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Refretting my '64 Fender Strat! Do frets affect tone?!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 พ.ย. 2022
- I had my 1964 Fender Strat refretted!
Do frets affect your tone?
Listen to the playing examples of before and after the refret and see if you can decide!
You can learn the licks too if you want, because I embedded the TAB.
I've had this guitar since 2015 and it has been fully restored to a decent playing and cosmetic condition in that time.
If you're thinking about getting into the vintage guitar market, I discuss fret sizes, and the affect of different ones on vintage instruments, and you can see some details of the work that I've had done.
The work was carried out by my friend and all out strat nerd Jeremy at Garland Guitars in Devon - www.garlandgui...
The work is exceptional.
The restoration journey is over for now on this one, now it's a player!
I will be uploading all the video I have made of this guitar in the coming weeks to document how a restoration like this can be done.
Thanks for watching!
Gear:
Guitar - 1964 Fiesta Red Fender Stratocaster (restored)
Amp - Fender Deluxe Reverb (blackface) reissue
Pedals - Mad Professor Supreme (A side)
Other effects - amp reverb
Cab mic - Sennheiser e906
Camera - Canon M50, 22mm pancake lens
Loads of lesson content, backing tracks and TABs on my Patreon Page - / rupesmcdguitar
![LISA - NEW WOMAN feat. Rosalía (Official Music Video) reaction [NEW LEVEL!]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BcppQEBJzEA/mqdefault.jpg)
![Exclusive! น้องลิกก้า&น้องโรร่า มาแล้ว!! [cc] แดนแพทตี้ SS2 | EP.48 |](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/UmlpJhRekyY/mqdefault.jpg)
If you like the outro 12 bar blues improv it's here with TAB - th-cam.com/video/QsCbUIfqOaI/w-d-xo.html
@@LeanOnYourDreams you got me...
÷/_+
Frets impact the tone, it's literally built into the science of how pickups work. Pickups pick up string vibrations and anything that touches the strings affects the way they vibrate. It's also worth mentioning that if you got different sized frets and didn't adjust the pickup height then that will also affect the tone if you adjusted the string height to compensate.
After refretting a few 70’s fenders (and a ‘67 es330) with 6105 type wire (at the time I had no idea that’s what it was), I became increasingly of the mind that that wire is too tall for my taste. Yes bends were easier, but I grew to dislike the railroad tie feeling of those tall frets. Recently, I was lucky enough to find a lightly played ‘80’s ‘E’ series fender Japan Strat with near perfect small frets. It’s been a revelation. After some technique adjustment, I absolutely love it. I’d never go back to big frets. If I refretted this guitar, I’d go a smidge bigger, but just a smidge. Finally, sound. I think there is a difference in how small and big frets sound. It’s probably as much to do with different playing techniques for big and small frets as it is the frets per se. I find I use a lighter touch with the old style frets. More delicate. Bends require more care. I’d say lower, narrower frets are a bit trickier to get a clean sound on. But there’s a certain plucky sound that those small frets give that reminds me of a lot of old recordings. So far, I’m really digging it. I strongly suggest that younger players who’ve only played big frets give small frets a try. You might just like it.
Hey, I recently went to 6100 from medium jumbo. I find find it way easier to get bends and vibrato and find nothing good about the medium jumbo maybe except for the fact that its easier to get into the fret gap as you down the neck, but this isn't a big issue. The jumbos feel and and possibly sound just, rounder. I am sure because of the width. Anyways i've heard a few guys lately say that the vintage small frets are really good, but I really just don't see how. Are they 'better' than medium jumbo? I get the feeling that because they are just soooo low that it sort becomes easier to bend and play which makes sense to me. Like you are connected to wood so much it takes the strain from how I find medium jumbos to feel. Would you agree or not really?
6100 and such are for shredding, as simple as that guys
Try 6130 you won't regret it
6105 are wayyyyy too tall. 6150 would be half way, but still sensitive to finger pression.
newer/less worn frets will always sound glassier. it's a mild change, but a much bigger improvement in feel. as the frets age and wear they'll probably get closer to the old ones in sound.
