• Ernie Ball
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Sleeping At Sea

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 12, 2021
Messages
75
So firstly, the good...my latest EBMM is the Bea Artist Sabre! Absolutely in love with it. Out of my JR Cutlass, Kensure & Valentine this one feels the most like 'me'.

This was shipped to me in AUS from the US in the Mono case and had 10-52 strings tuned in Eb.

It played well immediately however in Melbourne we have had some wild weather swings from hot days to cold rainy days. I've been keeping this guy in his Mono case whereas my others hang on the wall.

I noticed the fret edges were a little sharp on some days and then fine on others.

I've put a little work into my room on humidity and now have a humidifier (set to 55%) and a dehumidifier to try keep the room more consistent.

I recently changed the strings to 10-54 and tuned to Drop C tuning. Since then I've got some extreme rattle/buzz going on with my low E string and the fret edges feel sharp again.

I've been adjusting neck relief anywhere from 0.006 to 0.010 and increasing saddle height up to 2.50mm however the buzz doesn't improve.

I put on a fret rocker and can feel movement between 5th & 7th fret, so looking light 6th might be too high.

For those with experience with humidity playing havoc, would you suggest I keep the room at a higher humidity say 60% for a bit to let the guitar absorb more with the hope it may reduce the fret sprout and perhaps fix the high fret...then lower to 55% slowly?

Any tips ideas would be welcomed!

IMG_20260308_162935207 (1).jpg
 

GWDavis28

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 23, 2003
Messages
12,806
Location
Mass
Congrats on the Rabea, great guitar. Fret sprout happens, my AL has been experiencing it as well, the temp changes like you said. Stew Mac has a Youtube video on handling the fret sprout.

Glenn |B)
 
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