ALMM90 shrinking neck, exposed fret edges...

[Cenobyte]

Hey folks, so I recently acquired a beautiful mint 2007 AL MM90 with birdseye maple neck (posted pics a few months back it included an autographed guard and MM pic from the AL clinic tour), which I have had to put away in its case, as the weather has shrunk my fretboard and exposed the edges of the frets on either side of the neck.

I've done a bit of reading around online about this, and know it's not uncommon with maple, but in 30 years this is the first it's ever happened to me. Wondering if anyone has any tips at getting the neck re-moisturized (not interested in filing down the edges unless I know for sure it won't expand again)... currently i have it back in the case, a guitar store guy I know has a 60's tele which he had a similar problem with and he suggested a dampened facecloth moistened with distilled water, rolled in wax paper in the case with the guitar, which I've done but after a week nothing has happened.

I suppose I can always go out and get a humidifier, but to be honest it's not that dry in my place... so I'm a little unsure what to do... what do you guys think?

EDIT: I should also mention, obviously different wood, but my ALHH rosewood neck has remained perfect.

 

[roburado]

I would suggest getting a hygrometer to see how humid or how dry your place is. I used to think my place wasn't very dry. I think Taylor Guitars recommends a humidity of 40%. I have seen that figure as a suggested level of humidity for electric guitars as well. I got a hygrometer, and I found that the humidity in my apartment was 14%. My guitars did much better after I started using a humidifier. I don't really have any great solutions aside from a humidifier and a hygrometer to monitor the level of humidity.

 

[robberns]

I had some recent experience with this on a Luke III with a rosewood neck that had been at Guitar Center for the past year (not on display, but in a case somewhere). Had a pretty decent case of fret-sprout.
I keep my music room between 45-50% RH, had the guitar sitting out for a few days, but no change.
I think once the neck shrinks, it won't expand that much. I've dealt with this on a few of my guitars.
I would bring the offending instrument to my tech, he'd file the fret ends, and all would be good. But i grew tired of this so i purchased some tool from Stew-Mac including a fret end beveler and some files. I took care of the Luke by removing the neck and putting it in a vise. Took my time, and now the frets are fine. Smooth as butter. Or a baby's butt. Whatever.
If you are not comfortable undertaking this sort of surgery, take the guitar to a reputable tech and have them take care of it. Not a huge deal, but makes a huge difference in comfort.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I bought a maple neck Wolfgang a million years ago from a music store in Sweden that had fret sprout. In fact, all the unbound guitars in the store had fret sprout! They told me the super cold winters really mess up their display guitars.

I spoke with my tech at the time, and had the fret end filed while they were sticking out. He told me if you do it when the neck is shrunk it should never bother you again.

 

[Cenobyte]

Thanks for the replies! I'm not confident enough to file down fret edges myself but I'm also not sure who to take the guitar to, as I have no real experience in these matters and have NO idea who would be qualified... I mean the most tech I've ever had done has been setup's from time to time, and a pickup change.

Since it's a recent event (the guitar was perfect until just before a gig in late Nov) I think I'll try the humidifier thing first for a few weeks and if that fails take it to the guy who did the best setup for me and ask him to file down the sharp bottom edge, so that if/when re-moisturizes again the frets on the board will still be the same (Toronto can get very humid in the summer)... or if the guy has some of his own suggestions I'll take those into consideration. Anyway I really appreciate the response, thanks guys!

 

[robberns]

That sounds like a wise plan.
I am blessed with not only 2 great guitar techs near me, but an amp guy as well.
That being said, since I own about 30 guitars and 10 amps, I've taught myself (and took a repair course) to do a lot of the minor maintenance. Saves me travel time and money.

 

[overpaid]

Get the neck finished with some kind of sealant, I.E. like a Fender, Ibanez, Gibson, Etc. Just my 2c

 

[Spudmurphy]

I had a guitar made for me in the 80's - my son has it now. Guitar was finished in nitro celly and the neck was lacquered too. That guitar was stable and no problem right up to 2006 when I had a new heating system installed in my house. The heating was now much more efficient and the result was the guitar neck developed fret sprout - 20 years later!!!

Wood is wood and will move etc I'm sure a lacquered neck will help but may not solve the fret sprout issue

 

[guitarnotsoguru]

I bought a Strat from Arizona one time and it had fret sprout that I'm sure was due to the dry climate. I would probably suggest a humidifier as knee jerk reaction.

 

[DrKev]

Humidifier is an appropriate response. You could get a luthier to file off the fret ends too and then you'll know it'll never appen again.

Beej, who do you know in Toronto who can do this? Cenobyte, you could also the bigger music stores in Toronto, like 12th fret perhaps. Aren't they pretty good?

 

[beej]

Get the neck finished with some kind of sealant, I.E. like a Fender, Ibanez, Gibson, Etc. Just my 2c

That's terrible advice- even if you finish the back of the neck, you'd have to seal the fretboard to solve this issue. It can happen on any brand of guitar when it's particularly dry.

If you get the humidity up for a while (either in a room, or in the case with high humidity), the neck should come back to normal and you'll be good to go.

 

[beej]

Beej, who do you know in Toronto who can do this? Cenobyte, you could also the bigger music stores in Toronto, like 12th fret perhaps. Aren't they pretty good?

Indeed, the 12th fret does great work, and they're an EBMM dealer. That's who I'd suggest. (Though I'd still suggest trying high humidity first.)

Fwiw, I bought a few small humidifiers (Moistair) for the house since I have rads, and it's done wonders for the guitars. Doesn't take too much to keep them happy.

 

[tbonesullivan]

Oiled necks are much more susceptible to moisture variations than those that are finished. I live in NJ and have never had a fret sprout problem, probably because my guitars live in their cases and also I keep a humidifier going all winter long set to 50% relative humidity in the basement. Guitars need some level of humidity at all times. Just feel lucky that you don't own something like a pro violin/viola/cello/bass or woodwind instrument. They need to be kept away from extremes or they crack and then bye bye to what can be a 50K+ investment.

 

[Astrofreq]

I live in New Mexico (the desert) and I do fret dressings on guitars on a weekly basis at the store where I work. Before I moved here, I never had a fret sprout out in my life.

 

[Cenobyte]

Again thanks for all the replies folks, much appreciated. I'm going for the humidifier first then I'll deal with fret trimming from there if needed.

Indeed, the 12th fret does great work, and they're an EBMM dealer. That's who I'd suggest. (Though I'd still suggest trying high humidity first.)

Fwiw, I bought a few small humidifiers (Moistair) for the house since I have rads, and it's done wonders for the guitars. Doesn't take too much to keep them happy.

Oddly that's where I purchased this guitar, it was a consignment piece, so I'm sure they'd help me out if needed (included an image of the guitar from their website)... was prefect when I got it home and for a few months, then this ridiculous winter happened. I have electric floor board heat, lived in this place for years, had multiple maple neck guitars, finished and unfinished without issue. I guess this one was just a little more moist than others I've owned.

Also, to address an earlier suggestion, I agree that finishing the neck isn't a great plan, mostly because I much prefer the feel of a oil/wax finish and it's 80% of why I buy EBMM guitars... so it would be counter productive and I know enough about this now to understand it's common and can be reversed or attended to without radical fixes.

 

[edhalen]

That's a beautiful AL! It looks great in black. Congrats and play the #$%^ out of it .