In my experience, guitarists don’t often talk about different fret sizes. We talk about amps, guitars, pedals, pickups and strings – and yet we often don’t look at some of the key elements on the guitar that actually allow us to play. And this includes frets.

I speak partly from personal experience here. I didn’t discover that frets came in different sizes until many, many years into my guitar playing career. And by the time I did realise, I had already bought and used a number of guitars – all of which had frets of different sizes.

As such, today I am going to cover frets in more detail. I will look at different fret sizes and the impact that these different fret sizes have on both tone and playability. I will cover:

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In this way I hope to provide you with all of the information you need to know about different fret sizes. And in my opinion, this is important for two reasons:

Firstly, you might benefit from changing your frets. As I will explain in more detail throughout, different fret sizes have an impact on playability. So after reading the information here, you might discover that frets of a different size could better suit your playing style.

Additionally, I think it is important to understand some of the main features of guitars. In this way, if and when you go to buy a new instrument, you will be able to make an educated decision about which features are important to you.

So with that in mind, let’s get into it! Here is everything you need to know about different fret sizes:

Why fret size matters

In my opinion, part of the reason that frets are not often discussed is because they are very much a fundamental part of your guitar. You can’t replace frets like you can a set of guitar strings. Equally, you can’t test out a new set of frets in the same way you can test out a new amp or guitar pedal.

Yet as I will explain in much more detail below – the size of the frets on your guitar has an impact on its feel and playability. And this impact is not insignificant.

In my view, all of this makes it more important to understand fret size and to appreciate the different fret sizes available. For whilst you can change the frets on your guitar, it is a significant undertaking. It is a job that you will likely have to outsource to a guitar tech. And it is often quite expensive. Depending on the type of guitar you are using, and the kind of frets you want fitted on your guitar, a refret will typically start from around $350/£250.

That is not to say that you shouldn’t consider refretting your guitar. And below I will provide further detail on some of the circumstances where I would and would not recommend a refret. Rather it is to say that you can avoid this hassle and expense by scrutinising the type of frets on a guitar before you buy it. This will ensure you make an informed buying decision and choose a guitar that you enjoy playing.

It will also help you to understand some of the differences between the same type of guitar. Let’s say for example that you are looking to buy a Fender Stratocaster:

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Well, at the time of writing, you can choose between a Fender American Ultra Strat, a Professional Strat, a Performer Strat, a Player Strat, and a variety of American Original Strats. Not to mention a further selection of various other Strats, as well as Custom Shop and Signature model Strats.

These Strats obviously have many similarities. And this can make it challenging to choose between them. And yet there are differences between them which will make some of them more or less well suited for you.

Of course, these differences extend beyond just the fret sizes. These guitars cost different amounts, have different pickups and have a variety of different features.

However the fret sizes do vary between some of these Strats. And this changes the way these guitars feel and play. Understanding this helps you to appreciate the differences between different guitars. And this puts you in a better position to choose the right guitar.

If you have just bought a guitar (without paying any attention to the frets) then don’t worry. I suspect the information contained here will help to validate why you chose that particular guitar. And if for whatever reason it doesn’t, then you know what to look out for and try next time.

The anatomy of a fret

Before we look at different fret sizes, I think it is useful to quickly run through the anatomy of a fret.

Firstly, it is important to note that when we talk about fret size, we are talking about the size of the fret wire. We are not talking about the space in between the fret wires (where you place your finger to play a note). That is related to the scale length of your guitar. And that is a totally separate topic that I will cover in more detail in future.

For now though, let’s return to frets.

Broadly speaking, there are two different sections to a fret. The first of these sections is embedded in the fretboard. It is called the ‘tang’ and helps to hold the fret in place. This section of the fret is of fundamental importance.

And yet whilst that is the case, of more relevance here is the section of fret wire that sits above the fretboard. This is called the crown. And all of the following references to fret size here will be focused on this part of the fret.

When discussing fret sizes, there are two elements of the crown that are important to consider. These are the width of the crown, and the height of the crown.

