Jumbo and Medium Jumbo frets are found on many electric guitars from brands like Fender, Gibson and Ibanez, but what’s the difference between them?
In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know about the difference between these two beam sizes
Beam size refers to the width and height of the beam wire
Fret size affects playability and most players will have a preference for one fret size over another
Two of the most popular sizes are Jumbo and Medium Jumbo
Here are the measurements for the Dunlop Medium Jumbo and Jumbo frets
The medium jumbo frets are only 0036″ tall, while the jumbo frets are 0055″ tall
This means that the medium jumbo frets are just over 50% taller than the jumbo frets or 0019″
Medium jumbo and jumbo frets are very similar in width
Jumbo frets are only 0004″ wider than medium jumbo frets, which equates to a 4% difference
So when comparing medium jumbo and jumbo frets, the difference in height is the only thing we really need to look at
Since the medium jumbo frets are not very tall, you will feel more of the wood of the fretboard when playing compared to the jumbo frets which are much taller, meaning you will feel more of the fret itself than the wood
Longer jumbo frets tend to be easier for most players to upset compared to shorter medium jumbo frets
This is one of the reasons why jumbo frets are found on many metal and chopped guitars as they make it easier to pull in/out
Taller jumbo frets are also better for string bending compared to shorter medium jumbo frets
This is because there is less friction between the fretboard and the fingers with jumbo frets
However, because there is more space between the fretboard and the strings with jumbo frets, there is a greater chance that the notes will be pushed out of harmony if too much finger pressure is applied
Beam size has little effect on the tone of electric and acoustic guitars
On the other hand, the mid-jumbo frets sound a bit clearer and have more definition
However, beam size has very little effect on the tone of an electric guitar, especially when comparing these two sizes that are really different in height
Once you turn on the guitar, and especially if it’s in the mix, you won’t find many players who can hear the difference between the two
I would highly recommend going down to your local guitar shop and trying out some medium jumbo and jumbo necks
Try and make sure the other door parameters are similar (profile, width, bit radius) otherwise you won’t get a good comparison
Personally, I prefer the feel of medium jumbo frets and find the jumbo frets a bit too tall for me
I prefer my fingers to be more in contact with the fretboard
However, many players prefer jumbo frets
Medium jumbo fretsJumbo frets0106” wide0110” wide0036” high0055”Fingers will have more contact with the fretboardFingers will have less contact with the fretboardLess likely to push strings out of rhythm Good for bending and easier to upset