definitely would be making notes go sharp.
Round frets are essential for intonation. It makes no sense to want flatter frets. Btw, your finger tips should not rest on the fret but ever so slightly behind them.
great video thank you. I have a question, depending on the fret style ( jumbo, medium, small ) do you think that this has an influence on the sustain of the note while playing the guitar with out amplifier ?what is your opinion on that point ?thanks for an answer
I can't tell for sure.. When I changed frets on one of my guitars, it sounded bad but I don't recall the sustain being affected.
@@dmometalguitar how do I know visually if my frets are jumbo or medium?
Thank you for your detailed explanation! I am finally having a guitar custom built and this reinforces my decision to go with medium-small frets.
Amazing video about frets!
Glad to see your comparisons are back
I almost change my frets from medium to jumbo but I've changed my mind after watching this video. I know where I belong. Really good information, thank you.
What are your thoughts on stainless steel frets?
Wait how would you do a flatter or wider crown on a fret?
Informative video. Thanks for taking the time to make it and share it. Killer shredding, as well.
Man, thank you very much for this class. As a beginner, I'm constantly confused about the right frets/guitar that would suit me better.
Can i simply change a neck with medium jumbo to a neck with jumbo?
+Hugo Kraft yes you can but the wire under the frets need to fit in the fret slots of you nck
Super informative video (and nice "choose your fighter screen" video game soundtrack 😄)
I have an old Casio midi guitar, and a friend (with skills) offered to scallop the neck for me. I wasn't using it, so I thought why not.. To me, it has the nicest neck of all my guitars. As I always place my left hand fingers next to the fret, and play with minimum necessary pressure, I have no intonation problems. Of course, what it's really all about is personal preference, but I'd recommend to anyone to at least try a scalloped fingerboard.
Are your jumbo's 6100 or 6150 fretwire?
You could play some music as well, beside just those noises. Would be a nice demo
nah, he was just trying to show off his skills.
Totally useless as reference for anything.
Funny what you say about your Ltd. I feel the exact same way about my Ltd: perfect frets somewhere between jumbo and medium.
Hi I have medium frets on my squier vintage hss when I bend the string above tend to slip under my finger and my finger scratches against the fretboard it doesent feel good how can I fix it?
My guess would be to adjust 'Intonation' ? I'm just learning stuff too through videos, haha. I'm also just replying because no one else is :/
Fingers don't scratch the fretboard - you just accumulate dirt more quickly. I didn't experience tone difference when I leveled the frets of two of my guitars, but what you're saying is possible. A whole refret is a completely different story. I had a guitar that sounded terrible after a full refret. Btw, 1/3 lower doesn't seem right to me - that's way too much leveling.
What different does small vs wide frets do? I wish you covered that part!
I realize this about 6 years old but it's by far the most informative video I've seen about frets. VERY informative, thanks.
Thanks for the explanation. Now to find why can't I get medium stainless frets on an acoustic. I hate the way the low soft frets file off from bending acoustic strings. not much metal there to begin with.
Amazing video! The best guitar fret size comparison video. Obviously I would have rathered hear you talk over the music that was very repetitive, so I just muted it until you started playing, then I got jealous, and muted it again lol. I will choose a guitar with medium frets as I like to play my electrics unplugged sometimes at night, and I want less chance of hearing fret buzz.
Where could I find fret wire for my Charvel Pro MOdDk24 that's jumbo but slightly rounded??? Anybody know of any websites that sell this particular fret wire?
Which are the frets of your LTD JH-600? On the web I see they are extra jumbo, but you say they are between medium and jumbo... thanks!
I press hard while chording but prefer the wide frets. What kind of frets would be best and is wide frers referring to radius?
Thanks for the vid. I own a Jackson dk2 with jumbo frets which I had it levelled to a luthier due to fret dents, the levelling was about 1/3 lower (the frets lost about 1/3 of their height, so I think they are like medium now. I feel the tone after fret levelling has changed. Is that possible? Is it possible scratching the fretboard when playing, just because my fingers touch more closely to the wood? Thanks man, a video for string action (measuring, lowering it would be great)
Been looking at the PRS Custom 24 and noticed looking at the specs on the colors show fret differences as well. For instance, the less expensive colors do not specify the fret type but the more expensive do; i.e. Number of frets on Charcoal = 24, Number of frets on Quilted Black Gold = 24 Medium Jumbo. Most people would never notice it but I did. Is medium jumbo better?
For those who have no idea about scalloped fretboard don't think about it because your fingers will hurt and sliding along the fretboard is very difficult 😭
Does the size of the fret wire affect the guitar action?
What year is that Jackson at 4:00?
is it easier to play chords on a full size guitar neck rather than a 3/4. my fingers keep obscuring other strings
Of course... 3/4 generally for a young adult / adolescent
How about using a softer fretboard with medium frets? Which woods would those be? I tried medium and ended up liking the feel more than jumbo.
This is really the only decent video comparison I have been able to find on this subject. And hell yeah, the LTD JH 600, is that a Jeff Hanneman model?