Manufacturers who make fret wire alter both of these elements. So you can get frets that are tall and narrow, or short and wide and so on. Each of these factors has an impact on playability (and to a lesser extent tone) and so I will discuss them in further detail below. First though, let’s look at some of the most common fret sizes that you are likely to encounter.

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Different fret sizes

Like guitar strings, frets are measured in 1/1000ths of an inch. And also like guitar strings, frets of different sizes are categorised by number. However just as guitar strings are described as being either light or heavy, frets are also categorised by words that refer to their size.

There are various manufacturers of fret wire. And each manufacturer uses slightly different measurements for different fret sizes. Having said that though, arguably the most notable manufacturer of fret wire is Dunlop. They make the fret wire that is used on most guitars. And in total they have around 20 different sizes of fret wire.

Of these 20 different fret sizes, they produce 5 different sizes of fret wire that are much more common. These are as follows:

6230 – Vintage frets

The smallest fret wire that you are likely to encounter is 6230 fret wire. This was used on early vintage guitars, including pre-1960s Fender guitars. As such, if you have a vintage guitar, then it is likely to be fitted with this type of fret wire. The same is true for many of the modern guitars that are modelled on vintage instruments from the 1950s and ’60s.

For this reason, guitar manufacturers typically describe 6230 fret wire as being ‘vintage’ – even if they are producing it in the modern day.

6230 fret wire is .078″ wide and .043″ high.

6105 – Modern narrow and tall

Compared with vintage instruments, most modern guitars have frets that are both wider and taller. They are often constructed using 6105 fret wire, which is .090″ wide and .055″ high.

The relationship between the height and width of these frets is actually similar to the vintage frets noted above. The key difference is that these modern frets are larger.

For reasons I will explain in more detail below, these frets are very popular and are used on a wide range of different guitars.

6150 – Vintage jumbo

Although they are less popular than the other fret sizes listed here, vintage jumbo frets are still one of the most common types of frets that you are likely to encounter.

Compared with the fret wire listed above, vintage jumbo frets are much wider. They are made from fret wire that is .102″ wide and .042″ high. Having said that, they are not quite as tall as either of the previous frets.

In fact, the dimensions of vintage jumbo frets almost sit at the opposite end of the spectrum when compared with modern frets. In other words, rather than being tall and narrow, vintage jumbo frets are short and wide.

6100 – Jumbo

Like vintage jumbo frets, jumbo frets are also wider than the frets on most guitars. However in contrast to vintage jumbo frets, jumbo frets are also tall. They have a width of .110″ and a height of .055″.

This makes them some of the largest frets available (although you can also get super jumbo frets, which are even bigger). As such, it is not that common for guitars to come with jumbo frets as standard. However it is worth nothing that over the years, a number of notable blues guitarists have opted for jumbo frets. This includes Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rory Gallagher – and more recently players like Philip Sayce and Kenny Wayne Shepherd.

6130 – Medium Jumbo

The last category of fret size worth noting is the medium jumbo.

As the name suggests, medium jumbo frets have dimensions that sit somewhere between modern narrow and tall frets and jumbo frets. They have a width of .106″ and a height of .036″.

In this way they are almost as wide as jumbo frets, but not quite so tall.

For a variety of different reasons that I will explain in more detail below, these frets are also becoming increasingly popular. As such, a lot of modern guitars are fitted with medium jumbo frets.

Fret size & tone

Understanding the type of frets that are popular, and the numbers that manufacturers use to categorise these frets is useful as a first step. But it isn’t information that you can really use practically. At this point then, we need to look at the impact that these different fret sizes have on your guitar. And as is often the case, there are two different elements that we need to consider here – tone and playability.

As I will explain in more detail below, I consider the size of frets you use to have a much greater impact on playability than tone. As such, my focus here will predominantly be on this point. This is also because playability is linked to tone. And so if you are playing at your best and can properly express yourself, then you will produce a better tone.

For now though, let’s look at tone in as isolated a way as possible.

