fret wire question...

[Timmando]

I see that some mandos have thin fretwire and others thicker fretwire. What is the reason for having thicker? If I wanted to have my mando refretted with the thicker wire, does anyone know exactly what kind of wire to use? A link to stewmac and the wire I need to buy would be very helpful. Thanks for any info.

[Folkmusician.com]

Hi Tim,

Larger (if it is also taller) fretwire gives you more clearance before you touch the fingerboard. If you adjust to this you can fret cleanly with less pressure compared to smaller frets where you endup pushing into the fingerboard and having to push harder.

Larger frets give longer fret life. Like double or more between complete refrets. You may still need just as many partial refrets.

Smaller frets give more room to play up high on the neck.

For Stewmac wire, maybe 0147.

[Timmando]

Thanks Robert. Item 0147 that you mention is the narrow/medium http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Stewart-MacDonald_Fretwire/Narrow_Fretwire.html

I have a morgan monroe MDM-2 and it has thinner fretwire than what I want. I would like to buy the correct fretwire, but there are so many types.

I notice on the northfield website, the modern fret is .080 width, .045 crown and .058 tang...that seems close to what you mention Robert, the stewmac 0147.

Also 0155 may work...it is .080, 050, 048.

Is there a builder out there who could post which fretwire is considered the modern fretwire for mandos?

[Folkmusician.com]

I actually like wire a little taller than the 0147, but not wider. The 0155 is starting to get a little higher than I prefer, but if you needed to do much leveling after installing the frets, it is fine. I like Stewmac fretwire, but they don't have a whole lot of choices. I would also checkout Jescar.

[Tom Haywood]

Is there a builder out there who could post which fretwire is considered the modern fretwire for mandos?

I researched this a while back before replacing the frets on mine. Seems like there were three wires mentioned most, all sort of close to the same size. I went with the 0147 because several builders said it was the most requested by their customers. I've put it on an A model, an F model, and a bowlback so far. Feels just right to me. I've started building a bouzouki and plan to use it there.

[Ron McMillan]

I'm not a builder, but after taking a lot of good advice here a couple of years ago, I had the fretwire in my F5 copy replaced with Jescar Evo Gold 37080 fretwire. It is quite a bit bigger than old-fashioned fretwire, and bigger than the fretwire fitted standard to, for example, Eastman mandolins. I have been delighted with the Evo Gold, which has had the added bonus of being very hard wearing.

ron

[Paul Hostetter]

My 3¢ are somewhere on this page (http://www.lutherie.net/fret.chart.html), along with a lot of info about available wires. Jescar's 43080 is a real favorite these days.

[Timmando]

Based on what I think will be best for me (at this time), I am going to order the stewmac 0155 for two reasons... Robert mentions the extra height for future levelings and on Pauls post it is mentioned that " The old Dunlop 6280 was .076 wide by .044 tall. I wish it was still available, I like that size better.” The 0155 seems closest to that at .080, .050, with a little leveling to .045. At this time I do very little up the neck fretting so I am not concerned much about the drawback of wider frets in the upper register, I just want to try wider frets for easier fretting in the 1 to 7 fret area. Thanks for all the input. Now I just need to decide if I want to try this fretwire install, leveling, setup or send it off to someone.

[Paul Hostetter]

The difference in width between .078 and .080 is miniscule. There are a dozen good wires in that range, and you usually lose a wee bit in the leveling process unless you're in a production situation. But these are all going to look and feel about the same:

Stew-Mac 155 .080 .050 Superb medium-large wire

Dunlop 6220* .079 .043

Dunlop 6260* .079 .039

Dunlop 6260* .079 .039

Jescar 37080* .080 .037 many tang widths; for vintage Martin restoration—rather low

Jescar 50078* .078 .050

Stew-Mac 147 .080 .040 Really good "old time" "banjo" wire or Gibson '30's guitar wire

Stew-Mac 148 .084 .039 Their most common guitar wire and Huber banjo wire,
but a bit wide and low for mandolins

Jescar 43080 .080 .043 In EVO, a great wire for mandolins and on up

Dunlop 6230 .078 .043 Classic Martin guitar wire, highly regarded for mandolin, too

Dunlop 6280 .076 .044 No longer made

Dunlop 6290* .078 .040

Dunlop 6240* .080 .037

* too much like other wires to bother keep in stock.

I use my remaining Dunlop 6230 or Jescar 43080 for mandolins. When I run out of 6230, I'll only use the Jescar, which comes in EVO and nickel.

[Timmando]

Thanks Paul..I think I will go with the jescar 43080 EVO after reading your post. It is right there with the Northfield modern width. Thanks!

[Jim Nollman]

I just went through the same process. I knew nothing about fret wire, but I did know that my fingers were having a hard time getting accustomed to the thin wire on my new purchase. I asked my question here (http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/showthread.php?88925-fret-info), got several learned answers, then bought what Luthier Dale Ludewig recommended, to which Paul Hostetter concurred. My newly fretted instrument feels great to play.

[Steve Sorensen]

I'm a big fan of Jescar 43080. After using and playing on it for a while traditional mandolin frets see really thin and wire-y.
Steve