Yes, this entirely different!
Odd way of looking at things, as though pickups on a new guitar have wear.
Uh... did someone forget to take their anti-grumpy pills?
)
After these posts from a few days ago, there was another guy at TGP that told a story about a PRS he played last week in a store, fell in love with it, bes playing and feeling guitar I've ever felt... blah blah blah. But didn't buy it and ranted about no stainless frets. Used the words "ripoff" "arrogant" and all kinds of other things about PRS not using them at this price range "inexcusable" etc.
So, he either walks away, a bitter old man, from the best guitar he's ever played, or he buys it and re-frets it and lives happily ever after. Or if he's really smart, he buys it and plays it for 10 years and the only thing he has to get mad about is that there's still no fret ware so no real excuse to spend all that money on stainless frets. So far, he's chosen the first option. And that's just stupid! (I might have to go tell him so.
If only THE WORLD would understand and adopt this attitude...
And yes, it would have been nice at this price point, but I'm not complaining. The guitar is a lifer regardless (it instantly became my #2, and will likely remain so the rest of my days), and maybe someday I'll decide to have it refretted...whether it needs it or not... because that's how much of an improvement SS frets are for me. It's like skating on freshly-zambonied ice.
Accidentally irony?
What about the option where he immediately refrets the best guitar he’s ever played due to some poor advice off a manufacturers own forum and because of that difficult and invasive procedure it’s not quite the best guitar he’s ever played any more? What then? Switch them back?Uh... did someone forget to take their anti-grumpy pills?
What Rick did was not just encourage buying a brand new guitar and immediately re-retting it. He simply acknowledged that some people DO IT, and saying if that's what it takes to make the guitar what you want, DO IT. I think it's nuts, but that doesn't mean anything at all. If someone loves everything about a new PRS but simply WILL NOT be happy with it unless it has Dunlap 6100s and no others, or pick your favorite fret size and material, then by golly they can get it re-fretted. I could not even consider the possibility of re-fretting a guitar that had no fret wear UNLESS I was completely unhappy with the current fret SIZE. If it has tiny thin frets, I might go at it even if they're new, but otherwise, I'd wear them first, THEN re-fret with whatever I prefer.
But, even here, we've seen guys say "I take them straight to my guy to get re-fretted as soon as I buy them." So whether you, Rick or I agree with that, think it's a good idea, think they're psycho, or anything else, doesn't matter at all. All that matters is that the owner gets what he wants. But don't give Rick crap for basically acknowledging that some people do buy brand new guitars and take them straight to the luthier for a re-fret, or for saying that's OK. That's not putting ideas in anyone's head.
After these posts from a few days ago, there was another guy at TGP that told a story about a PRS he played last week in a store, fell in love with it, bes playing and feeling guitar I've ever felt... blah blah blah. But didn't buy it and ranted about no stainless frets. Used the words "ripoff" "arrogant" and all kinds of other things about PRS not using them at this price range "inexcusable" etc.
So, he either walks away, a bitter old man, from the best guitar he's ever played, or he buys it and re-frets it and lives happily ever after. Or if he's really smart, he buys it and plays it for 10 years and the only thing he has to get mad about is that there's still no fret ware so no real excuse to spend all that money on stainless frets. So far, he's chosen the first option. And that's just stupid!
Dude, what’s your problem? “Misinformation???” What misinformation did he receive? He was told that if he loved the guitar and absolutely insisted it have SS frets, that he could refret it. How is that “misinformation.” People do it all the time. And how is saying “if you absolutely must, yes you can do it” giving poor advice? And I told him point blank NOT TOO.
I Do The Same Yet Never Really Fully Understood Why The Fret Protector Was Even Necessary. Stainless Steel Frets Are Tougher And Last Longer Yet They Need A Fret Protector? I Would Think Anything Other Than Stainless Steel Frets Would Benefit More From A Fret Protector Yet It Seems Like Most Guitars With Stainless Frets Do Come With A Fret Protector. Of Course If I Am Remembering Right, The Only Brand Of Guitar I Own With A Fret Protector Is Suhr. I Can't Think Of Any Other Brands I Have That Have Them But I Very Well Could Be Wrong.
The reason you really want to use a fret protector with SS frets is that they are very hard but that brings along one vulnerability with it. If the guitar takes a hit directly on the strings where it pushes the string against a fret, it will cause a divot from the string in the fret. You will feel that every time you bend that string across that divot. Since the frets are so hard it is a lot of work to get that divot out and you may have to do a complete level and crown if it is deep enough. Those types of things usually happen when the guitar is in it's case being transported.
What are “fret protectors?”
It is basically a plastic sheet cut to fit the fretboard with the soft side of velcro on the bottom of it to hold it in place. It slides between the frets and strings. This is the one I bought for my guitars that didn't have them.
www.allparts.com
It does seem kind of weird to replace frets on a brand new guitar tho.
