Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone know what material the 4003 bass frets from 2016 are made of? Thanks.

Also, is it true that stainless rounds tear up the frets? Like, in how many years? Thanks.

Backstory:
I have mainly used flats on my 4003 but recently experimenting with stainless rounds.
But I don't want to have to get a refret anytime in the next couple years.
I am a heavy handed player, but never slap/pop.

They're not stainless steel, that's for sure.

Stainless steel strings will cause faster fret wear on most basses (as stainless steel frets aren't the norm).

I fortunately prefer nickels to steel strings so it's not an issue for me.

You could always try D'Addario half-rounds. They are ground down to be smoother in the surface (nickel) but are still pretty bright and crisp. The first sound sample in this mash-up is what they sound like on my Ric 2030 played finger-style.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/hhd9sf8n4tbxb ... s.mp3?dl=0