neck shrink - frets, ouch!

realisticj · #1 10-01-2009, 11:58 AM

Glad I found this forum, hope some folks can give me some opinions/advice.

I decided to start playing again and bought a new bass. Peavey Millennium 4 string. It was used, but the price was right and the pictures showed it to be in good condition. The bass sounds great, but the frets aren't smooth up and down the neck, like they were on the new model I played. Actually, they're sharp and I'm pretty certain if I started playing hard on this thing, I'd slice through a finger tip or two. They stick out the sides of the neck.

I've let the seller (who is a retailer) know what's going on and they're going to contact me later today about what they can do to help. I'm hoping they'll pay for me to have this fixed locally so I don't have to ship it.

Do you guys think that the bass was like this before they shipped it, or could it have shrunk this much in four days of shipping across the us due to temp change?

I'm thinking that it was probably like this beforehand since it's severe all the way up and down on both sides of the neck. Just want some input and see what others have to say.

bthiemann80 · #2 10-01-2009, 12:08 PM

Fret sprout does not occur overnight, it takes a while. How long, I have no clue, but probably longer than the time it took to ship it to you. You can easily fix it by using a small file along the edge of the fret at the edge of the neck. Just make sure the file head is small enough to only file the metal fret and not the wood fretboard. Go at an angle similar to how the fret is angled to begin with and remember to go slow, frequently checking to see if it's flush enough for you. I'm not certain on the exact science behind fret sprout but I'm pretty sure it has something to do w/ the fretboard/neck wood drying out and shrinking away from the fret. be sure to hydrate your fretboard (assuming it is rosewood, for maple I don't know) with lemon oil on a frequent basis to keep fret sprout to a minimum.

realisticj · #3 10-01-2009, 12:18 PM

Thanks for the replies! what was mentioned about the humidity makes sense since the bass was originally in Utah where the air is really dry.

That's also good advice on filing it down, and would do that if it was just on a few of the frets and not the entire thing on both sides. I'll have it done by someone else.

Glad to hear it probably wasn't something that happened during shipping, I think the seller is willing to take some responsibility in this.

62bass · #4 10-01-2009, 12:50 PM

Fret sprout is a fact of life here in Ontario with our humid summers and dry in the house climate during the cold winter months. You can do the work yourself but it can be a chore when you have to do all the frets on both sides of the neck.

Cy_Miles · #5 10-01-2009, 09:48 PM

My friend showed me a simple fret-end file jig. I wish I had photos, but it shoudl be easy to describe.

First he got a good metal file. He then took a piece of hard wood approx 1 1/4"x3/4"x6" (or the same length as the file)

He then cut an angled groove down the middle of the broad side of the board, off centered by 1/3 or so. With the groove just wide enough to accept the file, approx 1/4" deep and at the desired angle so when you lay it on the edge of the fingerboard the files is in the desired angle. Stew mac sells a similar jig but it is expensive, and as much as we spend on tools it is always cool to find an elegant solution that doesn't cost anything.

ppk · #6 10-01-2009, 11:04 PM

id go ith the jig. i did it by hand to a friends guitar and i wouldt advise it. it took me 15 minutes to make a jig and it works great.

good luck, Paul

Dirk Diggler · #7 10-02-2009, 09:47 AM

I would say fret sprout can happen within days no problem. I had a sample bass in a nice climate controlled environment at a local store for over a year. When I took it home the frets sprouted nice little edges within a day, by day two it was unplayable. A little filing made it perfect, just be careful. Or if you don't want to do it, it shouldn't cost that much, it took me maybe 1/2 hour.
So I would say humidity and temperature can be major factors especially when moving across the country.
Good luck,
Dirk

realisticj · #8 10-02-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Diggler

I would say fret sprout can happen within days no problem.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm even wondering if it's possible that the neck readjusts itself since it's now in a more humid atmosphere?

I suppose it's possible that the problem fixes itself over a bit of time? I'm going to see my luthier today and see what he can tell me. I'm not wanting to put much money into this bass if any but the seller says they'll pay $50 towards repairs for me. I'm not really intersted in diy since I just got it and it seems fairly tedious to make sure it's done right.

Thanks again, folks

realisticj · #9 10-02-2009, 11:41 AM

Just got back from the shop and he looked at it, ran something that looked kind of like a whetstone down the sides and smoothed it a bit, gave me some fretboard conditioner and advised me to let the neck get moisturized for a week or so and see if it seems to get better.

So we'll see.