Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi All,

I am moving into a couple of new products. I will be stocking fret wire and Menzerna Buffing Compounds. So after discussing this with Lance I have started this poll to see what Compounds to order and what sizes of wire are most common/desired. So I have listed the options above but would welcome any input you have on things you don't see.

Initially I am thinking of ordering two sizes of wire, one for guitars and one acoustic basses but would certainly order more sizes if there was a dsire. I have agreed to order substanial volumes in order to get the prices I need to make this wire similiarly priced to current suppliers.

Their narrow wire is a bit narrow for mandos I think but I will ask that here. The wire is .040 wide and .039 high with a .040 tang. What do think about this wire for mandolins? I have talked about getting a slightly larger wire but to tool up for it will require a substantial order.

FYI, Stew-macs most popular wire #0148 is .084W x .039H x .094 OH and LMI's most popular wire FW74 is .080W x .043W x .097 OH.

Thanks for your assistance in this and I hope to continue to bring high quality goods to you at fair prices.

ShaneShane Neifer38976.651099537

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Canada

Hi Shane,

I've been using LMI's FW72 for my guitars so far -- bought a 100' roll of it, and still have enough left for another two or three guitars, so I need to think about ordering more soon.

But I've also been thinking about trying some taller stuff, which is why I voted for it. So, I would be interested in enough of your 0.050" tall wire for one guitar. If I like it, I'll order more.

I guess it's safe to assume that the tang width of your wire will be somewhere in the 0.019 to 0.020" range? The fret slotting table saw blade I got from you works great with a 0.019" tang width.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Shane, it would be nice to have mando fret wire that would fit the slots of the 0.023" kerf of the fret saw blade i bought from you.

For compounds, i just don't know what i'll be using yet...

Sergio

Shane I just tried to vote on your poll, and when I voted for a polish, the fretwire vote went away. Your polling info will be all wong unless this gets fixed.

Al

I use medium, fine and extra fine Menzerna but couldn't vote that way so I didn't at all.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I thought tang width was pretty much standard at .022?

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

I can't adjust the poll stuff, I tried, sorry John and Al. The tang widths on this wire range from .019 to .022, depending on the wire. I think they will all work with the slotting blades we had made.

If the poll does not work just state your prefernce in the thread, I will read them all....

Thanks

Shane

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Canada

I use the menzerna polishing compounds in almost all grits. Great product!

I like FW-74, and use paste polish, but expect to start using the Menzerna products as soon as my new buffer is finished.

Al

FW74 for me... Tang is .020" which works great with the fretboard slotting blade I got from you.

That said, I still have enough wire to last me about two years or so.

fret wire is available with a variety of tang widths, something which is necessary when doing compression fretting on older martins or others without adjustable truss rods.

The problem with the varied tang width Martin wire is that the quality of
the wire is much lower in hardness, cleanliness and consistancy then the
wire that I hope Shane starts to carry. The Martin wire is all that I used to
use, and it was certainly convenient, however since I've started using the
German wire I don't think I'd ever use the Martin wire again. It's certainly
not as convenient to have to crimp tang or flatten the barbs and has a bit
of a learning curve to get a feel for it. Still, I like the German wire enough
that the advantages certainly outweigh the inconveniences in my opinion.

The varied tang size wire that Martin sells for repair comes from a rolling
mill in Attleboro, MA. Martin however doesn't even use this wire in thier
own guitars from the factory. They use the German wire in production,
and I'm guessing they may have chosen the US mill for the varied tang
wire because the setup costs were lower and they had to offer it for all
thier non adjustable necks. It would certainly be nice if the better German
wire was available in a variety of tang widths, but I've talked with them
about it and the setup and tooling costs are simply too high to be
practical. On my long long list of things to do is to build a tang crimping
roller to allow more consistant compression fretting. I still plan on
making one, but I've gotten so used to the hand tang crimpers that it has
become less of a priority.David Collins38978.1802893519

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I use medium and fine Menzerna polishing compounds. I haven't tried the coarse or extra fine ones, but I have a feeling I could they could be helpful so I would like to try those at some point too. I also do use liquid and paste polishing compounds.

I don't do many refrets, I use the standard medium fretwire from LMI for almost everything.   I think the trend in mandolins is towards wider frets than traditional mandolin wire which wears really fast. Many use banjo wire and some even use guitar wire (I did that on my last, I like it), I'm not sure how much of the narrow mandolin wire you would sell.

I did not vote on the poll, but sure I would shop from you Shane (if the price was right)! Becase shipping is such a big part of the price whenever I buy something from overseas, it makse sense to get several items from the same supplier as it will lower the shipping price per item. This means the more relevant itmes you can stock, the more likely I will be to buy them all from you.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Shane:

I would definitely buy the stuff from you.

Fret Wire = SM #141, don't have the dimensions available. Glad the tang size will fit the blade kerf you offered
Menzerna = Fine & Very Fine...my 2 bars will probably last years at my building pace.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Hey all,

Thanks a lot for the help in this. David Collins has indeed helped a lot in letting me know about this particular fret wire. His research has suggested that this is the best wire on the market. I have heard that from a few sources now. I will get my thoughts together and put an orer in in the next couple of weeks. I have to get a buch of top sets out and then process the blackwood for those that bought sets before I get at ordering this stuff. I will keep you posted as I move through this process. I am still interested in comments and thoughts...

Shane

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Canada

Shane, will your wire be rolled or straight?
I perfer rolled.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

Hi Jim,

It will be rolled. I don't think I will be offering straight wire, that would another process and increase the cost.

Thanks

Shane

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Canada

I have the medium, fine & extra fine compounds, but I don't use the medium much. I find it's better to wet sand to 2500 grit & the fine & extra fine are all I really need.
I still have enough to do lots of guits, but anytime I can buy in Canada & avoid the cross border postage, I'm a happy boy.
Are you considering coiled, or straight fret wire?
I don't have a wire bender, so the coiled stuff appeals to me.

Hey Dan...it will be coiled. We gotta get together sometime soon Man! I will try to swing by sometime this fall.

Shane

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Canada

Hey Shane; There's some India pale ale in the fridge & good dark roast coffee in the pot... anytime!

Wish to add their thoughts to these products? I will be placing an my first order in a couple of weeks and will have these products and their competative prices soon after on my website.

Thanks your help and I sure hope having these products available makes your buying and building easier!

Shane

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Canada