Can I fix fret sprout with out specialized tools?

[mambo4]

This is actually a guitar question. I have a family heirloom, Glen Campbell special ovation guitar. The third fret has sprouted ( I guess )and my high E string frequently gets caught underneath it.

Keeping in mind that my diagnosis could be wrong, it may not be fret sprout, but some other issue.…

Is there a DIY fix I could apply with a normal toolbox? Or is this something that only a professionally equipped or should address?

 

[T_Bone_TL]

A picture or three showing the problem would be very helpful. At least with my browser, I find I have to make a new reply to post them - I can get one in when making a new post, but nothing works when I edit an existing post.

 

[Bruce Johnson]

This is actually a guitar question. I have a family heirloom, Glen Campbell special ovation guitar. The third fret has sprouted ( I guess )and my high E string frequently gets caught underneath it.

Keeping in mind that my diagnosis could be wrong, it may not be fret sprout, but some other issue.…

Is there a DIY fix I could apply with a normal toolbox? Or is this something that only a professionally equipped or should address?

We pros fix fret sprout with a small very fine tooth file. My favorite is a 4" Half Round #4 Swiss Pattern file. That's the only tool you need.

You may not have one in your toolbox (yet), but I don't know if it qualifies as a Special Professional Luthier's Tool. It's just a small fine-tooth file.

Get one and keep it in your toolbox. It's not expensive, and it will last a lifetime. And it will be useful for many little touch-up repairs on musical instruments and other things. Read up and learn how to fix fret sprout. Maybe practice on a lesser guitar first. It's easy.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

@Turnaround discusses fixing fret sprout here.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/all-about-fret-sprout.1394728/

I believe he goes over techniques using hardware store tools, so to speak. The only somewhat specialized thing you may need is a safe edge file if you take off enough that you need to smooth out the ends. If you have or know someone who has a bench grinder and some sandpaper a safe edge file is easy enough to make. I made 2 of the 3 I have in the garage. You also may not need a safe edge file. It just depends on how much fret gets filed off.

If this is a recent thing you might check and make sure the end of the fret hasn’t popped up out of the fretboard. That can cause similar symptoms.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I use an inexpensive fret end file I found on Ebay, basically a knockoff of the Stewmac Ulitimate Fret End File, with one safed flat edge and one rounded. Works fine at less than half the price of the Stewmac tool. Their tools are excellent, but overpriced, and the P&H is heavily padded with extra profit.

 

[Turnaround]

@Turnaround discusses fixing fret sprout here.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/all-about-fret-sprout.1394728/

I believe he goes over techniques using hardware store tools, so to speak. The only somewhat specialized thing you may need is a safe edge file if you take off enough that you need to smooth out the ends. If you have or know someone who has a bench grinder and some sandpaper a safe edge file is easy enough to make. I made 2 of the 3 I have in the garage. You also may not need a safe edge file. It just depends on how much fret gets filed off.

If this is a recent thing you might check and make sure the end of the fret hasn’t popped up out of the fretboard. That can cause similar symptoms.

FWIW, Nicholson makes a good small safe edge file that is designed for filing auto distributor points. Perfect for profiling fret ends.

Available at auto parts stores.

 

[bdplaid]

This is actually a guitar question. I have a family heirloom, Glen Campbell special ovation guitar. The third fret has sprouted ( I guess )and my high E string frequently gets caught underneath it.

Keeping in mind that my diagnosis could be wrong, it may not be fret sprout, but some other issue.…

Is there a DIY fix I could apply with a normal toolbox? Or is this something that only a professionally equipped or should address?

I fix fret sport with tape and my wife's nail filing cards.

 

[mambo4]

A picture or three showing the problem would be very helpful.

Images as requested. Frets 2 and 3 are the problem, either side of the double diamond

looking closely it seems they are a bit shorter (neck width wise) than the surrounding frets. maybe it's not sprouting. Also the wear under each string is fairly noticeable, maybe a re fret is called for?