Ok, so after a fret levelling that kinda failed, I think it's time for a full refret on my Jackson dk2-l. After some internet research I think Jackson uses Dunlop 6100 as jumbo frets. Any opinions much appreciated. I want to make it as the original frets Jackson uses.
I believe your terminology might be wrong. ESP has extra jumbo frets, Jackson has jumbo, and BC Rich has medium jumbo, or at least that's the reality in 2018. It's really hard to find medium these days on a guitar. Plus all the jumbo and extra jumbo have rounded crowns, and yes it sucks.
Thanks for the answer! Really? The original ones where the classic jackson jumbo frets. I just measured now, the height of my frets is just a liiiitle over 1 mm (0,039 of an inch). Is there another way to find out if my guitar was damaged?
Video is 11 years old. So what. Excellent informative video, learned a ton. Many many thanks.
I love the 80s instructional video aesthetic
What about vibrato? I think I remember in an interview Yngwie stating that's why he uses scalloped frets, and it seems to be a selling point of jumbo frets.
The intonation has probably gotten better because there is not much variability in how much you can push the string. Are the open chords particularly different from before?
Thanks for the early 90s seriousness of this video ❤
Nice summary. Very helpful thanks. I also prefer larger frets. I played the PRS SE range today and because the frets are not large I find that my sweaty fingers drag on the fret board, making bending harder. Other than that the PRS is one of the best guitars I've played. But now I'm guitar hunting again and just wish PRS did a jumbo fret model.
How does it feel when playing chords on a fretboard with jumbo frets or scalloped? Is it more difficult to play chords?
What about fret board radius and neck profile. Both have a ginormous affect on feel, especially for shredding. I can't see how that stuff could be left out. Maybe I missed that part in the vid... I sorta rushed through it- I'm late for work.
Great video , thanks ! I want 6130's on my Strat which are 106w X36h , ever tried those ?
I had a CSL Les Paul in the 70's with lovely thick frets, there's just something that appeals to me.
does having a big hand and long fingers make a difference? cause, sometime I try and play some chords and end up muting string.
The disappearing pyramid inlays are my fav. Also you're a shred master haha 🤘
As a new player, should I stay away from jumbos?
My next guitar is going to be either ESP LTD Arrow, or Jackson King V. They use jumbo an medium frets.
I also want the EMG 81/85 combo on my guitar and with ESP I can have them install out of the box.
What do you guys thinkg?
If you play metal, jumbo frets are definitely a good option, particularly for solos. If you like the guitar, jumbo frets should be good.
Awesome video. A question: do you know what the size is of the medium frets used by Jackson on the KV2’s built in the early 00’s?
Splendid information, thanks a whole lot. I'm at the beginning stage ofy shredsing and lead guitar journey and medium to jumbo frets will be my best option.
Thanks for the answer. That's a good point about the intonation. As far as open chords are concerned I can't remeber an actual difference in the tone. Unfortunately, overall the fretboard - for my fingers - has lost its playability. I don't know if it is the luthier's fault or if it is only me, but Ι really miss the larger frets. Doesn't feel like a Jackson anymore :(
wow that camo looks sick nice playing too! I'm not too big on solos....nor am i good at it...but i need to learn how to do that via tremolo thing lol
my guitar is wierd where i have to press down harder on the strings the closer i get to the body. the F barre chord was the easiest barre chord ever. i was able to do it easy the first time. but i cant do 555775 or in particular something like x7775x for the life of me. i just cant press my ring finger down hard enough. is it just me, or is it my guitar?
In a very low action. It’s funny play shred on small frets. However, bends slip out sometimes.
Nice work , great informative video.
My son is 10, want him to start playing. Should I get him a standard sized guitar or one with a shorter neck. his hands (fingers) are average for his age, but linky, I know he'll do well. Also, what do you and others think about the epiphone package with amp, picks etc. from guitar center ($199). thanks in advance...
Great question. A bit hard to answer... But myself, I started playing when I was maybe 10-12 years old. I used a standard size guitar but with short scale/22 frets. If I were you, I'd try a short scale standard guitar, not a mini guitar for children.
John Anderson I know it's a little late to get in on the conversation, but Epi guitars are made very well. They play great too. The pickups are a little weak though volume wise, the P-90's IMO. Their humbuckers are very hot. You'll see when you A/B them with when somebody you're jamming with is playing a Gibson. It only took me once before I found out and replaced my Epiphone P-90's with Gibson's. Best of luck...
9:40
i've seen a video where malmsteen does say that the scalloped fret boards DOES make it harder to shred.... but thats nothin to him clearly :B
If you're not used to it. It requires less effort, ultimately.
This is 2:55 of information, and 8 minutes of “admire me playing a chain of unrelated notes as fast as I possibly can on a distorted amp preventing missed notes from being revealed or the sonic differences in the fret wire.
fuck u
Although I disagree when you say I am shredding throughout the whole video, you highlighted a very important point. You noticed, and so did I, that when you're playing faster solos, they do come out cleaner with jumbo frets. It's just the nature of jumbo frets - they're usually better for soloing.
Bigger fret = more metal = cleaner brighter tone.
Hey big fan of your videos. Im wanting to buy a Jackson or ESP LTD what would you recommend for the over all quality which one to get
nick horton either way your a winner