Fret sprout feels like the frets grew sideways.
They usually did not. The metal stayed about the same size while the fingerboard wood shrank in dry conditions. That leaves the fret ends sticking out just enough to scrape your hand and make a good guitar feel cheap.
Dryness usually shows up early at the fret ends
On many guitars, sharp fret ends show up before more dramatic humidity damage. That makes fret sprout useful as a warning sign. The guitar may be telling you the room is too dry before cracks, sinking tops, or bigger movement appear.
Filing fixes the feel, not always the cause
A fret-end dressing can make the neck comfortable again, and sometimes that is the right repair. But if the guitar is still living in a dry room, the underlying problem remains. The wood is still asking for a better environment.
When I wait and when I file
If the instrument is severely dry, I like to stabilize the humidity first. Once the neck has had time to recover as much as it is going to, then fret-end work can be judged more honestly. Filing too early can remove metal for a temporary condition.
What players can do
Use a case when the room is harsh. Track humidity. Keep the guitar away from heat vents and direct dry airflow. If the fret ends remain sharp after the guitar is stabilized, then a careful dressing can make the neck feel right again.
What helps at the counter
The fastest way to get a useful answer is to bring the whole story, not just the symptom. Tell me the tuning, string gauge, how long the problem has been happening, what changed recently, and whether the issue happens plugged in, unplugged, sitting down, standing up, or only in one room. Those details keep the repair honest.
Photos help for cracks, bridge lift, hardware problems, wiring questions, and anything that changed suddenly. A short phone video can help too, especially with intermittent noises. The goal is not to make the customer diagnose the instrument. The goal is to give the bench enough clues to avoid guessing.
That is the real thread through this note: fret sprout is a humidity warning is not about chasing one magic fix. It is about slowing down enough to find the cause, then doing only the work the guitar is actually asking for.
Where this usually leads
If this sounds like your guitar, these are the next useful places to look.
More From the Bench
From the Bench
The goal is not just smooth fret ends. The goal is a guitar living in conditions that stop the problem from coming right back.