Proponents of bigger frets argue that they result in ‘bigger tone’. And whilst that is an overly simplistic summary, there is some truth in it. In theory, a larger mass of metal should result in ‘greater vibrational coupling between string and wood’. And in turn this will produce a stronger and more resonant sound. All things being equal then – bigger frets should have a positive impact on your tone.

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The drawback is that bigger frets can also result in a slight loss of clarity. There is a wider break point where the string meets the fret. And this can have an impact on the precision of the notes you play.

However, I am not totally convinced that either of these differences are noticeable within the context of a full rig. In my opinion, when you add an amp, pedals, pickups and different sized strings into the mix, it is unlikely that the size of the frets you use will make a noticeable difference to your tone.

I say this partly from my own playing experience. But it is also worth noting that the majority of vintage guitars were constructed using small, vintage frets. And these same guitars were used to dial in some of the most famous and inspiring blues tone of all time.

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Fret size & playability

As a result, when looking at fret sizes, I think it is much more important to look at the impact that frets have on playability. You are always in contact with your frets – and they are vital in enabling you to create music.

When it comes to playability, there are really two different factors that we need to consider; fret height and fret width.

Let’s look first at height:

Fret height

With taller frets, there is less contact between your fingers and the fretboard. This means that you need to apply less pressure for notes to ring out. And in turn this makes techniques like bending and tapping easier.

Having said that, if you have quite a heavy playing style, it is easy to apply too much pressure to the strings with these frets. And this can quite easily push the notes that you are fretting slightly out of tune. The likelihood of this also increases if you favour lighter gauge guitar strings.

Additionally, sliding up and down on a guitar with tall frets can be more challenging. There is more fret material that you need to slide over. You can usually feel the frets under your fingers, and this can make sliding feel clunky and awkward.

Fret width

For this same reason, it can feel easier to slide over wider frets. With wider frets, the angle between the fretboard and the top of the fret crown is less acute. And so you don’t feel the fret wire so much under your fingers as you move around your fretboard.

This contributes to a ‘smoother’ playing feel when using wider frets. And this in turn makes it easier to bend strings. It also helps with sustain.

The drawback of wider frets is that they can create some problems with intonation once they start to get a little worn. This is because the point of contact between the string and fret becomes fractionally closer to the bridge. And this then pulls the note sharp.

Further considerations

The pros and cons of fret height and width are not factors that you should consider independently. They interact with one another and so need to be considered together.

For example, one of the drawbacks of tall frets is that there is an acute angle between the fretboard and the top of the fret. And this means that you can feel the frets under your fingers as you navigate around the fretboard. Yet if you take a tall fret and make it wider, this angle decreases. So you end up with a smoother playing feel, whilst potentially enjoying the benefits of a taller fret.

I say potentially, because in the end the most suitable fret sizes for you depend on your personal preference. And so the frets that work well in theory might not actually be the best option. This is partly because playability is affected by a number of factors, all of which interact with one another.

For example, if you play using wider frets, you will have less space between each fret to actually play the notes. And the impact of this will be more or less pronounced, depending on the scale length of your guitar.

To talk about scale length in depth is beyond the scope of this article. It is a separate topic and one that I will cover in more detail in future. However in short – Gibson and Epiphone Les Pauls both have a shorter scale length than Fender and Squier Stratocasters.

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This means that there is less space between the frets on a Gibson Les Paul. And because of this, wide frets will feel comparatively wider on a Les Paul type guitar than they will on a Stratocaster type guitar.

This is just one of many examples of how a part of your guitar (other than fret size) can affect playability. And it is worth taking this into account before you get too focused on fret size.

Putting it all together

Having said that, fret size does have an impact on playability. And so even though there are a number of different and nuanced factors that affect the playability of your guitar, we can outline the characteristics of different fret sizes by looking at their height and width together.

As such, let’s return to the 5 common fret sizes listed above, and look at how the height and width of these frets affects their playability:

Vintage frets

As noted above, vintage frets are the smallest frets that you are likely to encounter. Many guitarists are quite disparaging of vintage frets, as they don’t see any obvious benefits to them when compared with some of the other fret sizes that are available.

