Buzz on one fret on one string!

Forcemaster · #1 06-21-2009, 01:44 PM

I recently bought a new H/S Bongo, absolutely love it. The one thing that's really frustrating me is a buzz I get when I slap the G string at the 2nd fret.

Admittedly, it only picks it up very slightly through the amp but it's still very frustrating. I've changed strings, adjusted the setup in various ways and can only get it to go away with quite high action. All of the other frets are fine but it's just this second one that's causing me problems?

Is this something i'm going to have to live with or is there a way to remedy the problem? Very frustrating as this is the most i've ever spent on an instrument; I have similar action on my fenders with no problem whatsoever.

lazytech · #2 06-21-2009, 01:51 PM

I have the same thing on the 9th on the g on one of my basses, i still havent figured out a cause or fix.

im thinking that the one behind it is to high or that one is too low.

mine happened all of a sudden, it was fine for a year then all of a sudden that fret was off.

bassictraining · #3 06-21-2009, 01:56 PM

Since it's only the one fret I am just gonna assume that you have the proper amount of bow in your neck. It sounds like there might be a possibility that you have a fret popped up. You should be able to tell by looking at the frets near the 2nd fret from the g side of the neck to see if any of them look higher than the rest. Start by looking at the 3rd fret.

A tech some times uses a short straight edge that spans about three frets and tries to rock it back and forth to see if things are level.

This can be repaired. Find a good tech, a loose fret can be hammered back in, or a high fret can be filed down. I know having action that is higher than you are used to is hell, so good luck!

aproud1 · #4 06-21-2009, 02:14 PM

This help find high frets.

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting...et_Rocker.html

I used it on my ergodyne and found I needed a completed fret level. Stew mac has everything to do that too.

If you're not the DIY type any competent luthier should be able to fix relatively easily. I see people ditch some great basses because of a high fret here or there. Generally it's a simple fix.

Best of luck.

John Wentzien · #5 06-21-2009, 02:34 PM

Treat yourself to a pro fret-level...worth every penny!

Forcemaster · #6 06-21-2009, 02:36 PM

Sounds like a consensus that it's a fret problem, which makes sense.

Am very dissapointed in EBMM because of this, hopefully it can be repaired under warranty.

John Wentzien · #7 06-21-2009, 02:51 PM

This can happen with any bass...I would do a fret-level on anything out there; just for peace of mind.