Excessive fret wear with SS rounds

[Phaidrus]

I bought this 2017 Fender AmProf Pbass new last October and have been playing it since, say an hour a day on average (fantastic bass, btw). It has "narrow tall" frets and I strung it with D'Addario Pro Steels 45105 (which are "textured rounds") a few days after purchase. I find this much fret wear (especially from the D string) in such a short time quite alarming (see pics). My 2009 AmStd Pbass (with "medium jumbo" frets) has just minimal fret wear with infinitely more mileage, but it has never been strung with Pro Steels. As soon as I noticed the issue, a couple of days ago, I changed the strings to Fender 7250 nickel plated 45105 (the ones in the pics), which should be more gentle on the frets, and I may even put on a set of 7150 pure nickel strings, which should be even softer. What do you think?

 

[Root 5]

Is your action lower than average?

 

[Phaidrus]

Is your action lower than average?

I think it's quite low, yes. But probably not lower than what Fender recommends. I'll check.

 

[BBassBassington]

Pro Steels IME are fret eaters for sure, but I love the sound.

My 2013 Dimension came wearing Apex Cryogenic nickels. I'm not a fan of nickel strings normally but these are pretty good and the frets still look brand new. If I can find some way to source them where I'm at this is what I'll be switching my Pro Steel equipped basses to eventually. That or EB Cobalt flats.

 

[Aidil]

It all depends whether you like the ProSteels sounds better than other (nickel plated steel) strings.

I have a bass which I've been putting on various stainless steel strings in the last 5 years or so, because I feel the bass sounds more alive and more versatile when strung with stainless steel strings. Though I haven't seen any fretwear up until now, but if somehow it appeared and became worse, I'd just have the bass sent to a bass guitar tech for refretting work, which also means a good timing to switch fret type to stainless steel frets.

 

[Sid Fang]

Oh, just stop fretting so damned hard!

 

[Phaidrus]

Oh, just stop fretting so damned hard!

 

[Phaidrus]

It all depends whether you like the ProSteels sounds better than other (nickel plated steel) strings.

I have a bass which I've been putting on various stainless steel strings in the last 5 years or so, because I feel the bass sounds more alive and more versatile when strung with stainless steel strings. Though I haven't seen any fretwear up until now, but if somehow it appeared and became worse, I'd just have the bass sent to a bass guitar tech for refretting work, which also means a good timing to switch fret type to stainless steel frets.

Well, this Pbass being in fact still brand new I'd like to postpone any fretwork as much as possible. I pretty much like all strings for what they are. I also thought Pro Steels give this bass a quite contemporary sound, good for funk, slap etc. But also the nps 7250s sound good and I'm sure the pure nickel 7150s will sound good too. I play through a Markbass LM3, so the final tone is anyway quite clear and on the bright side.

 

[Phaidrus]

Pro Steels IME are fret eaters for sure, but I love the sound.

My 2013 Dimension came wearing Apex Cryogenic nickels. I'm not a fan of nickel strings normally but these are pretty good and the frets still look brand new. If I can find some way to source them where I'm at this is what I'll be switching my Pro Steel equipped basses to eventually. That or EB Cobalt flats.

Looks like they are fret eaters indeed

 

[jeff62]

The strings are fret eaters. Change strings or eat up the frets and then have the neck refretted with stainless steel frets. Or pick up a spare neck with stainless frets if using the strings is a must. It’s the price we pay. It’s also why I use nickels.

 

[micguy]

My approach for dealing with stainless is to make the frets stainless, and the strings nickel. Although it isn't quite as bright, it is brighter than nickel strings on nickel frets, and the strings get the dents, not the frets.

 

[matante]

Or try DR Hi Beams.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

If you are using stainless steel strings, they are harder than the nickel frets. So string stretching or hard fretting/hammer-on's will wear frets down.. That is why I HATE for anyone to play by bass at a gig. they think they are being cool stretching strings all the way to the next string. Wearing my frets down.

 

[Phaidrus]

My approach for dealing with stainless is to make the frets stainless, and the strings nickel. Although it isn't quite as bright, it is brighter than nickel strings on nickel frets, and the strings get the dents, not the frets.

How bad do you think the wear is in my case?

 

[Element Zero]

If you are using stainless steel strings, they are harder than the nickel frets. So string stretching or hard fretting/hammer-on's will wear frets down.. That is why I HATE for anyone to play by bass at a gig. they think they are being cool stretching strings all the way to the next string. Wearing my frets down.

Stretching? You mean vibrato?

 

[Phaidrus]

Or try DR Hi Beams.

Yes, DR say "They don’t eat your frets." It's not that I don't believe them but for a while I think I'll play pure nickels. I am shocked at the amount of wear in just over five months.

 

[spatters]

Stainless strings eat nickel frets.
Guitarists have known this for decades.
Your choices are as already mentioned: go back to nickel-plated strings, or refret with stainless frets.

If you can figure out (or measure, with calipers) exactly what fretwire was used originally, it's possible to refret with the same fret wire and only replace the worst frets. 5th and 7th always seem to take the worst beating.

 

[InstantEctobass]

Stainless strings eat nickel frets.

Most importantly ProSteels. These are the worst strings for frets. Like ever. They destroy fingers, too. I don't know how people enjoy them, but hey! Glad they work.

 

[micguy]

How bad do you think the wear is in my case?

Hard to say from the photos - can't see what's there very clearly. I will say that, as all my basses have stainless frets (save the one bass without any frets), I'm not a good judge of fret wear, since I have essentially none.

 

[RocknRay]

I was not aware that nickel-plated frets are standard and SS an option. Why would “they” start out with a softer fret wire than the SS rounds that probably half the players like? PS — D’Addario nickel plated steel rounds are very bright and don’t eat frets...similar if not the same as the 7250’s you have changed to.