any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

[ItsaBass]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

If a fret is coming up on one side, it can't necessarily just be tapped down and expected to stay. It worked its way out, so the barbs obviously don't have enough wood to grab on to in order to counteract the upward pull that is caused by the curve not matching the radius. It's a metal bar, and it's going to keep its curve unless that curve is specifically reworked. Beating on it will likely do nothing but dent it up and knock other parts loose. Ideally, you'll pull the fret, re-radius it, and reinstall it (or install a replacement fret). If that fails, at least try injecting some glue into the slot and clamping it down, instead of just hammering it.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

this might seem wildly off topic, but do you guys consider $35 to be a reasonable price for slotting and installing a nut on a guitar?

 

[Bludave]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

First off before you can determine that one fret is high the neck needs to be pin straight. Then you can put a straight edge on it to see what the issue is. If you have one high fret that is high you can address it, but to be honest one fret at the 17th being high is unlikely. Do a leveling and be done with it.

 

[lpmarshall]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

You can:

a.) Deal with it
b.) take it to a pro tech and get it dealt with
c.) mess with it yourself and permanently screw up your guitar

I'll never understand avoiding a small payment to get something professionally fixed. In the end it could end up costing you a lot more money.

 

[FretFire]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

A fret level should be a last resort kind of thing, and might only mask the real issue if you just have one problem fret *and* the problem just recently started.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

I explained the problem to the tech I took my guitar to last time and he said he'd have to look at it but he will probably have to level the frets if the guitar buzzes in more than one position (it does).

he explained he would take the neck off and use a tool he has which follows the radius of the fretboard and level them all.

$100-150.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Way expensive IMO. The best guy I've found for fret leveling charges $88. And there is a pretty good guy who charges $40.

And it could just be a setup issue, not a need for a "global" fret leveling. Didn't this only start once the new nut was made?

 

[FretFire]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

I'd find a new tech.

 

[FretFire]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Way expensive IMO. The best guy I've found for fret leveling charges $88. And there is a pretty good guy who charges $40.

And it could just be a setup issue, not a need for a "global" fret leveling. Didn't this only start once the new nut was made?

+1

The thread started with one fret buzzing on the B string, now you say it's happening in more than one place?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

+1

The thread started with one fret buzzing on the B string, now you say it's happening in more than one place?

I found the other buzzes in the process of troubleshooting that one fret.

the buzz did start since the new nut, though I played gigs friday and saturday and did not have this kind of buzz.


maybe the bolt on neck has developed a hump?

i dont understand though, it's so sudden. for years I've had great action on this guitar, until very recently I had it down to

3/64s bass side

2/64s treble side

(My guitar has a tune o matic style bridge.)

any fret buzz was severely minimal except for the lower positions (1-10) which would buzz a bit if I hit the strings hard enough.



on the tech: that does seem like an awful lot of money to me. there is another tech nearby but he is a ******.

 

[FretFire]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

on the tech: that does seem like an awful lot of money to me. there is another tech nearby but he is a ******.

If he does better work, I don't think it matters. You don't have to hang out with him :laugh2:

Did something happen to your guitar recently? A drop, climate change, etc?

 

[astrozombie]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

If he does better work, I don't think it matters. You don't have to hang out with him :laugh2:

Did something happen to your guitar recently? A drop, climate change, etc?

my guitar did suffer a slight drop some time ago..

i dont know if it landed face down or face up.

the strings are dented near those frets...

I guess it hit face down. I didn't do the math till now, I figured the strings dented some other way.

 

[FretFire]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Sounds like you might have a bigger issue. If the tech you called recommended a fret level without even looking at the instrument, I'd take my gear to someone else.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Sounds like you might have a bigger issue. If the tech you called recommended a fret level without even looking at the instrument, I'd take my gear to someone else.

well it's not like he said it's the only alternative, he asked me to bring it in to be examined.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

after trying to tap the offending frets down...

I've gotten some results. the fret with severe buzzing is now much better. (18th fret, b string).

I'll finish setting it up and post.

 

[FretFire]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Try looking down the edge of the neck like you're sighting down a rifle. Hold the body up to your face with the bottom strap pin by your cheek and look down the neck. If the neck has a hump or twist you'll probably see it.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Buy a Fretrocker from Stewmac, they'll read your fretboard like nothing else. You can locate any fret uneven-ness, even those areas where a fret is high or low only under one string.

If you suspect a fret has lifted in it's slot, see if you can slide the edge of a piece of paper between the bottom of the crown and the surface of the board.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Try looking down the edge of the neck like you're sighting down a rifle. Hold the body up to your face with the bottom strap pin by your cheek and look down the neck. If the neck has a hump or twist you'll probably see it.

the neck has a slight hump at around the 12-13th frets, then it shoots back a tad as it goes up towards the nut.

I suspect it's because I have the neck set fairly straight however.

 

[goodtimes54321]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Obviously a fret leveling is in order, but right now i only have one buzz on the b string.

its lioke the 17th fret or something.

any tips on how to fix it?

I just fixed a Bedell with a couple high frets. Used a piece of nut to tap it back in. (used it like a punch with a hammer) It doesn't take much. Don't hammer it like a nail. I used the small end of the nut to hit the specific area.....the fret wasn't high all the way across....just under a couple strings. If that doesn't work then you can start thinking about a total fret dress. I've not had much luck dressing 1 fret with a file. Once it's dressed the next 3 frets up rock. I use a long level that dresses 12" at a clip.

If you have divits in the frets then a tap probably won't work. You need a total fret dress. The "B" string is a common problem if you capo. you may be able to use some relief to make it better.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: any tips on fixing a buzz on just one fret?

Oh, yippee. An Astrozombie zombie thread.