Official Luthiers Forum!

I refreted a guitar a month ago and the frets I pulled looked just like this. Today I pulled the wires on a mandolin and they are the same as the guitar I did last month.
What are these fret wires made out of? looks like brass. When did they quit using these if they did? Can you buy them anywhere? It also looks like they used a chisel to make the tangs for the fretwire as they are not in any kind of spacing order. I'm using LMI fretwire and it looks sooo much better than this.

Would some of you wise repairmen give me a little history on these.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

The fretwire is was worked. In the old days we used a tanger for lack of a better word. This tool would let the tech adjust the tang barbs for a better bite. The tool looked similar to a pliers with an area the would create a barb.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Sure woulda been nice if I could have looked at the attached pic. Instead I got "You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post."

What does it take to change that?

You have to be logged in under a registered name and not be logged in as a "Guest" That way you may view as many fine photos as you please.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Chuck,

That fret wire is probably 90 to 95% brass and the rest nickel silver. Although the fret wire that most are using today looks to be mostly silver it is still an alloy made of mostly brass with nickel and silver. I think there are a few newer types of wire that may have some steel in them that is added for hardness, but don't quote me on that one. As far as I know most are about 80 to 95% brass with the balance nickel/silver.

What John said about the barbs. I've also used a small cross peen hammer to add barbs. On some refret jobs the slot can be too wide for the tang(especially on instruments that have had multiple refrets) so adding a few more barbs will help hold the fret in place.

Cal

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Remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers!

Thanks Cal,
That was great! The good old "Old Days!"
Glad we don't have to put barbs on our fret wire now, it would be another "tool" I'd have to buy.
Hope you have a GREAT day!

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins