JP13 Fret Sprout

[jestremera1]

I've never had it happen on a Music Man but it's happening on my JP13. Two questions:

1) Has anyone else seen this on their MM guitars?
2) What's the best way to go about fixing it?

 

[Tollywood]

Hello. Yes, this is quite common during the change of seasons. You need to put a humidifier in your music room and run it for several days. Maybe even a week, depending on how dry the neck is. You will know it is done when the fret edges don't feel picky anymore.

 

[Lou]

Case humidifier will work as well. Or you can find a competent tech who can file them down for you. I filed my Luke III myself as it was very stubborn. I got some files and very fine sandpaper from Stuart McDonald.

 

[Tollywood]

...I filed my Luke III myself as it was very stubborn. I got some files and very fine sandpaper from Stuart McDonald.

You are a brave man, Lou. I would be too worried that I'd mess it up.

 

[jestremera1]

You are a brave man, Lou. I would be too worried that I'd mess it up.

Agreed, I have some ability in terms of repair and setup but I wouldn't feel too comfortable taking a file to my guitar. LOL

 

[straycat113]

I am with you on that one Bryan. I had it happen twice on two Peavey Wolfgangs I bought within 3 months of each other from Arizona and Nevada off of Ebay long ago. When the first one came I called my friend Mike who owns the shop I hang in and he told me to play something else and give the guitar sometime to see if it adjusts to the new climate. In about a month the guitar was perfect and I just followed suit when the second one came and had the same results. I also have never had an issue with either guitar after that. I have never had a fret-sprout issue with any of my EBMMM guitars and three of them are 20-23 years old.

I would advise that when you are done playing to put your guitar back in it's case and get a humidifier. I know some guys that have had no issues with homemade ones of just leaving a damp piece of sponge in a baggie or zip-lock bag in the case compartment which you can Google on the web on how to make for best results. The best thing you can be is patient and the last thing I would ever do is file or have them cut.

 

[Lou]

I just took my time. It was my first try. Happy I did it.

 

[BrickGlass]

Had it on my BFR koa JP. Put a humidifier in the case, two months later and it was completely gone.

 

[Spudmurphy]

I haven't experienced it on a MM. I have experienced it on a guitar that was built in 1985 and developed fret sprout in 2003 = 18 years later, so age is no deciding factor in this. It happened because I had a new heating system installed that dried the air out.

It is common for the reasons stated above and the condition can "feel" a lot worse than itv actually is. It's a easy fix with some good wet and dry paper - but you need to know what you're doing. For example you don't want to sand the arris off/from the fretboard edge.

 

[jestremera1]

I'll try the humidifier route first. If that doesn't work, I'll take it to someone. Thanks all for the help

 

[Tollywood]

I'll try the humidifier route first. If that doesn't work, I'll take it to someone. Thanks all for the help

You're welcome. Please let us know how it turns out.

 

[Metlupass2]

If you don't file them down it will just happen next year if it's not properly humidified. ALL guitars are subject to this. 2 out if 3 of my Tom Andersons had this problem but none of my Suhrs in the same room. Wood reacts to temperature and humidity.

 

[DrKev]

Yes, it's all part and parcel of dealing with wood. In principle, 'better seasoned' wood should be less prone to shrinkage that cause fret sprout but it can happen to an guitar neck at any price from any manufacturer. Humidification is good answer. The alternative is to take the guitar to a tech or luthier now and have them file the fret ends, you'll never have to worry about this ever again.