If I have a choice, I would never buy nickel silver frets again. SS is a design improvement that wasn't available during the "Golden Years", so they didn't know any better. Horseshoe & buggy manufacturers all thought automobiles sucked, and I'm sure they had a pile of "reasons" why... and the smart buggy manufacturers switched to making automobile coaches.
If there's a tonal difference, I can't tell, maybe I have to set the amp's treble knob on 3 instead of 4.... I adjust the knobs to sound good anyway, so it's not like a big imposition. I wonder how many people have constructed identical necks with different fret material, played them in a blindfold test with the result recorded on an oscilloscope, and analyzed the frequency differences? Sure, everybody.... I recently bought a little DMT diamond knife sharpener for rounding SS frets, as soon as I get some more I'll let you know how it works. Most of the complainers seem to be people who don't want to work any harder to install or dress them, hmmm, buggies were easier too. But automobiles suck anyway, we have reasons.... :laughing11: