Hey guys since I got my JPX it has had a fret sprout issue. I conditioned the board and have been running a humidifier the whole time I've had it which is about a month and a half or so. Back when I got it I e-mailed CS and they said to take it to a trusted tech and get a fret end dress or it would just keep reoccurring with climate change, but I figured I would wait it out a bit and see what getting moisture back in the wood would do. At first it seemed to get better, but now it is worse than it was to begin with for no apparent reason. The room it's in is kept at 76-77 during the day and about 71-72 at night and I run the humidifer at night when it's cooler in there. Plus I'm in Florida so lack of humidity really isn't an issue. I keep like 12 other guitars in that room and all of them are fine. So at this point I am pretty much over it and I'm just ready to get the fret dress done. I contacted CS again and am waiting on a reply to figure out exactly what the cost would be to have them do it, but if I had to cover the work and the shipping both ways it would likely be way too expensive. I do have a local guy that is supposed to be top notch. My question and main worry is, how likely is it that a luthier could mess up the finish on the painted neck? If it was just an unfinished rosewood board I would do it myself, but the sides of the ebony board are cleared over. I don't want it to look like hell when it's done. Also another thought I had was someone mentioned using fine wet and dry paper and a block to sand down sharp fret ends. With fine enough paper and wet sanding would that do enough to fix the issue and not damage the paint? Thanks for any help guys.
- Thread starter yellowv03
- Start date
Well I just said the hell with it and decided to use some testicular fortitude and not be afraid to work on this thing. I'm never afraid to work on my own guitars. So why should the JPX be any different? So I went out to the trusty toolbox and got my fret end file, some fine sandpaper and steel wool. Now it is a ton better and I didn't damage or mar the board or neck finish or anything. Just took my time.
littlephil
Well-known member
Good to hear the finish on the fretboard edge is still OK. Its a lot easier to do on boards with non-finished edges, but as long as you're careful its hard to really hit the finish (unless the fret tang is sticking out! Luckily EBMM have the tang cut just short of the slot, most guitars don't, so when/if the frets spout, there's a lot more sticking out, and you have to be more careful when you're filing the ends)
Did you go the whole 9 yards and round the ends over ala ESP/J-Customs?
Did you go the whole 9 yards and round the ends over ala ESP/J-Customs?
TheShreddinHand
Well-known member
Scary! But glad you were able to do it with no issues!
-Eric
-Eric
straycat113
Well-known member
It is weird and unpredictable when fret sprout will just develop, I have only had it happen twice on two guitars I snagged on ebay years ago that were not EB but did have unfinished necks, and came from Arizona and Nevada. I was advised to just wait a month to see if it took care of itself and that is exactly what happened to the first and then the second. I have never had any recurring issues in 5 or 6 years. I have been lucky to never have an issue with any of my Balls though I do have it with a Fender Tele.
Glad everything worked out for the best though it was ballsy -no pun intended- of you to take the task on yourself.
Glad everything worked out for the best though it was ballsy -no pun intended- of you to take the task on yourself.
littlephil
Well-known member
I love rounding fret ends
I just dressed one of my guitars, but I didn't have time to round the ends. Next time!
I just dressed one of my guitars, but I didn't have time to round the ends. Next time!
