Know Your Gear Podcast with Phillip McKnight
Episode: What No One Tells You About Stainless Steel Frets
Date: August 16, 2025
Host: Phillip McKnight
Episode Overview
In this episode, Phillip dives deep into the buzz around Fender’s new American Ultra Luxe Vintage series, especially its use of stainless steel frets—a topic that sparks debate among guitarists. The show covers pricing logic for premium guitars, the perception and real-world impact of stainless steel frets, manufacturing insights gleaned from a recent trip to the massive Cortek factory in Indonesia, and a host of audience questions on brands, tech, guitar mods, travel, and pickup myths.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Fender's New Ultra Luxe Vintage: Stainless Steel Frets and Pricing Logic
[01:30 – 25:00]
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Overview: Phillip reacts to audience questions about the new Fender Ultra Luxe Vintage Strat/Tele line, which features stainless steel frets, vintage specs, heirloom nitro lacquer, and a "worked in" relic look—at a $2,899 price point.
- "Are they crazy? $3,000 for a Fender?" Many viewers ask.
- Phillip contextualizes the price: the Pro II line is $1,699–$1,899, with similar models pushing $2,400+. Stainless frets and light relic add $400 more.
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Modern Meets Vintage Approach:
- "Do something modern with something vintage." Phillip loves the mix of vintage looks and modern playability/comfort (comparing it to a vintage car with modern AC and seatbelts).
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Pricing Perspective:
- Not shocked by $3,000 because of current Fender stratification:
- Standard USA: ~$1,800
- Deluxe/Ultra: $2,000+
- Vintage/Relic: $2,400–$2,900+
- “Fender is going to get what Fender can get.”
- “It’s not that I’m saying it’s worth it, just that I expected it.”
- Not shocked by $3,000 because of current Fender stratification:
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Insight on the Used Market & "Sir Killer" Nickname:
- The resale market often inflates prices (e.g., Herman Li guitars selling above original MSRP).
- On Sir vs Fender debate, the Fender’s resale is better, but Sir is more prestigious.
Notable Quote:
“Fender is basically building you a guitar that essentially never needs a refret.” — Phillip [23:10]
2. Stainless Steel Frets: Fad, Value, and Real Pain Points
[26:00 – 44:30]
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Manufacturing & Consumer Impact:
- On the Cortek factory tour, Phillip was asked: Are stainless steel frets just a fad?
- “Stainless steel frets are a fad that will now last forever—just like ‘organic’ in food.” [30:55]
- Stainless steel implies quality in the buyer’s mind, regardless of technical merits.
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Refret Realities:
- Most overseas manufacturers are unaware how expensive U.S. fretwork is:
- Stainless steel refret can cost $400–$600 in the US.
- “If you buy a $500 guitar, two years later the refret could cost as much as the guitar!”
- Stainless steel as a “value” is misunderstood: it’s not about tone, but lifetime cost and hassle.
- Most overseas manufacturers are unaware how expensive U.S. fretwork is:
Notable Quote:
"It's like buying a $30,000 car where new tires cost $30,000—unless you get ‘lifetime tires.’ That’s the pitch for stainless steel frets." — Phillip [32:42]
- Longevity:
- “I have still never seen worn out stainless steel frets ...it’s not likely.” — Phillip [43:08]
3. Cortek Factory Tour: Behind the Curtain of Global Guitar Manufacturing
[44:35 – 1:13:00]
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Who/What is Cortek?
- Cortek: Parent company; Cort is the brand; PT Cort: the Indonesian factory.
- Major OEM—makes guitars for many of the world’s top brands in 9 buildings (including dedicated ones for PRS SE and others).
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Transparency:
- “They let me see and film 100% of everything…nothing off limits...though 80% can’t be published.”
- Major insight: Confirmation of what brands/levels are made there (though confidentiality restricts details).
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Industry Knowledge Gained:
- “I came back too smart from that trip…a lot I didn’t want to know.” [47:07]
- Corporate discussions on the sustainability of stainless steel, market shifts, and the cost-value equation of “lifetime frets.”
4. Sir vs Fender: Which Would He Choose?
[1:14:00 – 1:21:45]
- Features & Brand Comparison:
- Sir S-type: ~$3,500, slightly chunkier necks, more “premium” cachet, but takes a resale beating.
- Fender Vintage Ultra Luxe: $2,899, classic Fender necks (“all guitars I love are in proximity to a Fender neck”), better resale.
- “If handed one, I might pick the Sir…just for variety, since I already have a lot of Fenders.” — Phillip [1:20:00]
Memorable Exchange:
- Q: “Sir has more features, Fender better resale value.”
- Phillip: “Yeah…when you finally get to the point you’re dumb enough, weird enough, or smart enough to buy these exotic instruments, you find the resale proposition is horrifyingly bad.” [1:21:20]
5. Q&A: Brands, Mods, Travel, and More
[1:22:00 – 1:54:00]
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Charvel San Dimas:
- Mexican vs USA: Fit/finish differs (USA better; MIM can have fret sprout but fixable).
- “$900 guitars shouldn’t have fret sprout, but for half-price, I’ll fix it myself.”
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EVH Wolfgang Pots:
- History on why 500k vol / 250k tone—Eddie’s tweak for brightness & friction on stage.
