The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast Podcast 538: The Story of Micro-Frets Guitars with Seth Lorinczi
Feb 22, 2026
Seth Lorinczi, writer known for deep reporting on guitars and music history and author of Death Trip, tells the quirky tale of Micro-Frets—their space-age design, the Calibrato vibrato, and odd features like an intonatable nut. He recounts the brand’s Maryland roots, a short-lived revival and its business failures. Seth also shares memories from the D.C. punk scene and how psychedelic therapy changed his life.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
How The First Micro-Frets Run Ended
- The original Micro-Frets company declined after founder Ralph Jones suffered a heart attack and production dwindled despite efforts by his wife Hazel and a financier to keep it afloat.
- The factory was a sizable 15,000 sq ft workshop that limped on for a few years before using up parts and closing.
Micro-Frets Revival Improved Guitars But Failed Businesswise
- William Meters, a Frederick native, revived Micro-Frets decades later with CNC production, improved build quality, and replicated pickups but repeated business mistakes.
- Despite making arguably higher-quality instruments, they lacked marketing, financing, distributor control, and the workshop was eventually repossessed.
Original Micro-Frets Were Priced Like Premium Guitars
- Micro-Frets originally sold for about $450 in 1970, roughly $4,000 today, placing them near higher-end Strat/SG pricing and making market adoption difficult.
- That price point forced them to compete with major brands during Norlin/CBS eras, narrowing their potential niche to players who valued their tech and eccentric aesthetics.
