Who likes Speed Frets?

[Veenture]

Here we can find some nice close-ups of Gibson's version of speed frets, the "Fretless Wonders" as they're called...
Just to get a rough idea. http://www.timeelect.com/lp-fretless.htm

I'll see if I can find some detailed pics of speed frets on one or two of Semie's wonders

[Johnny]

I love speed frets too. Nowadays I'm so used to them that anything else feels uncomfortable and strange. They allow me to really quickly change bar chords which is essential to my style.

The narrow and thin neck and super low action are lovely too.

[JimPage]

Hey, Veenture!

That is a great link with super photos and info!

Now, to my eye, those Les Paul fretless frets look a smidgen thicker front to back than the Mosrite speed frets. Am I correct in that, do you think?

I was playing an older Mosrite Celebrity for a brief time today, and also a new Hallmark 60 Custom and my Hallmark Stradette. I had taken my Stradette to have Bob Shade set up the guitar for flatwound 10's. I had originally had him set it up for Gibson L5 12's, as that was what was on my old Slingerland Nite Hawk archtop and Martin D-41 acoustic, which I had been playing in a Bakersfield country-type band.

Bob had a 60 Custom at his house, and I have been playing that, and I love that danged guitar. I really need to buy one in that Fire-Burst finish. What a fun thing that is to play, but it does NOT have the speed frets. It is one fast neck, though; that much I know.

Having a VERY light touch, I do not like playing the average Gibson or Fender electric guitar. They just feel weird under my fingers and I can't play them very well. Luckily, I have now found out about Mosrites and Hallmarks. I can make music on them.

--Jim

[Veenture]

Now, to my eye, those Les Paul fretless frets look a smidgen thicker front to back than the Mosrite speed frets. Am I correct in that, do you think?

I'm not an expert by any means Jim but I would say you're right ...here are some more illustrations:
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Dorckrockrecords posted this pic a short while back; notice how small the speed frets are compared to those on the LP
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Also worth checking out: http://www.frets.com/FRETSPAGES/Musicia ... ets01.html
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BTW I prefer the Vintage type frets on my Fender Strats (tried one with medium jumbo frets once...sold it)
The frets on my Hallmark 60 Custom are a tad narrower than the vintage frets on my Strats but they both measure about 1 mm in height which suits me fine.

[MWaldorf]

As an aside, it's sad to see a unique instrument like that '68 LP get turned into a generic guitar. From speed frets and a bigsby to mongo frets and a stop tailpiece. Blech.

[Veenture]

As an aside, it's sad to see a unique instrument like that '68 LP get turned into a generic guitar. From speed frets and a bigsby to mongo frets and a stop tailpiece. Blech.

I was thinking the same!

[101Volts]

As an aside, it's sad to see a unique instrument like that '68 LP get turned into a generic guitar. From speed frets and a bigsby to mongo frets and a stop tailpiece. Blech.

On another note, The new frets on that thing looked like miniature logs. Anyway, back on topic.

I can't really compare the speed frets on the Mosrite Ventures Model to the Gibson Fretless wonder very well due to the picture angle. If anyone could photograph their vintage Mo' from the same angle I'd appreciate it.

[dorkrockrecords]

[JimPage]

Well, thanks to dorkrockrecords, we can see that the Les Paul fretless frets are about 15% wider, front to back, than the Mosrite speed frets, about 5% lower in height, and not nearly as rounded as the Mosrite speed frets.

Good info.

Seems to me that the string would usually contact a smaller area of the fret on the speed fret, but I don't know how that would impact the playability of the guitar. Would that smaller area of string contact with the fret make the string sound more in tune?

I am just somehow reminded of those old Coral sitar-guitars with the wide saddles that were sold in the olden days.

--Jim

[101Volts]

Thanks, Adam! Looks like Mosrite frets are much better than Gibson's "Fretless Wonders" Since they are actually crowned. Oh and JimPage, I read about Fret width. The thinner a fret is, The better the intonation and notes also sound crisper, Like glass.

Austin