Author Topic: Colouring the frets? (Read 3872 times)

Muso · « **on:** January 15, 2008, 02:41:29 PM »

Hi

I was wondering if it was possible to maybe colour the frets on my guitar from original silver to say black? I don't think I've seen this before but it seems like it would make my frets look a lot better as all the other hardware is black and the silver looks out of place.

Cheers

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2008, 02:45:00 PM »

I highly doubt that you'll be able to do it with the frets that are currently on the guitar as anything that you do would rub off with the strings. Remember that frets wear down so anything that you did would have to colour all the metal in the fret.

I don't think that you can get black fret wire.... but you never know.

WezV · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2008, 02:50:29 PM »

Its the type of answer that pops up on guitar building forums quite often

the short answer is no, it isnt possible.

maybe something is possible - but its going to need a lot of research to get it right and will probably still rub off easily if its a coating

apparently you can dye aluminium with lots of chemicals but getting a hard enough alloy would be difficult and it would still wear off as soon as you levelled them

Cf frets is a possibility.. again lots of research would be needed. I have heard of delrin rod being used instead with quite good results.. pretty permanant change though because it would need to be installed a completely different way

gold is available

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2008, 03:06:23 PM »

Thought of changing the hardware to silver? :lol:

Philly Q · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2008, 03:34:02 PM »

Quote from: WezV

Cf frets is a possibility

Carbon fibre? I didn't realise it was that hard. Although I suppose there was the Bond Electraglide, with that weird stepped fingerboard.

http://anstratdubh.tripod.com/id29.html

ToneMonkey · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2008, 04:05:57 PM »

I just got a message from a new member who can't post. He's asked me to put it on here for him so here goes:

Quote

I am a new forum member - I tried to post this but I couldn't read the security code new members are required to use. If you would be so kind as to post this for me i would appreciate it - Larry Martin

ToneMonkey wrote:
I highly doubt that you'll be able to do it with the frets that are currently on the guitar as anything that you do would rub off with the strings. Remember that frets wear down so anything that you did would have to colour all the metal in the fret.

I don't think that you can get black fret wire.... but you never know.

Black Metal was created in a lab in 2006. Guilford Guitars (google them, it's under "Black Rocket") is building the first instrument to have black metal fretwire installed. The cost for the prototype metal was in the thousands, but Buzz Feiten Design Group has expressed an interest in bringing the product to the music market sometime in the near future, presumably at a much lower cost

Nice one Larry, hope you can post soon...... and welcome to the boards, they're a good bunch around here so it's a nice place.

Will · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2008, 04:31:59 PM »

I would have thought black metal came from Norway :lol: