Hey guys the JPX I just got has sharp fret ends. From searching I see that "sprout" is a common problem with Musicman guitars. I did get the guitar used and I'm not sure how it was stored previously. I would assume in the case as it's totally mint, but it could have been a cold dry climate. I conditioned the board and now have it in the case with a humidifier. I contacted EBMM customer service and they said it probably needs a fret dress. Should I leave it for a bit with the humidifier or look into doing a fret dress on it?
- Thread starter yellowv03
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Roubster
Well-known member
If you contacted CS, they know best. However it cannot hurt trying to get some moisture back into the wood if it is too dry. I have not had this issue on any of the EBMMs that I have or owned previously. However the store it came from initially might have had it hanging, and dont have a proper humidifier in there? I was in my local Guitar Center and played a Dargie Delight 2 Silhouette Special, and it had sharp fret ends...it also unfortunately had the end of the fretboard cracked (clsoest to the truss rod wheel).
Once the humidity comes back, the wood will expand and the fret ends will recede back into the wood. If you keep your case humidified during the winter, you'll be all set. Having the frets ends filed will likely have take care of the issue for good.
I'm gonna give it a little time and see what happens. I live in South Florida so cold and lack of humidity are not an issue for me. I don't store my guitars in cases, but my house is kept between 72-77 degrees year round and I have never had an issue with any of my guitars. However the guitar came from Syracuse where I'm sure the climate was much more severe. In fact I think they were having snow storms up there around the time the guitar was shipped. If I don't notice an improvement I will have the fret ends dressed. Came to find that there is actually a fantastic luthier in my city that will do it if need be, but unless the change is drastic I will probably have it done either way. So far with 24 hrs in the case with the humidifier there is 0 change.
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bovinehost
Administrator
I just have to say, "Not particularly common." It is common enough on ALL guitars/basses with frets when said instruments are not maintained properly. A good constant humidity level negates all of this, of course, on well-made instruments.
I wasn't trying to knock EBMM, but I googled "EBMM sharp frets ends" and I found a few things. The guitar is fantastic other than this. With the level of perfection the rest of the guitar has I highly doubt it went out of the factory with sharp fret ends. However I have gotten many guitars both new and used from different climates, even different countries and none have had the issue. Hopefully the humidity will help, but if not I will happily get the fret dress done, as I love the guitar. From what I am told the local luthier I found totally rounds the fret ends and they were described as "round and supple", so it may be well worth doing regardless.
BrickGlass
Well-known member
I had the same problem on my koa JP within about two months of getting the guitar new right from MM. I conditioned the fretboard and let a humidifier do its magic in the case and problem gone. It took about a month though so be patient if you are going that route. The wood won't soak up enough humidity over the course of 24 hours. Or get the fret dress like CS said.
I realize it will take time, but it has been a few days now and I don't notice any improvement at all. I hate to keep it cased up. I like to hang my guitars. It just inspires me to pick them up and play them. Maybe I will get a humidifier for the room and just leave it for a while.
Well I got a room humidifier, but good news. When I took it out of the case to check on it's progress just a few minutes ago it seems noticably better. Looks like I will just wait it out and I think it will sort itself. So now I have the room humidifier set up so I will give it a couple of weeks before getting any fretwork done. A room humidifier surely won't be a bad thing to have with 12 guitars in there anyway.
beej
Moderator
Good to hear.
Yeah, a room humidifier does wonders. My house gets incredibly dry in the winter (radiators, no central humidifier) and I just keep a 12 gal humidifier in the room with most of my guitars, set to about 40%. Does the trick - no sprout and keeps the neck adjustments to a minimum.
Yeah, a room humidifier does wonders. My house gets incredibly dry in the winter (radiators, no central humidifier) and I just keep a 12 gal humidifier in the room with most of my guitars, set to about 40%. Does the trick - no sprout and keeps the neck adjustments to a minimum.
JasonT
Well-known member
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- Nov 12, 2006
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I would wait it out with the humidifier. I believe you have an ebony fretboard on that guitar. My koa Luke with ebony board also has some fret sprout. My rosewood fretboard guitars do not seem to have the problem though. I think ebony is just more sensitive to the humidity (or lack thereof).
Spudmurphy
Well-known member
Fret sprout is very easy to solve - I did a (non EB) guitar last week - took me minutes to resolve.
A piece of fine wet and dry, a small piece of wood to wrap it around and voila.
A piece of fine wet and dry, a small piece of wood to wrap it around and voila.
Here in humid Florida I have never had an issue. This one now seems to be resolving itself. Ebony is pretty sensitive to dryness and this guitar came from Syracuse where I'm sure the winter has been quite rough. I think it will be fine soon. It is already much better.
My friend had a very similar issue with his Blackmachine B6. It came from the Maryland area and when it got to him (in SoCal), the frets were nearly popping out. Some conditioning and patience and everything returned to normal. My JPX (which was NOS in a box for a year) needed some serious fretboard conditioning and had sharp fret ends for about 2 days before the wood took in moisture and expanded back to normal.
What are you running on it for strings? I immediately threw out the hybrid slinkys and got some power slinkys and dropped the action a ton and set it up for D standard. It still feels a little tight, but I like my guitars that way. Nice and springy.
