man is it ever dry (rough frets).

[lomky]

I haven't been playing my maple necked Sterling over the holidays, it's basically sat in my room on a stand. I picked it up today, and to my disappointment I found the frets to be VERY rough, by rough I mean they seem to have moved past the neck edge, or I guess more precisely the neck has shrunk and the frets have not.

I'm quite worried about this, has anyone else experienced this problem in the dry winter? Is there anything I can do, apart from buying a humidifier?

One other interesting observation, I have a SUB4 (rosewood) that has been stored in the case in the same room and it is not showing the same fret problem.

Any suggestions?
thanks!

[the unrepentant]

It's a common occurance, affectionately known as fret sprout. It happens when your basses get dry or the temperature changes wildly, i'm sure a lot of the southern american knuckleheads can attest to this. If your SUB hasn't been out of the case much, then it won't have changed. It doesn't happen much over here in england, mainly because the weather is always crap!

Like i say though, it's a common problem, take it to a luthier and they'll fix it for you.

[lomky]

Thanks for the terminology! In your opinion will this correct itself as the weather/humidity changes?

[silverburst]

I don't know, but some fretboard conditioner might take care of it by moistening up the wood. Might be worth a try.

[Black Lake]

Sounds like your humidity is too low at home. The neck will expand when the humidity rises in the spring or you can get a room humidifier and maintain your humidity at 30%. Home Depot or Canadian Tire will have these in stock and your bass will thank you.

If that is not an option, then have the fret ends dressed by a luither that way next year you will not have fret sprout again.

[the unrepentant]

Thanks for the terminology! In your opinion will this correct itself as the weather/humidity changes?

It might do, though it might not, but as black lake says, if you get your frets dressed by a luthier then the problem will be gone now and less likely to return in the future.

[GGK]

I live in an area where the temperature changes rather rapidly, heck it was +11 C on Sunday and -5 C yesterday, go figure. Needless to say, I keep my baby in my mini-jam room in the basement (probably not the best place) I try and keep the temp at a 68 F down there. I know it may not be condusive to each and everyone, but I always store my bass in its case after I play. So far I have never had to touch or do anything (other than using WW's) Just a thought.
Take Care and Happy New Year.

[lomky]

thanks for the replies guys! I'm a little worried because I haven't been able to find anyone around here to trust to do a fret job. I'm going to try the suggestions posted here regarding humidifiers and see if that helps, but I suspect it would be pretty difficult for the wood to accept the moisture that has been lost. From now on I will be keeping the bass in the case when not in use. I'm wondering if maple necks are more prone to this. I have five other basses (all rosewood) that haven't had this happen.

[the unrepentant]

Have you tried the net? a Good luthier is hard to find. I'm really surprised nobody from the southern states has chimed in yet because i remember someone saying something about this a while ago and a good few people agreeing.

Like i say, try the net. And where are you from mate?

[lomky]

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

It's VERY cold and dry here in the winter.

[the unrepentant]

Ah, yeah that's very believable then. As for your other basses not doing it, i don't know, but i'm sure there'll be someone within posting distance of you that will be able to give your baby some TLC

[nashman]

+1 on adding some humidity to the air if it's dry. I have mine at closer to 40% - it s/b relative to the outside air temp - generally less humidity when it's colder.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

This is normal considering the weather changes and the harsh and often fluctuating climate we endure up here in Canada and Northern U.S. and it is not limited to MM instruments. With the unfinished back of the necks, they may be more sensitive to the elements but that's just the way wood is.

I tried putting a humidifier in my room in the winter, but it seemed like so much effort and it was making condensation on the windows so I stopped. Unfortunately, heating makes the air dry (especially electric) and it is tough to regulate it. I do have a dehumidifier for the summer and that seems to work well.

Filing fret ends is a relatively simple, quick and common job for a guitar repair man. There should be someone decent in your area to do it.

[MrMusashi]

the cold winters... heating the house with woodfire.. it all dries up the wood

i have a planet waves humidifier kit with a hygrometer. its really for acoustic guitar but it works for any guitar at all. just put it in the case and give it a week or so in there and the wood should expand again.

MrM

ps: my humidity is so low i cant measure it right now.. below 20%.. inside the case it maintains a nice 35%
pps: direct exposure to heating sources will also shrink the wood. so keep it away from the heaters, fireplace etc etc

[BluesBassPlayer]

Common occurance for fret sprouts. I had a new Warwick Jack Bruce LE Thumb bass and the frets sprouted. I call Warwick, and he actually told me to ship it back to him for a fret job, or as an option, hydrate the neck slowly over time. I don't play the Warwick, not too comfy, so I invested in a good humidifier for the winter months. It took a season, but the neck went back to normal and hasn't sprouted since. All of my basses are doing well in the house. The forced air from my heating system is murder on the basses. I keep it somewhere in the 40 to 50% humdidity. Also, I have a de humidifier for the summer months.

Jimi

Also, different woods retain moisture better than others. The Warwick fingerboard is ebony and the neck is bubinga and wenge.