Help! Fret Sprouting

[bkrumme]

Hey guys. Got a small problem on my hands. I had a bit of time off work today so I came home and decided to play some of my guitars. It must be really dry in my house because I noticed fret sprout on a few of my EBMM's

Short of calling a Luthier and having them file the fret ends down, does anyone know of a way to counter the fret sprout? The only reason I'm really worried about it is because some of the fret tangs are starting to push the finish out on my BFR's.

I've already put a humidifier in the room to keep the humidity level up. It seems to have helped a little bit with the oil/wax finished necks.

 

[Spudmurphy]

This can happen to a guitar of any age and happened to a guitar of mine that was 20+ years old and had a lacquered neck. It happened because I had a more efficient heating system installed in my house and I gues the air became drier.

It is a simple job for a competent Luthier. Why not ask him to show you how it's done and then do the others yourself?

I had my guitar done once and it hasn't been a problem since.

You have done the right thing by introducing a humidifier.
FWIW I would suggest you put them back in their cases with maybe a case humidifier too?

 

[beej]

Give it some time with the humidifier. Should go back to normal once the neck has absorbed some moisture. Not an unusual phenomenon.

 

[bkrumme]

Thanks, Spud.

They stay in their cases when I'm not playing them, except if I'm only walking away for a few minutes. Adding a humidifier to the case is something I'll look into. I just need to find one that won't leak inside the case.

Maybe a jar of humidor crystals, like would be used with cigars...

 

[bkrumme]

Give it some time with the humidifier. Should go back to normal once the neck has absorbed some moisture. Not an unusual phenomenon.

Thanks, beej. I know it happens all the time, I was just wondering if there was a quick way to stop it. If the humidifier is it, I'll just give it a couple weeks and see how things are.

 

[ProtoChicken]

Brad, on top of the good advice you've already received, putting a wet sponge in an a Tupperware or some other plastic container and poking some holes in and placing it in your case it makes a good, cheap case humidifier.

 

[Spudmurphy]

Brad, on top of the good advice you've already received, putting a wet sponge in an a Tupperware or some other plastic container and poking some holes in and placing it in your case it makes a good, cheap case humidifier.

Ha! you were reading my mind - but then I thought "Spud don't sound like a cheapskate!" - but then I'd go down the tupperware route

 

[ProtoChicken]

Ha! you were reading my mind - but then I thought "Spud don't sound like a cheapskate!" - but then I'd go down the tupperware route

If I can make something at home I never buy it....though I should add this mantra has led to many disasters.

 

[bkrumme]

Thanks, Jonah. I actually thought of that as a cheap alternative to buying a bunch of $20 humidifiers.

I mentioned the humidor crystals as I'm also a cigar smoker and have them around most of the time. Funny thing, I hadn't checked my humidor in a while and it's fine. Sitting at 60% humidity right where it should be...though it's a much smaller space and easier to control.

 

[ProtoChicken]

Thanks, Jonah. I actually thought of that as a cheap alternative to buying a bunch of $20 humidifiers.

I mentioned the humidor crystals as I'm also a cigar smoker and have them around most of the time. Funny thing, I hadn't checked my humidor in a while and it's fine. Sitting at 60% humidity right where it should be...though it's a much smaller space and easier to control.

I used to keep Brazilian Rainbow Boas, their husbandry requires about 75% relative humidity which is a pain to maintain in New England winters. I used to just keep all my guitars in the their room in the winter.

 

[bkrumme]

I used to keep Brazilian Rainbow Boas, their husbandry requires about 75% relative humidity which is a pain to maintain in New England winters. I used to just keep all my guitars in the their room in the winter.

LOL. If I had a room with a bunch of snakes in it I wouldn't have this problem

 

[fsmith]

I've had 2 guitars that even after making sure the humidity level was increased in the winter would still develop sprout again eventually. I sent both back to be worked on by EB service and 6 years later, the JP never had another problem. Beej bought the other one...

 

[walleye]

It is a simple job for a competent Luthier. Why not ask him to show you how it's done and then do the others yourself?

yes!
the rule is never let a guitar repairer do anything without your presense
whats the point of having a guitar repaired if you dont learn anything?

 

[the24thfret]

yes!
the rule is never let a guitar repairer do anything without your presense
whats the point of having a guitar repaired if you dont learn anything?

+ eleventy billion

 

[tommyindelaware]

a very resounding +1 !!!!!!!!
this is the only way w/out seriously compromising your neck finish.
if you are going to have the frets trimmed.......send it to ernie ball so it will absolutely be done correctly and look the way it is suppose to look.

Give it some time with the humidifier. Should go back to normal once the neck has absorbed some moisture. Not an unusual phenomenon.

 

[Slingy]

Before you have any work done try some fret doctor if you have a rosewood board. Apply as necessary.

 

[bkrumme]

Before you have any work done try some fret doctor if you have a rosewood board. Apply as necessary.

Haven't heard of Fret Doctor before. I'll google and find out...

 

[Spudmurphy]

yes!
the rule is never let a guitar repairer do anything without your presense
whats the point of having a guitar repaired if you dont learn anything?

Well I know where you are coming from but in reality that is often not practical.
My mate is so busy he's not going to drop everything he's doing and let the customer who has brought in his guitar, jump the queue and watch him while he does his guitar. (It doesn't work like that with cars/motorcycles.)
The guitar is stacked in the awaiting repair rack and takes it's turn.
It would not be practical to have all customers watching him - he will however freely offer advise

 

[lukather101]

Well I know where you are coming from but in reality that is often not practical.
My mate is so busy he's not going to drop everything he's doing and let the customer who has brought in his guitar, jump the queue and watch him while he does his guitar. (It doesn't work like that with cars/motorcycles.)
The guitar is stacked in the awaiting repair rack and takes it's turn.
It would not be practical to have all customers watching him - he will however freely offer advise

There's no room where Dave works anyway Spud

 

[bkrumme]

A little update, guys.

The humidifier seems to have helped a little bit. The room is big and the humidifier is small so I'm going to go out and get a bigger humidifier that can handle my whole house.

I also picked up some Fret Doctor like Slingy suggested. That stuff is killer! I had a few guitars that needed the strings changed anyway so I just did it all at once. I used the Fret Doctor like I would have used Lemon Oil or a Wonder Wipe, only I let it sit for about 10 minutes on each guitar so it could soak in.

They're slowly returning to normal, I just have to wait it out and get a bigger humidifier.