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Travel & Shows (Megadeth, etc.):
- Since COVID, much less interest in crowds.
- “Every time I go around people now, I just don’t want to be there…it just feels like a hassle.”
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Selling a Lemon Guitar:
- Always disclose problems.
- “A proper setup by a good tech will cost less than the discount you take by selling it as a lemon.”
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Mini Humbuckers and Pickup Recommendations:
- 70s Les Paul mini humbuckers have underrated, sweet, punchy tones.
- For Strat: 50s = bell-like chime, 60s = darker/pushes amp, modern = more aggressive/noiseless.
- “Don’t overthink output resistance; listen and reference specs after.”
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Warmoth Necks:
- No longer require fretwork out of the box—quality up there with big brands now.
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Fake Tools:
- There are now counterfeit Music Nomad and Stumac files on sites like TEMU; beware as they may end up on Amazon/Reverb.
6. Guitar of the Week: Kiesel Tim Miller with Lace Deathbuckers
[1:54:00 – 2:12:00]
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Feature Focus:
- Kiesel Tim Miller, headless, quarter-sawn maple, super-light (5 lbs), now fitted with Lace “Deathbucker” pickups.
- Deathbuckers: Name is a misnomer—Phillip finds them bright, articulate, punchy, not just “metal.”
- Middle toggle position coil-splits both pickups.
- Aluminum pickups drop nearly half a pound from the guitar.
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Headless Guitars:
- Admits he “doesn’t like the way they look,” it’s all about function for him: travel, tuning stability, weight.
- “I've never, ever had a problem bringing a headless guitar on a plane…but couldn't get my bass on once.” [2:08:00]
Notable Quote:
“None of us are perfect. We like what we like. No gravy, no Jello, but I’ll drink poop coffee.” [2:06:45]
7. Guitar Travel and the Cortek Trip Story
[2:12:00 – 2:29:00]
- Hilarious TSA story involving a Kemper and an awkward pat down (“Never let them take you to a second location!”).
- 36 hours of travel to Indonesia—no checked gear: “You can play onstage in dirty underwear, but not with no guitar.”
- Gifted authentic Kopi Luwak (“poop coffee”): explains origin, ethical concerns, and plans to try it live on stream.
8. Factory Insights: Tools and Production
[2:30:00 – 2:53:00]
- Cortek uses pro-grade, off-the-shelf Music Nomad and Stumac tools at every bench—supports durability and value claims.
- There are now fake tools (e.g., Music Nomad files) circulating.
- Lesson: "Professional tools are professional tools for a reason—don't cheap out unless you know what you're getting."
9. Quick Fire Q&A and Practical Advice
[2:53:00 – End]
- Shims:
- Sandpaper is preferred (“Fender does it because it’s cheap and they have lots of it.”)
- No tonal magic: “They just have it. It’s practical.”
- Do Pickups Go Bad?
- Very rare—more likely it’s wiring, pots, or switches.
- “I’ve never seen a worn-out stainless steel fret. Pickups are the last thing I check if a guitar cuts out.”
- On Finishing Repairs:
- Nitro blend repairs are doable for average techs; poly is harder; work with trusted pros for major finish work.
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- “Do something modern with something vintage—I like the look of older stuff, but I want modern comfort.” [10:45]
- “Stainless steel frets are a fad that will now last forever—just like ‘organic’ in food.” [30:55]
- “A $500 guitar, if you want a stainless steel refret, can cost $500. It’s crazy.” [34:10]
- “I have never seen worn out stainless steel frets.” [43:08]
- “When you finally get to the point you’re dumb enough, weird enough, smart enough to buy expensive instruments, you find the resale proposition is horrifyingly bad.” [1:21:20]
- "None of us are perfect. We like what we like. No gravy, no Jello, but I’ll drink poop coffee.” [2:06:45]
Important Segment Timestamps
- Fender Ultra Vintage pricing and features: [01:30–15:00]
- Stainless steel frets as a fad & refret cost: [26:00–44:00]
- Cortek factory tour & manufacturing secrets: [44:35–1:13:00]
- Sir vs Fender debate: [1:14:00–1:21:45]
- Guitar of the Week (Kiesel/Lace Deathbuckers): [1:54:00–2:12:00]
- Poop coffee & Cortek travel story: [2:12:00–2:29:00]
- Pro tools, fake tools warning: [2:35:00–2:45:00]
- Shims, pickups failing, common repairs: [2:53:00–end]
Tone & Style
Phillip’s tone remains conversational, self-deprecating, and practical—he shares industry insights without hyping products, offers honest critiques, and actively engages the audience’s questions. He freely recounts anecdotal stories, mixes in humor (including the hilarious TSA patdown and “poop coffee” tale), and admits where his preferences or limitations shape his advice.
Conclusion
This episode provides guitarists with a rich, no-nonsense look at the realities behind stainless steel frets, why manufacturers adopt them, and why prices are what they are—plus the reassurance that modern manufacturing (even offshore) is more transparent, and tools more professional, than many suspect. The Q&A demonstrates Phillip’s breadth of knowledge, always filtered through his core philosophy: play what you like, buy what makes sense to you, and don’t get tripped up by hype.