Jumbo frets

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu May 06, 2010 9:48 am

I have 2 Jazzmasters and a US Strat. The US Strat has jumbo frets and the Jazzmasters have frets which are a lot smaller. I really like the jumbo frets as it seems to make nots easier to fret and easier to play faster and compensates a bit for sloppy playing - which is good if you're playing a gig and you don't want to spend all your time concentrating on what you are doing and have fun and enjoy the gig.

I'm thinking about getting jumbo frets installed on my Jazzmasters but wondered if anyone on here has done this before and what the results are. I really don't want to ruin my beloved guitars. I think the J Mascis JM has jumbo frets, if anyone has one of these could they tell me what the jumbo frets are like to play on the JM.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Thu May 06, 2010 2:09 pm

I thought medium jumbos were installed on U.S. strats. I'm firm believer in large fretwire. You might wanna take it to a lutheir for new frets

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Thu May 06, 2010 2:23 pm

I'm not sure what size they are on the strat, just that they're bigger than on the Jazzmasters and I like them. My US Strat was made in 1997 if that helps work out what size frets it has.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu May 06, 2010 4:29 pm

I think J Mascis has jumbo frets on his Jazzy's. You'd need a new nut as well due to the higher frets, i'd definitely get a luthier to do it.

jcyphe · Post by **jcyphe** » Thu May 06, 2010 5:01 pm

Didn't the thin skin Jazzmasters have a 9.5" radius plus medium-jumbo frets?

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu May 06, 2010 5:57 pm

Possibly? I dont think vintage frets are used much now except on VRI models, which makes sense.. they generally last longer, easier to maintain and improve playability (in most people's opinion).

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Thu May 06, 2010 6:14 pm

Yeah i cant stand vintage fretwire. It helps with more accurate intonation but forget about playing fast leads.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Thu May 06, 2010 6:46 pm

JJLipton wrote:Yeah i cant stand vintage fretwire. It helps with more accurate intonation but forget about playing fast leads.

I don't know. It can be done. I can play as fast as a lot people with my tele that has vintage frets. Also, there are fast players out there who play instruments with vintage frets.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Thu May 06, 2010 8:15 pm

portugalwillie wrote:
JJLipton wrote:Yeah i cant stand vintage fretwire. It helps with more accurate intonation but forget about playing fast leads.

I don't know. It can be done. I can play as fast as a lot people with my tele that has vintage frets. Also, there are fast players out there who play instruments with vintage frets.

Not trying to be a dick here...but whats your definition of "fast"? I'm a bit of a shameless shredder myself, and i know that Y.J. malmsteen and eric johnson both use jumbos/medium jumbos on their strats. Also taking into account the very curved 7.25 radius fretboards on vintage fenders, very fast picking stuff is going to be much more difficult on a 51 tele than say...an ibanez jem.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu May 06, 2010 8:19 pm

i don't even know what jumbo frets are. i've never been inclined to investigate, because i hate the word 'jumbo', it reminds me of giant hot dogs or something.

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Thu May 06, 2010 8:21 pm

stewart wrote:i don't even know what jumbo frets are. i've never been inclined to investigate, because i hate the word 'jumbo', it reminds me of giant hot dogs or something.

they call them jumbo hot dogs in scotland too?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu May 06, 2010 8:23 pm

all hot dogs are jumbo in scotland. as big as a man's thigh.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu May 06, 2010 9:47 pm

portugalwillie wrote:
JJLipton wrote:Yeah i cant stand vintage fretwire. It helps with more accurate intonation but forget about playing fast leads.

I don't know. It can be done. I can play as fast as a lot people with my tele that has vintage frets. Also, there are fast players out there who play instruments with vintage frets.

I can play faster on 60's Mustang necks than anything, its a sad fact but true. That does'nt change my view on jumbo frets though, they are way superior for several reasons.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Thu May 06, 2010 10:17 pm

I love the feel of chording on vintage frets but leads definitely suffer. I've seen a few guitars where the lower frets were smaller and the higher were jumbo frets. Intereting idea but the change was pretty odd and I didn't give myself enough time to get used to.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri May 07, 2010 4:55 am

JJLipton wrote:
portugalwillie wrote:
JJLipton wrote:Yeah i cant stand vintage fretwire. It helps with more accurate intonation but forget about playing fast leads.

I don't know. It can be done. I can play as fast as a lot people with my tele that has vintage frets. Also, there are fast players out there who play instruments with vintage frets.
Not trying to be a dick here...but whats your definition of "fast"? I'm a bit of a shameless shredder myself, and i know that Y.J. malmsteen and eric johnson both use jumbos/medium jumbos on their strats. Also taking into account the very curved 7.25 radius fretboards on vintage fenders, very fast picking stuff is going to be much more difficult on a 51 tele than say...an ibanez jem.

Not saying it isn't harder and I'm not saying it isn't easier on jumbo frets but I'm saying it can be done on vintage frets too. I've seen some videos of country players (i.e. Danny Gatton) playing extremely fast on 50s and 60s teles.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Fri May 07, 2010 4:59 am

ok, tech noob here, but does jumbo mean wider or taller?

Shaguar · Post by **Shaguar** » Fri May 07, 2010 9:57 am

http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/FretSizePop.aspx

JJLipton · Post by **JJLipton** » Fri May 07, 2010 10:34 am

Shaguar wrote:http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/FretSizePop.aspx

Interesting... i haven't played an Ibanez in forever but i want to now. Theres so many kiddies on youtube with ibanez jems who are guitar playing robots.

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Fri May 07, 2010 6:04 pm

Shaguar wrote:http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Necks/FretSizePop.aspx

thanks!

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Fri May 07, 2010 6:43 pm

i tend to grip too tight and bend everything outta tune if the frets are tall at all