Stainless Steel vs. Nickel-Silver Frets: The Definitive Guide
Which is better, stainless steel or nickel-silver frets? It depends on what you are looking for. Neither material is bad: the difference lies mainly in durability, feel and maintenance cost.
Stainless steel offers greater wear resistance, very low friction and excellent longevity. Nickel-silver provides the traditional feel, is easier to work with and is usually cheaper for repairs or refretting.
Read moreShow lessWHAT IS NICKEL-SILVER?
Despite the name, it contains no silver. It is called that because of its silvery appearance. It is an alloy made mainly of copper, nickel and zinc, and in frets it is common to find formulations with around 18% nickel.
Its hardness lets it withstand many years of use while, at the same time, making tasks such as levelling, crowning or refretting easier.
Read moreShow lessHARDNESS AND WEAR
- Nickel-silver
- Medium hardness. With use, flat spots or grooves can appear where the string presses; the rate of wear depends on hours of playing, hand pressure, string gauge and the amount of bending and vibrato. Well maintained, they last many years.
- Stainless steel
- Considerably harder and more wear-resistant: it keeps the crown shape longer and copes better with intensive use, with high resistance to sweat, oxidation and corrosion. In return, it is more laborious to cut, level and work on in the workshop.
What is fret levelling and crowning?
Levelling means filing down the frets until they are all correctly aligned and at the same height. Then comes crowning, which restores the rounded shape to the top of the fret so the string rests on a defined point. Finally the frets are polished to achieve a smooth surface.
If there is still enough height left, this process can fix wear, buzzing or irregularities without having to replace all the frets.
Read moreShow lessTHE FEEL WHEN PLAYING
- Nickel-silver
- The traditional feel of a great many guitars. Well polished it is smooth, though with a little more sense of contact between string and fret.
- Stainless steel
- An extremely smooth surface and lower friction, especially noticeable in bends and vibrato.
DOES IT CHANGE THE SOUND?
The tonal difference between the two materials is small. Stainless steel can add a slightly more immediate feel in the attack, but the final result depends far more on the pickups, strings, set-up, amplifier and speaker.
That is why it makes more sense to choose the material for feel and durability than for a supposed change in tone.
Read moreShow lessDOES FRET SIZE MATTER TOO?
Yes, and it is important not to confuse material and size. Nickel-silver and stainless steel refer to the material the fret is made of. Terms like these, on the other hand, refer to its width, height or profile:
- Medium Jumbo
- Jumbo
- Extra Jumbo
- 6100
- 6105
A taller fret can make bending easier and prevent the finger from rubbing too much on the fingerboard. A lower one offers a different feel and may be more familiar to those looking for a traditional touch.
So we can find Jumbo frets in both nickel-silver and stainless steel. They are two independent characteristics.
Read moreShow lessCOMPARISON TABLE: NICKEL-SILVER VS. STAINLESS STEEL
| Feature | Nickel-Silver | Stainless Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Hardness | Medium | Very high |
| Durability | Very good | Excellent |
| Wear | Gradual | Very low |
| Feel | Traditional | Very smooth |
| Bending and vibrato | A little more friction | Less friction |
| Corrosion | Can lose shine over time | Very resistant |
| Workshop work | Easier | More demanding |
| Refretting cost | Lower | Higher |
| Tonal change | Minimal | Minimal |
ARE STAINLESS STEEL FRETS WORTH IT?
Yes, especially if:
- We play many hours
- We do a lot of bending and vibrato
- We wear frets down quickly
- We want to minimise future work
- We are after a particularly smooth feel
But they are not essential for everyone. If we play moderately, are comfortable with the traditional feel and have no regular wear problems, a good set of nickel-silver frets can perform perfectly well for many years.
Read moreShow lessWHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?
- Nickel-silver
- If we want a traditional feel, easy repairs and a more contained cost.
- Stainless steel
- If we prioritise wear resistance, less friction and maximum longevity.
The choice depends more on how we play and what feel we are after than on one material simply being better than the other.
Read moreShow lessFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do nickel-silver frets wear out quickly?
No. They can last many years. It depends on use, strings and the pressure each guitarist applies.
Does stainless steel break more strings?
It should not. If the fret is properly finished and polished, the contact surface will be smooth.
Does steel sound brighter?
There can be a small difference in attack, but it is normally secondary compared with other elements of the guitar.
Do stainless steel frets need maintenance?
Yes, though far less due to wear. They can still need checking, levelling or adjustments if any irregularity appears, especially after neck movement, humidity, temperature changes or a recent refret.
The material being very resistant does not mean the whole neck geometry stays unchanged.
When is a refret needed?
When the frets are too low or worn to recover a correct geometry through levelling and crowning.
TRY BOTH TYPES OF FRET AT MAT GUITARS
The best way to decide is to try them. At MAT Guitars we have guitars from brands such as LTD, Ibanez or Charvel that use stainless steel frets, along with many models with nickel-silver.
Trying both options lets you feel the difference directly in bends, vibrato and the feel under your fingers, which is where the change is really noticed.
Read moreShow lessIN SHORT
- Nickel-silver
- Traditional feel, easy to work with and very good durability.
- Stainless steel
- Greater resistance, less friction and less wear in the long run.
Rather than choosing which is “better”, what matters is deciding what feel, maintenance and durability we want in our guitar.
Read moreShow lessStill have questions?
If you still have questions about which frets to choose, our team will be happy to help through any of these channels:
- Phone
- +34 954 902 550
- info@matguitars.com
- +34 647 639 532
- Contact
- Contact form
