How do you fix "fret sprout" ?

Hoover · #1 05-07-2010, 08:26 AM

One of my basses has developed an annoying case of fret sprout on the upper end of the fingerboard (G-string side). Basically the ends of frets #12-20 have started to protrude away from the neck.

I have no intention of fixing this myself, I plan to bring it to my local repair guy, but I'm just curious as to how this is usually remedied. Are the protruding ends of the frets filed down to be flush with the side of the fingerboard, or do they get ground off, or hammered back into the neck, or what?

JTE · #2 05-07-2010, 08:32 AM

Filed down carefully to be flush with the wood. That's how you fix the problem after it rears its head. To prevent it, you age the wood properly. It's not really fret sprout, it's wood shrinkage. The fret's the same size it always was, but the wood has shrunk, exposing the end of the fret wire. So they have to file it down to the wood's new dimension.

John

Mr.Bassie720 · #3 05-07-2010, 08:35 AM

I have seen some high end basses with some mild fret sprout. I can't tolerate that because I have small hands and it bothers me as I change positions. All my basses have had the fret ends rounded/ground down. If your frets are not loose this is all that should need to be done and you can wait while your repair person does it. 10 minutes max.

sevenyearsdown · #4 05-07-2010, 08:45 AM

Oil the fingerboard as needed, and dont be afraid of a little humidity here and there. Wood doesn't like dry, sterile environments.

mikeyswood · #5 05-07-2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

protrude away from the neck.

Are they coming up or out? Up is a problem. Out is a piece of cake.

RTL · #6 05-07-2010, 08:56 AM

The best way to keep frets from sprouting?

Don't water them

Jaco D · #7 05-07-2010, 09:05 AM

I had a Gibson 335 clone (don't kill me - I'm reformed!

) that had fret sprouts that put scratches on my fretting hand. I just put masking tape on the wood surrounding the fret ends, bought a fine file from Home Depot and filed away.

Hoover · #8 05-07-2010, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeyswood

Are they coming up or out? Up is a problem. Out is a piece of cake.

They're coming out, not up. Glad to here that's an easy fix!

**251** · #9 05-07-2010, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

They're coming out, not up. Glad to here that's an easy fix!

It is Seasonal & has a lot to do with the time of year & the weather when/where the bass was made. Wait for the warm humid weather where you live. The neck will swell again & the frets will not be sticking out. If you file them down when the wood has shrunk, you will have a problem with the slots in the wood being rough on your hands in dry season. How would you fix that? Timing & patience is important.

Joe Smithberger · #10 05-10-2010, 08:15 AM

FWIW I keep an emory board (like you use on finger nails) in my bag and hit the sharp edges when they bug me. It's a little slower process than a machinists file, but I just consider it part of my maintenance regimen. You'll find that after a full year of temperature and humidity changes you'll have it all sorted out.