SLO Factory Finishing

[josheyre]

I dropped by Guitar Center today to pick up some odds and ends and wandered over to the bass aisle where about 5 EBMM basses were hanging. I ran my hands down the fretboard of a Stingray and almost cut my hands on the fret ends they were so sharp. I then ran my hand down the Sterling next to it and it wasn't much better. I assume that's not normal, right?

I'm still waiting on my sister to send my SUB she picked up for me from a craigs listing, so my EBMM bass finish knowledge is nil. I want to pick up a used Stingray in the future, so I'm curious about finish expectations. I find it odd though because all of my EBMM guitars are as smooth as a baby's bottom.

I'm not trying to start anything either. I'm a devoted fan.

 

[silverburst]

Not normal when they are new, or if they are well-cared for.

If they have been sitting at Guitar Center for awhile (years) they can get fret sprout with changes in the weather as the wood shrinks, while the metal frets do not.

Not just an EBMM thing, of course.

 

[josheyre]

they can get fret sprout with changes in the weather as the wood shrinks, while the metal frets do not.

Makes sense considering we had about 2 months of near -20 weather in Minneapolis. These were definitely sprouting. And I can't imagine Guitar Center actually making sure their instruments on display are in good form. God I hate that place. There were some Fenders hanging right next to them that weren't quite as bad, but the "F" on the headstock probably still moves them a bit faster so they don't have as much time to age.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Probably storage conditions as the fret work on EB Basses is excellent.

 

[Big Poppa]

YOu know this gets mentioned from time to time...WE can make them weatherproof and take the sould out of them. They are craftsman made musical instruments and will react to impoper care more than a bullettproof cheapie...just like a porsche

 

[fidooda]

YOu know this gets mentioned from time to time...WE can make them weatherproof and take the sould out of them. They are craftsman made musical instruments and will react to impoper care more than a bullettproof cheapie...just like a porsche

oh please don't do that. My balls adjust quite well to the weather changes here from 30 degrees to minus 30 degrees (that's from 90 to -20 for you USians). I'll even give you my trick....leave it indoors

you leave these basses in a nice room and you're set. that said, the world isn't ready yet to stop torturing basses in music stores.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Yes, fret sprout is normal on instruments that are subjected to uncontrolled atmospheric conditions, especially the extremes. This is not a problem exclusive to EBMM.

 

[MrMusashi]

i lent my best friend a bass and when i came to pick it up it had sprouts. they use woodfire to heat their house so my guess is that its too dry for instruments in there.
none of my other basses show even a hint of sprout so proper care (humidity control) should take care of it. the sprouted bass is now in its case with a moisturizer, it will stay there untill its better

MrM

 

[five7]

Sprouts? Gotta be inflicted by GC. Something you would expect from a MIM fender. MrMusashi, please let us know if the moisturizer works. Otherwise I have a good fix that I have performed on many MIM fenders.

 

[MrMusashi]

my experience is patience and proper humidity will fix it

or you can hack away with a proper file but i prefer to not touch unless i have to...

MrM

 

[josheyre]

You know this gets mentioned from time to time...WE can make them weatherproof and take the sould out of them. They are craftsman made musical instruments and will react to impoper care more than a bullettproof cheapie...just like a porsche

A few of the Fenders hanging there were weatherproofed and they felt like they were enbalmed... ick. Don't do that! In my tiny little brain, I can't see an EBMM product lasting a week before someone snatches it up, so that's why I was a little worried about the frets poking out... I assumed they hadn't been there very long. Didn't even think weather would have time to be an issue in the store. My bad!

I might go back to pick up a stand today and I'll tell them to take care of the damn things. Somebody might get the wrong idea.

 

[josheyre]

the world isn't ready yet to stop torturing basses in music stores.

They probably cut the heat WAAAAAAY back at night and have no humidifier to balance it out when the heat's blasting. That seems pretty short-sighted if you have a million $ + worth of inventory being brutalized. The MN winter was rough this year.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I had fret sprout appear on a 20 year old guitar - it happened after I installed a new heating system (more efficient) in my house. The neck was lacquered too!!

It happens.

 

[bassmonkey]

I shipped all my basses(all MM!) from the UK to Australia via sea, when I emigrated. The were exposed to extreme variations in temperature and humidity on the 10 week voyage. When they arrived in Perth I took them out of the case. No such fret problems, just needed a tweak on the trussrod to sort out the necks and then good to go.

 

[Noble]

Hey Josh,

Which GC did you go to? Edina? I'd like to investigate this and get these instruments fixed.

Thanks,
Phil

 

[Big Poppa]

Thanks Phil

 

[josheyre]

Hey Josh,

Which GC did you go to? Edina? I'd like to investigate this and get these instruments fixed.

Thanks,
Phil

Phil,

It was the Edina store. It'd be great for you to get on them about it. Glad that you're looking out for stuff like this. They're too nice, and expensive, to be giving that kind of first impression.

Josh

 

[oli@bass]

Factory fret finish is phantastic in general. And climate can have all sorts of impact on instruments.

I've seen fret sprout on 3 StingRays... on a 2006 30th Anniversary, which came to me from an obviously very dry climate (the rosewood fretboard was very light!), a 2001 100th NAMM with a Status graphite neck (go figure!) and the 1996 20th Anniversary which developed it since I bought it last September (which is odd, because I bought it locally and it has always been in Switzerland).

All the others I have (had) are perfect! In fact, the finishing is some of the best in the business. But: Wood moves, while metal does not, so it may happen that the frets are less than perfect when the instrument finally arrives at your location.