what does the fret height affect?

[RGFREAK]

hey, folks

Ok, not sure if i put this post in the right topic and how well i can ask about what i am wondering about, but here goes:

i am wondering if the height of a fret can affect sustain and articulation of the note?

if not what can really tall frets do for you and what low ones can?


thanks

[Pursuit]

Nah, you got the right section for posting.

Here's an excerpt from a book about guitars. It describes it pretty well.


"Fret size has a great deal to do with the feel of a guitar. Low frets allow the player to feel the fingerboard, but leave little room to add vibrato by pushing the strings downward, or to really grip them for bending. Tall frets are the opposite (they can be gripped and bent by pushing, but it is more difficult to play normal notes due to the height from the fingerboard).

The width of the fret determines the amount of wear that can be expected before 'fret dressing' is necessary. Narrow frets wear faster but stay more in tune as they do, while wider frets last longer but sharpen in intonation slightly as they wear."


So there oyu have it. I personally prefer the lower frets, because it's so much easier to play chords and different notes, and you can still bend the notes by pulling down across the fretboard. High frets irritate me a bit.

I'm not sure, but guessing off general physics, sustain would last longer with lower frets. And I know for a fact that low frets are better for articulation.

[LuredMaul]

I agree with everything about fret wear.
I disagree with the sustain,....................... I think it depends on the players technique. I get great sustain with taller/wider frets and even better on scalloped necks ( I also gain note clarity here) with tall/wide frets and I feel that short frets sound muddy/muted/choked compared.

Someone else will enevitably tell me I am Wrong, so it truly depends on the player.

[Pursuit]

Originally Posted by LuredMaul

Someone else will enevitably tell me I am Wrong, so it truly depends on the player.

YOU'RE WRONG!


Actually you might be right, I have no idea. I just couldn't resist that opportunity!

[littlephil]

Originally Posted by LuredMaul

I agree with everything about fret wear.
I disagree with the sustain,....................... I think it depends on the players technique. I get great sustain with taller/wider frets and even better on scalloped necks ( I also gain note clarity here) with tall/wide frets and I feel that short frets sound muddy/muted/choked compared.

Someone else will enevitably tell me I am Wrong, so it truly depends on the player.

Yeah, it definitely depends on the player, thats why people have different preferences. Not everyones fingers are the same, I know I have problems with barre chords on the lower frets if the guitar has small frets because my joints have a sort of bulge around them.

[Rachmaninoff]

It's a matter of taste.
I learned that medium frets work better to me.

[toneboy]

Originally Posted by Pursuit

And I know for a fact that low frets are better for articulation.

That's not a fact, that's your opinion and I would disagree with it because taller frets make it easier to bend and apply vibrato because your finger isn't touching the fretboard and dragging on it but that's what works for me so that's just my opinion.

The bottom line is that it depends on the player and what they feel comfortable with. There are plenty of articulate players who all use different sizes of fret wire.

[AxeHappy]

Sustian is generally considered to be better on tall frets according to everything I've ever read about fretwire. The string hitting the fretboard kills sustain or something like that.

[HeavyMetal4Ever]

I like the feel of tall, thin frets. I hate the feeling of my fingers "dragging" on the fretboard. I also find I play much clearer and cleaner whith taller frets, but like others have said, whatever works best for you.

Rock on!

[RGFREAK]

Thanks all, so many great post, i almost forgot i started this

[RGFREAK]

thanks, excalty what i wanted to know!