Do you feel Coated strings give Fret longevity.

I've never thought it about it till now but I would play what I thought sounded best regardless of any marginal if at all difference in fret longevity. That being said I use elixir nanowebs on my acoustics for consistent performance of the strings over weeks/months. Interesting question.

Robert

Hmmm. there's a way to test the theory (that less abrasive strings results in a slower rate of fret wear). It stands to reason, but we've got a lot of history, if someone knows it (experienced high end repair folks, mostly. Sure not me). That is: a lot of very good to great acoustic jazz guitars were played with flatwound strings- even smoother than coated. So, did those guitars' frets last longer than guitars of a similar vintage played with regular wound strings. I personally loathed flatwounds, and can tolerate coated strings, but that's not the question. My guess: a little, but not enough to justify the use of those strings on that basis alone. Tone. Tone. Tone. And feel, feel, feel. You get old, you repeat yourself. You repeat yourself. tom. tom.

True

In the end who cares the final equation is tone as you say, but some of the coated strings do sound good and we flatop players do much more bending then the flatwounders

A good fret job is not that hard or expensive for a good Luthier, so i would'nt use just that reasoning to not want to play the best sounding (subjective, of course) strings.
The best sounding coated strings i've played are the D'Addario EXP.
To me they do not even sound coated, in fact, they have alotta tone. I do want to try the John Pearse Phos/Bronze.

Cleartone are cool aswell, they claim to not fray as quick as the other coated strings but I found them a little sterile. Could have been my mind as much as the strings, sometimes the placebo kicks in.

Frets wear out quickest under the unwound strings so what's the difference if the wound strings are coated or not? Fret jobs will be just as frequent either way. Now go with stainless steel frets and you have no worries for years and years.
Rick

Hey Rick

I have an OM3C MadRose/Ad in the works due end of Aug and was considering asking for SS frets as I have had them on my Suhrs and Andersons electrics already and like them.

What size do you suggest

Tks

quote:

Originally posted by Isha:
Hey Rick

I have an OM3C MadRose/Ad in the works due end of Aug and was considering asking for SS frets as I have had them on my Suhrs and Andersons electrics already and like them.

What size do you suggest

Tks

IMO either .043 or .045 height.
Rick

This message has been edited. Last edited by: rick-slo,

Cheers

I’m a fan of Elixir “Poly” coated strings. They have a thinner “Nano” coated version, but I like the mellower tone of the thicker Poly-coated strings. The advantage, for me, has nothing to do with string or fret wear. Rather, string noise when moving grips that are close together, etc.; particularly, when recording. And I think they have great tone!