New EMBB Bongo 5HH - Fret Sprout :-/

[MarkF786]

Today I received a new EBMM Bongo 5HH (Mantis Green, with a maple neck & board) and I've been really digging it - except for the damn fret sprout which is scratching up my hand! I have 3 other EMBB basses, and 6+ other EMBB guitars (sorry, I'm too lazy to count), none with fret sprout, nor do I have the problem with the many other guitars I own. I typically only encounter this with cheap guitars, not new $3K guitars/basses.

I'm in NJ, so it's definitely cold with fairly low humidity, but not absurdly so; it's about 40% humidity in my house. I've had about 40-50 guitars pass through my possession, with only a few cheap ones suffering as badly from fret sprout like this one. Possibly the dealer in upstate NY has their stock in worse conditions, and the neck will naturally adjust. Or another difference that came to mind is all my other EMBB's with a solid maple neck are roasted, while the Bongo in Mantis Green is un-roasted, maybe making it more susceptible.

Though I have the tools and experience to address the fret sprout, but sorry, for a $3K bass I'l return it before having to fix it (or worse, paying to have if fixed). Part of my mentality is, "if I screw something up fixing a new guitar, then I can't return it." And if ~20 other guitars in my house don't have this problem, neither should this one.

BTW, it's interesting the bridge still has those bolts on the sides, which have been eliminated from the StingRay. Any backstory to while the Bongo kept the bolts?

It's definitely a good bass, but my NBD is soured by the sharp frets :-/

 

[mynan]

[email protected]

This is either a warranty issue, or it's not. If it's a warranty issue, contact customer service. If it's not, then fix it or return it.

 

[MarkF786]

Wow, great feedback (not). Returning it is probably the best option. Quality has been slipping. As you encourage, time to move on.

 

[DrKev]

Fret sprout can happen on any instrument. It's less common on higher priced instruments, yes, but it can still happen. If you are under warranty call Music Man Customer Service and the store you bought it from. If you are no longer under warranty, fret sprout is a very easy job for a good guitar tech or luthier and won't cost a lot.

 

[nebadon]

How long have you had Bass?

Give Bass at least 10 to 14 days to settle in new enviroment and see if there is any improvement: if not send it back for refund or repair (if you love everything else about it)

My new Stingray Special wouldn't hold a setup first 4 days I had it: was shipped to me Guitar Center (MF warehouse) went to return to local GC but a friend of mine worked in Service dept. and told me IHE sometimes takes 2 plus week for neck to settle in our area

Since I had 45 days to return decided to give his advice a shot and after 20 days held setup fine ever since.

 

[five7]

Any bass can get fret sprout, especially where I live. Return or remove the sprout.

 

[MarkF786]

I've decided to put several Boveda packs in the case and see if it improves over the next week. I did also email EBMM to see what they say. The bass is brand new, just received yesterday (thus why I was a bit p*ssed). It was built in May 2025 according to the serial number.

BTW, guitar manufactures can make fret sprout more rare & mild, for example by:

- Fretting instruments at low relative humidity (30-35%)
- Slightly undercutting the fret tang at edges
- Better rounding fret ends

Part of that is to reduce the sharpness if fret sprout occurs, and I know many better builders do these things. I don't know if EBMM does, but at least the 2nd & 3rd methods they don't appear to.

I'm hoping it's just a matter of the bass was stored in a cold, low RH warehouse, and hopefully some rehydration in the case will resolve the issue.