Low humidity and overhanging frets

[Goofball Jones]

I'm here in the midwest where it gets very dry and cold in the winters. Our house get's VERY dry and even though we have a humidifier, sometimes it doesn't keep up with the dryness.

I went into a local Guitar Center the other day and was dismayed to practically get my fingers cut on all the fret-edges that overhang the fretboard in there. From the low priced models on the floor to the ones hanging up by the ceiling. It was pretty shocking.

Then I got home and starting playing my SR and to my alarm found that the frets on IT were starting to overhand the edge of the fretboard! This can only be from leaving it out all the time (because it sits here, right behind me and all during the day I'll pick it up on a whim and start playing it).

But what do I do now to correct this? Oil the fretboard and neck? Will the wood expand back out or am I screwed now and have to get the frets dressed? It's not bad enough to where it's cutting my fingers (like the ones in Guitar Center), but it's noticeable when I run my hand up and down the neck.

Also, I guess I have to start leaving my baby in it's case...

 

[Aussie Mark]

I guess I have to start leaving my baby in it's case...

Is yours a deluxe case? Where are the humidity controls located?

 

[Goofball Jones]

Is yours a deluxe case? Where are the humidity controls located?

Humidity controls? Didn't know it had any.

I have the basic hard-shell case for my Stingray HS. Didn't know there were varying degrees of cases.

 

[Brim]

Mark...you mean the dessicant baggies?

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

You can have the ends filed which will help. I had my SR5 done this year and it helped quite a bit but now with the extreme cold, the fret sprout is back. I guess that's one of the drawbacks of an unfinished neck; it is more susceptible or temperamental to humidity changes.

 

[Goofball Jones]

So I have to have them filed? there's no coming back from this naturally by oiling the neck or anything or when summer comes back around?

I mean, this bass JUST turned a year old a few weeks ago!

 

[RobertB]

Back when I lived in Colorado, the same thing happened to my basses. Had to have 'em filed. Lemon oil didn't help. It seemed to help as a PREVENTIVE measure, after this had happened to me once, but as long as they're still in that dry climate, I don't think lemon oil will help one that's already happened to.

One of mine that I didn't have filed did expand again, but only a good 6 months after I'd left that climate & moved back to southern california.

I think Aussie Mark's point about the "controls" was, "how will being in the case help - isn't just as dry/humid inside the case as outside?" ... or something to that effect.

Robert

 

[Hellboy]

I'm here in the midwest where it gets very dry and cold in the winters. Our house get's VERY dry and even though we have a humidifier, sometimes it doesn't keep up with the dryness.

I went into a local Guitar Center the other day and was dismayed to practically get my fingers cut on all the fret-edges that overhang the fretboard in there. From the low priced models on the floor to the ones hanging up by the ceiling. It was pretty shocking.

Then I got home and starting playing my SR and to my alarm found that the frets on IT were starting to overhand the edge of the fretboard! This can only be from leaving it out all the time (because it sits here, right behind me and all during the day I'll pick it up on a whim and start playing it).

But what do I do now to correct this? Oil the fretboard and neck? Will the wood expand back out or am I screwed now and have to get the frets dressed? It's not bad enough to where it's cutting my fingers (like the ones in Guitar Center), but it's noticeable when I run my hand up and down the neck.

Also, I guess I have to start leaving my baby in it's case...

The best thing to do is indeed to leave the bass in it´s case or to have multiple humidifiers. But keep them in their cases is I would say the best thing to do. I live in Sweden and it gets VERY dry here during winter. I have the instruments up on the walls in the studio I run and I use them pretty much every day so it´s a great hassle to keep them in their cases. So during winter time, I use not one but three humidifiers in the rather small room where I have the instruments. There are around 40 guitars and basses in there along with a Steinway grand from 1916, a Hammond B3 with a wooden leslie and some old wooden percussion instrumments. I spend around 45 minutes per day during winter to fill up the humidifiers with water. Dry air is a problem and one could ruin a very valuable instrument easily if not taking this matter seriously. Bigger problem with acoustic instruments indeed but even for solid body instruments I would suggest that you should try to keep the humidity above 50% all year around. That is a good basic rule to follow.