This is largely because of the height of these frets. When you play a guitar with shorter frets, you have to exert more pressure to play each note. This makes it more difficult to bend with these frets. It also makes it more challenging to play fast.

Vintage jumbo frets

Like vintage frets, vintage jumbo frets also tend to be less popular. However in this case, some guitarists take issue with both the height and the width of these frets.

In the 1960s, a lot of Gibson guitars had low and wide frets. And this has led to these guitars being jokingly described as ‘fretless wonders’. The width of the frets gives these guitars a very smooth playing feel. You can’t really feel the frets under your fingers. And this is great for sliding up and down the fretboard and moving around your guitar.

The significant drawback for blues guitarists, is that as with vintage frets, it is more difficult to bend with these frets. You have to press down harder to fret every note. And this makes bending – as well as playing at speed – more difficult.

Modern narrow & tall frets

Conversely, modern narrow and tall frets are easy to bend and play at speed. The height of these frets means that you don’t need to apply very much pressure at all with your fretting hand. In fact, depending on the height of the frets, your fingers might not even touch the fretboard, which can give your guitar an almost scalloped feel.

As noted above, the downside of tall frets is that you can feel them under your fingers as you move around the fretboard. So if you like to include slides in your playing, then you might struggle a little with very tall frets.

Very tall frets can also prove problematic if you are a heavy handed player. Applying more pressure than you need can push notes sharp. And so if you like to dig in, very tall frets that are also narrow might not be appropriate.

Jumbo frets

In fact if you are a very physical guitar player, then you might be better off looking at jumbo frets. Like modern narrow and tall frets, the height of jumbo frets makes string bending and fretting easier. Here though, the added width of the frets helps to offset some of the drawbacks of tall and narrow frets.

It is partly for this reason that over the years, jumbo frets have proven popular with blues guitarists playing with a heavy and physical style.

As noted above, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Rory Gallagher both played using jumbo frets. And modern blues guitarists like Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Philip Sayce – both of whom play a high octane style of blues guitar – play with the same size frets.

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Despite these benefits, with jumbo frets, there is a lot of fret wire under your finger. And this can feel awkward and uncomfortable for a lot of guitarists. This is particularly the case if you have smaller hands, and prefer a more streamlined playing feel.

Medium jumbo frets

It is because of these drawbacks that a lot of players prefer to opt for medium jumbo frets. For a lot of guitarists, medium jumbo frets provide a ‘best of both worlds’ option. They are both wide and tall, without being as big as jumbo frets.

In this way, they facilitate string bending and a more physical style of playing. And yet they do so without being quite so large.

Which fret size is right for you?

At this stage you are probably wondering which fret sizes will work best for you. And with all of the different options and factors to consider, looking at different frets can feel like somewhat of an overwhelming task.

Ultimately, fret size is largely a matter of personal preference. There is not a set or size of frets that will categorically improve the tone and playability of your guitar. There are simply frets that will be more or less suitable for you.

Having said that, for most blues guitarists I think that slightly bigger frets can work well. String bending is an essential part of playing effective blues lead guitar. And so if you are playing blues lead guitar, then it makes sense to optimise your set-up to make bending as smooth and easy as possible.

That is not to say you need to go for very tall and wide frets. Rather it is to say that in my opinion, focusing your search on slightly larger frets makes sense. You can then decide whether you want to be more or less adventurous in your choice of fret size.

If you are a physical player and you really like to dig in with your fretting hand, then you might benefit from bigger frets. Conversely, if you have a more mellow playing style – but you want some of the benefits of a larger fret, then a medium jumbo size fret might make a better choice.

As a final point, it is worth noting that larger frets also have a longer playing life too. To talk in depth about fret wear and the different materials used to make frets is beyond the scope of this article. However in short, your frets wear down over time. Grooves appear in the frets, and wear and tear can lead to them being different heights. In turn this can result in problems with playability and fret buzz.

