What size are your ES-339 frets?

[Rich W]

Does anyone have true medium jumbos on their 339, or tall-skinny frets?

Even though Gibson advertises ES-339 frets as medium-jumbo, the frets on my 339 are tall-skinny (.055 x .09).

A quick measure with digital calipers showed that they're pretty much like Dunlop 6105s and not like Dunlop 6130 Medium Jumbos (.36 x .106).

My 339 is only about a year old.

I wonder if Gibson calls tall-skinny frets "medium jumbo"

[adamsvok]

Originally Posted by Rich W

I wonder if Gibson calls tall-skinny frets "medium jumbo"

I guess so... After using 2 epi LPs I bought a Gibson and the first thing that hit me was the frets. They were much higher although they were said to be the same "medium jubos". I really like the taller frets thats how you can really dig into the notes. Tho its a bit stange that i can bend the note just by pressin it stronger (I'm talkin LPs dont know much bout ESs)

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by adamsvok

I really like the taller frets thats how you can really dig into the notes. Tho its a bit stange that i can bend the note just by pressin it stronger

My frets are almost flat across the top ... like school buses.

To make sliding easier, I'm tempted to get them crowned to be a bit rounder.

I wonder if Gibson is assuming that people will get the frets on their new guitars crowned and dressed, and is using the tallest available frets to allow for that?

[Artisan]

This is an interesting topic. I too have a ES-339 and I have also thought that the frets were tall and flat. On my Les Paul they are low and round. I know they have been dressed a couple times so that's not the stock shape but they certainly feel better for certain types of bends and rifs. Especialy quick pull-offs on the 1st string. It seems like the string gets caught on the edge of the fret. I've been thinking of having the frets rounded off on the 339 to eliminate that.

[Rich W]

Originally Posted by Artisan

This is an interesting topic. I too have a ES-339 and I have also thought that the frets were tall and flat. On my Les Paul they are low and round. I know they have been dressed a couple times so that's not the stock shape but they certainly feel better for certain types of bends and rifs. Especialy quick pull-offs on the 1st string. It seems like the string gets caught on the edge of the fret. I've been thinking of having the frets rounded off on the 339 to eliminate that.

I came to the same conclusion when comparing my LP to my 339. The lower, wider LP frets are just what I like for bends and slides. My LP frets look like triangles with the tops cut off, but that guitar is super playable.

[adamsvok]

Originally Posted by Rich W

I wonder if Gibson is assuming that people will get the frets on their new guitars crowned and dressed, and is using the tallest available frets to allow for that?

I don't think they really care about that.