I had my 69 tele refretted, and I found the tone was less squishy, and more "stable", I preferred how it sounded before. I am gunna get someone else to look at the frets, cause they might just be setup poorly with lots of buzz. I found that in this video too actually, the older ones sound alot squishier and squeakier, the new frets make it sound like a new instrument interestingly enough
Yes!! You’ve nailed it. I’ve had lots of comments on this video in forums etc saying there’s no difference, frets don’t effect the sound etc, but what you’ve said is exactly how I feel too. The new fretwork is very good. The tone has evened out and there is a lot less buzzing and fuzziness. Good luck getting your 69 sorted and thanks for the input.
@@RupesMcDGuitar for sure! thank you, just took it in today, so hopefully in the next few weeks itll be all done!
Very interesting and informative video..to my ear for what it's worth the notes seemed to have more sustain on the new frets..not sure why this should be but that's my view.. thankyou..
Thanks Simon - I agree with you. The more worn frets get, it seems there's less sparkle and sustain - you can hear on the old frets that it's buzzing out in that playing area too. Thanks for the comment. I'll transcribe that ending 12 bar and stick it on the Patron page.
@@RupesMcDGuitar that's great thanks
i only have a couple cheap guitars but ive played the hell out of them, an esp ltd with massive jumbo frets, jackson with standard jumbo, and a squier standard with smaller frets, i guess they must be vintage. i think the narrower frets give more twang and a more severe, rapid rise in pitch with bends and vibrato, and especially so if you imagine youre yngwie malmsteen and press the string down where the scallop would be. i like vintage narrow
also i think the audio only was the new frets
good job
Yeah!
When I first saw and heard that Strat, it really sounded like a "proper" one. I think you have one of the greatest years of the Fender Stratocaster, 1964. I can only dream.. or, listen to yours! Of course the fret size matters. Where did this 'Jumbo' business come from..?? Also, now people are thinking about neck Radius.. why go so flat? Jimi H. never had any trouble with 7.25" R... But it's good people are starting to ask AND try out these things of "Vintage" age.. Not bad, are they..
Great comment! Thanks, and I agree, I think the early strats are really special.
The "jumbo business" and flatter radius came from personal preference by the player. Nothing wrong with it. Technology and new ideas evolve to make things better. I love flat radius and jumbo frets and can set up my guitars perfectly for me. It's all subjective. Just because Hendrix didn't have a problem doesn't mean everyone is like Hendrix. I'm im currently getting my strat slab board refretted with jumbo frets and a re radius to 12" from 7.25. I can't wait to play it
@@sunnys5150 Sure, personal preference, style, etc., all come into play. I never liked the idea of a 'Compound Radius' until I found out some facts on the natural wear pattern arising from Rory Gallagher needing constant refret jobs to his Stratocaster giving a closer 7.25 to 9.5 inch radius as you got closer to the upper part of the neck. Interesting...
I just bought a strat with vintage frets on it and I have a love hate relationship with them. But at the end of the day I need a re-fret. Its either going to be a medium or a tall.
The new tone sounds better
Defo think there is more body on the newer ones!
The second on audio is new freets..
You know it 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Ow, muito bom, tenho 1 fender e tô pensando em mudar os trastes, já é um novo leque de opções pra mim!
Thanks for commenting! Hope the video helps you choose.
Dunno if it was my imagination, but the newer frets sounded warmer to my ears.
I think you could be right there. There was a bit of buzzing before in that C area - maybe added some high frequencies?
sorry, i`m not good in english, so what exactly frets model do you have on this guitar in video? 47095? i watch a lot of video to understand which frets will look good with maple neck on my strat
Would you say that you really disliked the 6100s? It kind of makes sense to go a bit taller with a gloss maple finish, but perhaps it made the neck feel bigger with snagging during slides?
I definitely don’t dislike the 6100’s on that guitar. It does feel different, but there is no doubt in my mind that bends are helped with a beefier fret. Thanks for commenting 👊🏻
@@RupesMcDGuitar cheers for the reply mate, you’ve ever tried 6105 frets? Seems to come on most custom shop guitars. But I hear some people don’t get on with them.
My main Strat has modern vintage frets so slightly bigger - I get on with them but for certain Texan leanings it can be challenging when playing 1-5th fret blues stuff!
@@3rdtonefromthesunyeah I generally prefer a wider fret if it’s gunna be tall. The 6105 is a bit skinny for the height if you know what I mean?
@@RupesMcDGuitar Yeah man, I have another guitar with 6100s and with lighter strings I've got to be careful with the pressure I apply on chords at the nut!
stainless demands so much filing and sanding the luthier will get frustrated
Could newer strings be a factor? The sparklier tone sounds like newer strings rather than frets to my ears.
