StewMac Cryowire Fretwire
Cryowire: Tougher frets without the stress
Frets that last longer and play better, without extra work.
There have been many advances in fretwire over the last decade, but new materials have been tougher to work with, wear tools faster, or don't have the traditional look you and your customers want.
We wanted to see how we could make traditional fret material better. We found that cryogenic, or deep freezing treatment, has been used in countless industries to make metal parts tougher and more durable.
The cryo-treatment makes the metal denser on a molecular level, improving strength, toughness, and wear resistance. Our techs tried this with fretwire, and the results were surprisingly positive.
Material you know with better performance
Cryowire is the nickel material you know, now just more durable. Our techs found that even though the cryo treated frets are less prone to wear, they're easier to work with than other materials. The new Cryowire doesn't dull fret cutters and files as fast as stainless steel wire. These frets also hold their shape better when bending to a radius, they dress smoother, and grab files less.
The most important part: these frets play great! The playing surface is smoother and more uniform, making them feel "fast" and bending strings has never been easier. We've tested these frets in our shops and on our instruments and found that they are a real improvement over standard nickel-silver frets, and much less hassle than stainless steel frets.
Cryowire lasts longer and plays better. Save time between refrets and enjoy a better playing instrument.
Medium fretwire is our most popular width and is used extensively by Martin, Fender and Gibson. If you're matching Gibson® "jumbo" fretwire from the late '50s, use our Medium width.
Our fretwire is sized to fit a 0.023" (0.58mm) fret slot width.
We supply our fretwire in 2-foot straight lengths. Order 6 feet for a complete guitar or bass fret job, and 4 feet for a mandolin, banjo or ukulele.
Order by the pound for tidy savings!
Our bulk fretwire is supplied in convenient clear storage tubes, to keep your wire organized and your workbench uncluttered. You'll save 50% or more when you order fretwire by the pound.