Fret Sizes

Choosing A Fretwire? What size is the best size for me?

Fret size preference is really subjective and personal. Questions to ask yourself would be, Do you like the feel of your present fingerboard? Is it comfortable to play? Do you think you’d like more height or less height? 

The best thing to do would be to simply play as many guitars with different fret sizes as you can and try to determine what fret size feels the most comfortable to you in your style of play.

Standard Nickel/Silver Fret Wire

The composition of this fret wire, while called "nickel/silver", contains no silver at all. The materials are actually brass and nickel. The nomenclature is a carryover from the early 1900s, when fret makers actually used a nickel/silver alloy. The numbers used below generally correspond to Dunlop's fret size numbers; however, actual fret dimensions can vary minutely from lot to lot. 

Fender does not use stainless steel frets on any of it’s models.

Size Number

Width X Height

Description

Used On

6190

.084" X .039"

This is one of the smallest fret wires. Typically just called “Vintage Size”.

Vintage style Fender necks. American Original models.

6150

.103" X .046"

Medium Jumbo. Fender's most commonly used fret size on our most popular models.

Most modern Fender necks. American Ultra, Player series, Vintera models

6105

.094" X .054"

Narrow Tall. Used on a number of signature models, and a good choice when vintage frets feel too small.

 American Professional, Deluxe, SRV, Roadworn, Highway One Texas Tele and many Custom Shop instruments

6100

.110" X .055"

“Super Jumbo”. This stuff is really huge.

Yngwie Malmsteen and by request on Custom Shop orders