Definitely newer strings! Good shout! 🙏🏻
what kind of new frets have you on this guitar': model and tipe? i hear a big difference on presence it seems like to hear a compresson OFF/ON
Hi. Thanks for commenting, the new frets are Jescar nickel. No compression, but I agree that there is a snappy attack after the fretwork. Intonation is much better too!
i got a 60's Fender Vintera ( 2021 it's really new) but i would like to refret with jumbo frets i would like to have more playbility and more attack ... do you think it's real with jumbo frets or the gap it's only my poor hands? @@RupesMcDGuitar
To be honest I’ve never re fretted until the frets are worn out. Jumbo frets are known to be easier for bends, but there are lots of variables to consider - string gauge, height of the action, how many springs are in the back and how the tremolo is set all effect how a strat plays.
Old sound is brighter. With new frets i hear less trebly sound.
Thanks for commenting
The new frets have more of a darker type tone to me the frets sounded much brighter however it could have been your amp settings , but really there's hardly a difference just to me yeah the new frets sounded like they more I guess rather than say darker they sounded like more bass was in the tone ,but hey both new and old sounded great
Thanks for the comment. Yes there could have been some differences in settings making this hardly a fair test, but I agree that there’s more solidity to the tone in the new frets in this vid. The main thing it has done is even out the tone - far less buzzing! Best wishes.
@@RupesMcDGuitar I have a 66 strat that my mom and dad got me for xmas when I was 13 I'm 56 now so playing for 43 the guitar roughly 57yrs old I'm gonna re fret it ,do you think I should go the nickle wire or stainless, I have other guitars but my strat I guess is my pride and joy ,I was going to try to do it myself however I dont think I'm ready for that it's got a maple neck with lacquer I'd probably crack it if tried I know you cut along the frets to break the lacquer free I think the job is far beyond my capabilities, I guess I'll spend the money so it's right but do you think stainless or nickel wire would be best ,thanks have a great day
@@allenwebster6329 I would personally stay with nickel wire on an old Strat. Just doesn’t seem right to use stainless to me. Plus that is a pretty valuable guitar, so worth considering staying true to vintage spec. Ultimately it’s up to you, but I agree that getting it done by a trusted pro is a good idea - particularly with a lacquered fretboard. Good luck with it ! It transformed my guitar 👌👌
@@RupesMcDGuitar thanks for the input your right ,I did some checking around I guess the 66 strat didn't come with a maple neck unless it was a custom shop version, and so I guess that would bring the value up I'm not sure, a 66 strat like I have range from 8k to sometimes even 15k sometimes more with the maple neck from the custom shop I guess that adds more value, yeah I dont want to mess something up that could potentially pay my house off not a wise choice, I thought about stainless because it would last longer but your right better stay with the nickle I mean the original frets lasted this long if I have refreted with the nickle it will most likely still good for son to play when I'm gone ,but yeah thank you very much
I have the same frets. I am wondering for how long they will last.
Does that say 63 on the neck date? Thought it was a 64.
Yup- so technically its a '64 because that is what the serial number brings up, but yes, the neck and pots are stamped 63 - you'll notice that the stamp is 2NOV63B meaning it was a November neck, so presumably it wasn't assembled (and serial numbered) until early 64. In later 64 the transition (bigger) logo came in, and so did the pearl dots to replace the clay ones. I guess I could call it a 63/64! Ha.
@@RupesMcDGuitar thank you for the explanation, thats really interesting! I thought neck plates were randomly taken from a big box of hundreds of other plates. That's why I presumed pot and neck dates were more reliable.
@@greenchannel2114 Yeah - you could be right! It's definitely a '63 for the most part - neck profile, pots, pick ups, neck stamp, logo type, clay dots etc - so the official serial number is probably misleading! Gotta love Fender.. Ha.
@@RupesMcDGuitarHaha I know! I think it's certainly a 63, an absolute beauty ☺
@@greenchannel2114 yup 👌 thanks 🙏🏻
No difference whatsoever. The new ones probably feel way smoother! :)
They certainly do! 👍
You had to hide your struggling with the refrets by raking the triplets. Sorry man, you're a great player but.... I hear it all the time with the modern crap tall frets. It's kind of why today's music sucks so bad.
Great comment, and good ear! I actually like a rake or two 😉