Last Updated on April 1, 2023 by Guitarist Authority
How many frets on a guitar? Acoustic guitars have between 18 and 24 frets, the most common is 20 frets. Electric guitars have between 19 and 36 frets, the most common number of frets on electric guitars are 21, 22 and 24. Bass guitars have between 19 and 36, the most common number of frets on a bass guitar is 20.
I’ve noticed most online resources answering this question do not even mention guitars and basses with over 24 frets, which I found odd. Even though these higher fretted instruments are not as common and some are custom shop only, we feel we have to mention them in the topic of how many frets on a guitar. Below I’ll go more in depth into frets on different styles of guitars.
HOW MANY FRETS ON AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR?
Acoustic guitars have between 18 and 24 frets, the most common is 20 frets.
You may also hear acoustic guitars called either 12 fret or 14 fret guitars. Know that this DOES NOT mean the number of frets on the fretboard. This refers to where the neck is attached to the body, at either the 12th or 14th fret.
HOW MANY FRETS ON AN ELECTRIC GUITAR?
Electric guitars have between 19 and 36 frets, the most common number of frets on electric guitars are 21, 22 and 24.
Popular electric guitars and their frets:
Fender Stratocaster guitars, depending on model, will have either 21, 22 or 24 frets.
21 Frets: SRV Signature, Vintera ’50s and The American Original
22 Frets: Performer, Ultra, Acoustasonic and Player
24 Frets: HM Strat
Gibson Les Paul guitars, depending on model, will have either 22 or 24 frets.
22 Frets: Most Gibson Les Paul guitars
24 Frets: Gibson Buckethead Signature Les Paul, Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut
Examples of guitars with 19 or more frets:
19 Frets: Godin MultiAc Grand Concert, The Loar guitars – models: LH-309, LH-600 & LH-700 (Note: these are Acoustic-Electric guitars).
20 Frets: Squier Mini Strat and Mini Jazzmaster, Heritage Standard Eagle, Godin Radiator, multiple Guild, Epiphone and Ibanez models.
21 Frets: Fender, Squier, Gibson, Taylor, Danelectro, Rickenbacker, Godin, Kramer, G&L, ESP. Plenty of manufacturers build 21 fret guitars.
23 Frets: Guild Surfliner
24 Frets: Ibanez, PRS, ESP, Schecter, Jackson, Kramer, Charvel, Ernie Ball Music Man, Strandberg and many more manufacturers build 24 fret guitars.
26 Frets: Recording King lap steel guitars.
27 Frets: Ibanez – certain Prestige models, Jake Bowen signature. Caparison Guitars – Horus and TAT models. Washburn, Hamer.
28 Frets: Gretsch – certain lap steel models
29 Frets: Washburn EC29, Gary Kramer R-29
30 Frets: Sky Guitars – multiple, Ibanez RG550XH
31 Frets: Hondo II Longhorn Vintage, 1958 Danelectro Guitarlin
32 Frets: Hondo Longhorn Guitarlin
36 Frets: Hamer, Washburn EC36, Gary Kramer R-36, Abstract Prodigy 36
38 Frets: ‘Said Too Much Productions’ 3D printed a 38 fret guitar so he could hit C8 on a guitar
HOW MANY FRETS ON A BASS GUITAR?
Bass guitars have between 19 and 36, the most common number of frets on a bass guitar is 20.
HOW MANY FRETS ON A CLASSICAL GUITAR?
Standard classical guitars mostly have 19 frets. However, there are also 20 – 24 fret models available.
HOW MANY FRETS ON A ½ SIZE GUITAR?
½ size guitars have 18-20 frets depending on make/model. Fender Redondo Mini has 18 frets. Most ½ size guitars have 19 frets. Yamaha makes a ½ size guitar with 20 frets.
HOW MANY FRETS ON A ¾ SIZE GUITAR?
¾ size guitars have 18-24 frets depending on make/model.
HOW MANY FRETS ON A BARITONE GUITAR?
Most acoustic baritone guitars will typically have 20 frets. Most electric baritone guitars have 22 or 24 frets.
HOW MANY FRETS ON A FLAMENCO GUITAR?
The most common fret number for Flamenco guitars is 19.
HOW MANY FRETS ON A CIGAR BOX GUITAR?
Many cigar box guitar builds have either 17 or 19 frets. However, there are cigar box guitars with upwards of 24 frets as well.
HOW MANY FRETS ON A LES PAUL GUITAR?
As mentioned above, most Gibson Les Paul guitars have 22 frets. However, they did make some models with 24 frets such as the Gibson Buckethead Signature Les Paul and the Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut.
WHY DO ELECTRIC GUITARS HAVE MORE FRETS THAN ACOUSTIC GUITARS?
Since acoustic guitars produce their own sound they are built specially for tone. The number of frets, body size, scale length and other factors all affect resonation. This isn’t an issue with electric guitars as they have their sound produced through passive or active pickups and a guitar amplifier.
WHAT ARE GUITAR FRETS?
Guitar frets are metal strips inserted on the fretboard of a guitar or stringed instrument. Each fret represents one semitone. The importance of frets is so you do not have to be exact with your finger placement to play the correct note.
What are guitar frets made of?
There are two main types of fret wire:
Nickel silver, don’t be fooled, it doesn’t contain any silver. They are made up of a mixture of copper, nickel and possibly zinc or other trace amounts of metal materials.
Stainless steel, self-explanatory but harder for luthiers to work with and more costly, both in materials and labor.
Fret wire sizes:
6230 – Vintage frets (smallest) – .078″ x .043″
6105 – Modern narrow and tall – .090″ x .055″
6150 – Vintage jumbo – .102″ x .042″
6130 – Medium Jumbo – .106″ x .036″
6100 – Jumbo – .110″ x .055″
FINAL THOUGHTS ON – HOW MANY FRETS DOES A GUITAR HAVE?
For most guitarists, the standard of 20 frets for an acoustic or 21-24 frets for an electric is sufficient. Only if you need to play a specific piece you would otherwise be unable to play do you really need to start looking at 24+ fret guitars.
To expand the amount of tones you are able to play, I would sooner recommend a 7 or 8 string guitar over say a 36 fret guitar. I hope this helps, thanks for reading!