For most players, this process happens over many years. As such, I don’t think it should be one of your primary considerations when looking at different frets. However if you are a very physical player and you also use heavy gauge guitar strings, opting for larger frets will help you to play the same frets for longer before you need to have work done on them by a guitar tech.

Should you consider a refret?

If at this stage you have decided that the frets on your current guitar are not best suited for your playing style, then you might be considering a refret. However before you go out and change frets, I would recommend first thinking about your current situation and set-up. For although a refret might be a great idea, it could also be inappropriate.

It is impossible to cover all of the different situations that could affect the suitability of a refret. However here I have added in a few points that are worth considering before you change the frets on your current guitar. These are as follows:

Price

Refrets are expensive. As such, I would argue that changing frets is arguably more appropriate if you are playing a guitar in a higher price bracket. If for example you are playing a Fender Squier or Epiphone, changing the frets on your guitar could easily cost as much or more than the guitar itself.

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In my opinion it doesn’t make a lot of sense for the frets on your guitar to cost as much as the guitar. And so if you are budget conscious but you want to spend some money upgrading your current set-up, I would argue that you could better invest in other areas of your rig.

Experience

Likewise, if you are totally new to the guitar, I wouldn’t worry too much about changing fret sizes just yet. The information outlined here will help to make you a more knowledgeable guitar player. And that is always a good thing.

However as noted throughout here, one of the biggest impacts of using different sized frets is that they feel different when you are playing. If you are totally new to the guitar though, you probably won’t have strong opinions on what you like and don’t like at this point.

So before you start looking at different fret sizes, I would focus on amassing a few more hours of playing time. This will help you to understand what you do and don’t like. You can then use this to make a more informed decision about fret size in the future.

Upcoming Purchases

If you are considering buying a new guitar, then I would wait until you have it before refretting your current guitar. Let’s say for example that you buy a guitar with different sized frets to your current guitar. You can compare the fret sizes on the two guitars, and decide whether or not to go for a refret on your current guitar. You might much prefer the frets on your new guitar. In which case going for a refret would make sense.

Conversely, you might feel that the frets on the two guitars are different, in a good way. You might discover that different fret sizes lead you to play differently. This can be great for creativity and can bring out different elements of your playing.

Condition

As noted above, frets get worn down over time. And there will reach a point where their wear causes problems with playability.

For most players, this takes many years. Not only this, but fret wear doesn’t necessitate a refret straight away, You can get your frets filed down to level them off and to smooth out any grooves. This is a less intensive process and is also less expensive than a full refret.

However if you have been playing the same guitar for some years and its frets are starting to look a little worn, and you are also considering trying different sized frets, then now could be a great time for a refret.

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Some closing thoughts

Whether you are looking to change the frets on your current guitar, or you just want to pay closer attention to the frets on the next guitar you buy, I would always recommend going to a guitar store in person. Try out similar guitars with different fret sizes, and see what feels best.

As noted at various points here, changing your frets is not a hassle free process. So don’t take unnecessary risks. Test out a whole range of different fret sizes, whilst trying to keep as many other variables constant (the type of guitar you are using, the gauge of the strings etc). In this way, you will be able to feel the difference that the frets make. And this will help you to decide on the fret sizes best suited for you.

Good luck! Let me know how you get on in the comments, and if you have any questions, just pop them below or send me an email on aidan@happybluesman.com. I am always around and happy to help! 😁

Images & References

Unsplash, Rock Guitar Universe, Manchester Guitar Tech, Harmony Central, Strat Talk, Guitar Player, Fender, Guitar Gear Finder, Haze Guitars, Joe Bonamassa Forum, Strat Talk, Music Radar, Seymour Duncan, Zing Instruments, Guitar, The Art of Lutherie

Links

Many of the links embedded in this article are affiliate links. As such, if you buy one of the pieces of gear I recommend, or an item from the same store after clicking one of these links, I will earn a small commission. I never recommend pieces of gear that I wouldn’t use myself, and I include these affiliate links to ensure that I can keep this content free. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me on aidan@happybluesman.com.