Why different frets on Wolfgang Special and USA?

[lieu910]

Just wondering why the Wolfgang Special gets jumbo frets and the USA gets vintage style?

[Dave not David]

The original Wolf specials that were made in Japan (and shortly, China) before moving to Mexico had the same vintage stainless frets. They added production costs to the guitars, both in time, materials, and tools. The move to jumbo nickel frets on the Mexican line (along with arch tops and black hardware) is likely due to what EVH (the company) thinks will market better, shifting marketing more towards the "metal" audience.

IMO, I've bought maybe a dozen combined specials, and I usually end up taking the vintage stainless necks and putting them on the archtop bodies, and vice versa.

[Ted Van Halen]

Just wondering why the Wolfgang Special gets jumbo frets and the USA gets vintage style?

Because tone chasing.

[Jedi McFly]

The move to jumbo nickel frets on the Mexican line (along with arch tops and black hardware) is likely due to what EVH (the company) thinks will market better, shifting marketing more towards the "metal" audience.

Bingo.

[lieu910]

The original Wolf specials that were made in Japan (and shortly, China) before moving to Mexico had the same vintage stainless frets. They added production costs to the guitars, both in time, materials, and tools. The move to jumbo nickel frets on the Mexican line (along with arch tops and black hardware) is likely due to what EVH (the company) thinks will market better, shifting marketing more towards the "metal" audience.

IMO, I've bought maybe a dozen combined specials, and I usually end up taking the vintage stainless necks and putting them on the archtop bodies, and vice versa.

So am I understanding correctly, that you prefer the vintage frets?

[Dave not David]

I do in most cases, yes. I prefer the stainless more than the nickel in every case, but sometimes I like the jumbo frets. Depends on what/how I'm playing.