 

[Turnaround]

There do seem to be some significant divots in the frets. I think you need a fret dressing, not a re-fret.

 

[andare]

Fret sprout is when the fretboard/neck shrinks and the frets stick out. You have the opposite issue. I guess the strings get caught on the edge because it's not smooth.

You can't make frets longer. What you can do is dress them. They likely need to be leveled, crowned and polished, judging from the pictures.

 

[SloFingers]

I just bought this a few weeks ago. 4 of my seven stringed instruments decided to sprout fret ends this year for some reason. Works great and has 2 polished safe edges.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKDJV9MV?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[Turnaround]

I just bought this a few weeks ago. 4 of my seven stringed instruments decided to sprout fret ends this year for some reason. Works great and has 2 polished safe edges.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKDJV9MV?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Good for profiling the fret ends - all of the fret above the fretboard. But when frets "sprout" the tangs are often exposed too and you need a wider flat file for that.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/all-about-fret-sprout.1394728/

 

[Killing Floor]

I suppose you could try a humidifier. Seems like that is going about it the wrong way.

 

[SloFingers]

I didn't have any problems dressing the tangs as well using tape and careful finger guidance.

 

[Turnaround]

I didn't have any problems dressing the tangs as well using tape and careful finger guidance.

If you are taping off either side of the tang like this:

the tang will still be proud of the edge by the thickness of the tape.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Yeah, not sure it's possible to get fret tangs truly flush with the board on a neck where the finish goes right up into the board, if you get all the "sprout", you are probably taking some finish with it. Maybe a true Artiste with a file could pull it off, not me! On the plus side, if you do it in the winter while the board is dry, you shouldn't have to do it ever again. When the board expands in higher humidity you'll get a bit of "negative fret sprout", which nobody seems to care much about. I use this janky hunk of 2x4 with 30 and 90 degree slots cut into it, with some cut-off drywall screws to hold an 8" mill file. Total cost: something like $8 (for the file). Stewmac makes a very nice version made of UHMW, but it's $68 (plus $12 P&H).
Fret Beveling File - StewMac

I grease mine up with paste wax and Bob's Your Uncle. I do a lot of bound fingerboards, so before I bevel the fret ends, I hit the binding edge with some pencil, when the file erases that pencil line, I know I'm done.

 

[ADHD librarian]

I made this from a cheap file (with the handle cut off and the end rounded) glued to a hunk of wood; and it worked well at getting my frets down. It is long enough that it goes across a lot of frets, so only files the metal and doesn't damage the finish (although, if you want to keep going and roll the fingerboard edges you can. You just need to redo the finish, if it's a maple board).
I then took a rectangular needle file and ground the edges off to dress the ends.

 

[andare]

The file Will initially skate on top of the fret tangs. It sounds horrible. You will hear a different sound when the tangs are flush and you're kissing the finish. That's when you can stop, not before.

I've had the reverse fret sprout issue with a Vintera 50s P neck. I really didn't care for the notches. They felt almost as bad as the protruding tangs. It was a very reactive neck.

If you angle the file, you can create a chamfer in the edge and subsequently roll it with micro mesh pads or similar sanding tools. The glossy finish at the sides of a rosewood neck will dull but it won't crack. Micro mesh will restore the glossy look and feel to 95% of what it was before.

I woudk do it on a maple neck as well but the finish is on the fretboard too and it may crack along the edges. Also the vintage tint on the neck would file away, revealing the pale maple underneath. It's better than having sharp edges but be aware of the cosmetic change.

 

[SloFingers]

"If you are taping off either side of the tang like this:

the tang will still be proud of the edge by the thickness of the tape."

I'm sure that is correct and that you have much more experience repairing and maintaining instruments than I.
But the proof in my Les Paul's pudding is that the sprout is now undetectable by me and that guitar was the worst of the lot. The desired result was achieved.