vintage fender uses... 6150 frets?

[bon viesta]

you usually see vintage fender basses with those skinny little 6230 frets, but whenever you see a vintage fender that says “original frets” in the listing... they’re big and fat! i’ve used my obviously genius deduction skills (also known as looking at pictures) to come to the conclusion that apparently fender shipped out vintage basses with 6150 frets. cool.

 

[FenderOli]

to come to the conclusion that apparently fender shipped out vintage basses with 6150 frets. cool.

Second pic is a 1966 (CBS) with 5 patent logo and pearl dots, so the fatter frets are correct.

 

[bon viesta]

Second pic is a 1966 (CBS) with 5 patent logo and pearl dots, so the fatter frets are correct.

here’s a pre cbs example as well.

 

[FenderOli]

here’s a pre cbs example as well.

Puh. Hard to tell. Here are thin ones:
1963 Fender Precision Bass

 

[bon viesta]

Puh. Hard to tell. Here are thin ones:
1963 Fender Precision Bass

from this angle in that listing, they seem just as thick as the other examples

 

[cnltb]

What kind of fretwire was used on old single coil Ps and was the same used on the 1st reissue(Tele bass)?

 

[bon viesta]

What kind of fretwire was used on old single coil Ps and was the same used on the 1st reissue(Tele bass)?

i’m not sure... what’s the next one up from 6150?

 

[arbiterusa]

They did not. Any old fender with 6150 has been refretted

 

[bon viesta]

They did not. Any old fender with 6150 has been refretted

all images from listings that feature the term “original frets”, the very top ones when you look in images. if i recall correctly all the old pictures from the 60s of fender bassists also feature rather large frets.

 

[bon viesta]

btw that first rando image in this post along side the 66 p bass is from an indiscriminate bass i found online that said it had 6150, so i just used the pictures as a point of reference.

 

[Killing Floor]

I have a 2021 Fender P with the narrow "vintage" wire but I am only aware of this as an option from CS or Mod Shop. I could be wrong, won't bother me if I am. I understand from a manufacturer perspective why they would spec medium jumbo or similar. I like the smaller gauge for good feel, keeps you honest. This is my 2021 Mod Shop Fender P:

 

[JimmyM]

Ooh, controversy already!

 

[roycroft_88]

Just out of curiosity I got out my dial calipers and measured the frets my 58,64,67,71,& 86 Fenders.
Using the 12th fret they all came in at .078-.080 wide. ymmv

 

[AboutSweetSue]

6150 is more modern, isn’t it?

 

[littlebun]

you usually see vintage fender basses with those skinny little 6230 frets, but whenever you see a vintage fender that says “original frets” in the listing... they’re big and fat! i’ve used my obviously genius deduction skills (also known as looking at pictures) to come to the conclusion that apparently fender shipped out vintage basses with 6150 frets. cool.

My '66 Fender P Bass and my '66 Jazz Bass had the original medium jumbos from the factory. When I played through the frets and re-fretted them, I installed 6150 on the Jazz, and 6105 on the Precision. I used Jescar equivalents.

 

[2F/2F]

Fenders normally used the skinny medium height frets. There are some ’60s Fenders that have slightly wider frets. It was the exception. As with all manufacturing, there can be supply issues, mistakes, etc.

Lots of sellers claim original frets, whey they really have no idea, or even when the frets have clearly been replaced (it’s very easy to tell when an old Fender has had a fret job).

If you think you can tell anything from anything but very sharp close-up photos, then you have a lot of faith in really shaky evidence.

Go play hundreds of old Fenders, then report back. Your conclusion will be different.

 

[cnltb]

i’m not sure... what’s the next one up from 6150?

I... don't know about these things ...Yet.

 

[Lowbrow]

.

Lots of sellers claim original frets, whey they really have no idea, or even when the frets have clearly been replaced (it’s very easy to tell when an old Fender has had a fret job).
L.

That

 

[Durham52]

Warmoth's website lists these fret wire sizes, (among others) different brands may vary slightly. "Vintage" Fender small fret wire as 6230, .080"w x .037"h.
6105 is .095"w x .047"h.
Medium Jumbo 6130 is .106"w x .036"h.

 

[tpaul]

I don't understand why people prefer the jumbo frets. The smaller ones feel better to me. Is it like scalloped fretboards - less pressure required? Or less accuracy?

And when did they switch? The Nate Mendel signature bass has medium jumbo frets, but it's supposed to be a copy of an early '70s precision. Maybe the bass they modeled it on had been refretted?