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I'm keeping my questions segregated from each other...

I noticed that the vendor of the fretwire I'm considering offers the same crown width and tang depth on two versions of 'medium' fretwire, .037" and .043". I've used the .043 version on five guitars; what would be the benefits/drawbacks of using the .037 version?

For that matter, which of the two is more commonly used? Are these sometimes mixed, as in using the .037 version on frets 14 and higher, for example?

Thanks very much.

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Peter Havriluk

I would think using the same crown heigh for all frets is the way to go.

Taller frets allow more grind and polish before replacement.

There is definitely a point where taller is too tall. If they’re too tall, the action will feel high even if the space between top of fret and bottom of string is what you like.

I would choose the .043

.037 is about the shortest you can find, and since medium jumbo seems to be the trend these days - go with that. You wouldn't think .006 makes a diff, but it does.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

0.043" gets my vote. Get more milage out of it.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I can’t imagine a vendor describing a 0.037 or 0.043” tall wire as “medium”. In a width around 0.080”, these heights are on the small side, suitable for vintage guitars, mandos, banjos. A “regular” wire would be something like Jescar 0.047 x 0.095”. “Jumbo” would be wider, and “super Jumbo” both wider and taller.

Of course, frets are super personal. I find some factories (e.g., Taylor) use very small frets (that wear out fast), while others (e.g., Ibanez) are massive.


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From a player's perspective, taller fretwire gives you a better hold on the string to bend it or vibrate. Players who don't use these techniques have a "better" opportunity to pull the fretted note out of tune.

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Tim Allen
"Never hurry, never rest."

The .037 is "vintage" Martin fretwire height, .043 is the more modern. Go with the .043, or taller

Thanks, everybody.

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Peter Havriluk

Stew Mac's medium wire is somewhere in the middle at .039. I think it gives a reasonable fret height, but .043 will give you more to work with