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So I've had my Baritone Special HH for a few months now and I've noticed that on the first fret it has some grooves cut lengthwise into it from the first wound string, caused from where I've been bending an E Chord (same shape as an A Chord in standard tuning) while learning to play boom boom by John Lee Hooker.

Since this is my first guitar I just wanted to ask if that kind of fret wear is normal? I started reading about fingerboard radius today and I've read that 7.25 is not exactly ideal for bending, especially at the top of the neck I'm sure. But I just wanted to make sure I wasn't causing damage to the frets that I could prevent somehow.  Or if thats just par for the course when playin' the blues hehe

I've been switching between GHS Boomers and Nickel wound Ernie Ball strings trying to decide which I like better.

Thanks,

-bish

All nickel strings help reduce fret wear. A few weeks back I had to have the frets pollished on my JM. It's a pretty normal thing especialy on a guitar that sees alot of playing time.

David

That's the main reason I'm a huge fan of stainless steel frets.  You set them up once and they just don't seem to wear...ever...

Thanks,

Thats what I figured but I wanted to ask.

Do stainless steel frets create a different sound?

-bish

In my opinion stainless steel frets produce more of a zing to the fretted notes. Tom Anderson has used stainless steel frets on his guitars, since he left Schecter and went on his own. I like the sound of stainless alot, the notes seem alot cleaner.

As far as your fret dimples, it could be the gauges of strings that your using. Baritone strings are more like bass strings so they will wear out the frets faster; just because of the size and tension of the strings being bigger.

If they do sound different it would be hard to judge unless you refretted with them (my guitar has always had them so I couldn't compare before and after).  I like them though...they sound snappy and they feel better than regular frets for bending.