Sincerely//Jan

 

[oli@bass]

Steinway grand from 1916

OMG!!!! I think I should visit your studio... My mother used to have a 1908 Blüthner grand. Incredible mellow yet defined tone. I loved the bass sound of that (but never could properly play piano) and generally prefer the tone of old gands over that of new ones (they sound sterile to me).

Thanks for the tips on humidity control! Might need to check that out...

 

[jasper383]

What type of humidifier(s) do you have in your house? I suggest a whole house one, capable of covering more square footage than you have. We had, for years, a couple room type ones running, and it simply wasn't enough.

Get a humidistat to tell you what your humidity level is. 35% or less, and it's probably too dry.

 

[Goofball Jones]

Meh...good reason to go fretless now.

 

[Musicman Nut]

I'm here in the midwest where it gets very dry and cold in the winters. Our house get's VERY dry and even though we have a humidifier, sometimes it doesn't keep up with the dryness.

I went into a local Guitar Center the other day and was dismayed to practically get my fingers cut on all the fret-edges that overhang the fretboard in there. From the low priced models on the floor to the ones hanging up by the ceiling. It was pretty shocking.

Then I got home and starting playing my SR and to my alarm found that the frets on IT were starting to overhand the edge of the fretboard! This can only be from leaving it out all the time (because it sits here, right behind me and all during the day I'll pick it up on a whim and start playing it).

But what do I do now to correct this? Oil the fretboard and neck? Will the wood expand back out or am I screwed now and have to get the frets dressed? It's not bad enough to where it's cutting my fingers (like the ones in Guitar Center), but it's noticeable when I run my hand up and down the neck.

Also, I guess I have to start leaving my baby in it's case...

This is very common, it varies from where you live, It has Nothing to do with unfinished Necks this will happen with finished necks also.
Stu Mac sells Simple files to fix this Problem if your repair savy.

But once the neck shrinks once your pretty much done with the problem.
Hope this Helps.

 

[DTG]

for the first time in my life i am glad Ireland is so wet.We just had 5 days with no rain !!!! but all my basses and guitars are in tip top condition!!

 

[Big Poppa]

THanks Dave...that is the proper advice

 

[silverburst]

You know, I had a little of this on a bass I bought from Dude (and actually received).

I put some fretboard conditioner on it cause the fretboard looked dry, and intended to take it to my guy to get the frets touched up. Anyhow, in the few days it took before I could get it over to the shop, the fretboard expanded enough due to being moisturized (I guess), and it was fine.

So, maybe try some fretboard conditioner first (wonder wipes or lemon oil).

YMMV

 

[Kirby]

This is very common, it varies from where you live, It has Nothing to do with unfinished Necks this will happen with finished necks also.
Stu Mac sells Simple files to fix this Problem if your repair savy.

But once the neck shrinks once your pretty much done with the problem.
Hope this Helps.

If it is not too bad, you can even use sanding pads or blocks to knock the burrs off. Stu Mac sells these as well. About 15 minutes worth of work and it is finished. Like Dave said, once it is done, I have never had to repeat on the same bass.

 

[the unrepentant]

I'm glad i live in england, this doesn't happen over here because it's never dry haha

 

[roballanson]

I'm glad i live in england, this doesn't happen over here because it's never dry haha

I agree entirely - the only humidifier I got in my house is the one in my humidor...

Back on topic: Good advice from Dave though, the man knows.

 

[Goofball Jones]

Thanks for the advice all...

But one question, I don't hang out as much as I should on this board...and everyone is thanking Dave. Which post was Dave's?

 

[mynan]

He's the nutty one...