Buzzing on a new defretted neck - need help please

drjohn · #1 03-23-2008, 11:28 PM

Hi all, I recently de-fretted a neck. I was careful, read the posts here, etc. I used heat and proper pincer pliers. I nicked the fret-board very infrequently. I glued in wood strips that were given to me by the local guitar builders (12th Fret Guitar Shop – Toronto), cut them down with an Xacto-knife, and sanded to a smooth finish. I then oiled the fret-board, and restrung with half wound strings (5 string bass).

My question… I am getting a growl / buzz on SOME of the ‘frets’ if I do not really push / fret hard. Not all the ‘frets’. If I fret behind the ‘wood fret’, no buzz.

I feel I have a few options, and suggestions are welcome please. Should I…
A: sand down further to a really true flat feel? B: Varnish the neck to smooth everything out? C: Use different strings; flat wound or go back to round wound.

Check out my pictures, you can see the fine detail. The wood slots were not jammed in, but glued in, and they were the right size. I read somewhere that they should be VERY snug.

Suggestions please.

drjohn

Basshole · #2 03-23-2008, 11:44 PM

I would get a radiused sanding block that matches the radius of your neck from Stew Mac, and give it a light dressing. Shouldn't need much...neck looks nice.

Turnaround · #3 03-24-2008, 08:18 AM

Sounds to me like you have a few fret lines that are just below the surface of the fingerboard. This can happen as a result of trimming the fret lines with a knife. The cut tends to follow the grain of the wood and sometimes it runs below the surface of the fingerboard.

Run your fingernail along the length of the fingerboard where you are having the problem. If you can feel the fret line you probably have this problem - it should be perfectly flush. If so, I would draw a tiny bead of superglue along the fret line to act as filler, let it cure, then sand the fingerboard again.

drjohn · #4 03-24-2008, 08:47 AM

You are in Toronto, are you a pro, if so, can we meet?
What kind of glue specifically? Is this to fill the space or glue in the wood strip.
Thanks
drjohn

Connor · #5 03-24-2008, 10:09 AM

sand?

Turnaround · #6 03-24-2008, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drjohn

You are in Toronto, are you a pro, if so, can we meet?
What kind of glue specifically? Is this to fill the space or glue in the wood strip.
Thanks
drjohn

Yes I am in Toronto. And I do instrument repairs and setups on a part time basis now. Would be glad to talk to you - I will PM you with contact information.

Turnaround · #7 03-24-2008, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connor

sand?

Yes.

drjohn · #8 03-26-2008, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turnaround

Sounds to me like you have a few fret lines that are just below the surface of the fingerboard. This can happen as a result of trimming the fret lines with a knife. The cut tends to follow the grain of the wood and sometimes it runs below the surface of the fingerboard.

Run your fingernail along the length of the fingerboard where you are having the problem. If you can feel the fret line you probably have this problem - it should be perfectly flush. If so, I would draw a tiny bead of superglue along the fret line to act as filler, let it cure, then sand the fingerboard again.

I filled in the slots 'plastic wood' which sanded down well. I sanded down with 320 gauge, and all is good. It sounds great, no buzz. Thanks for the advice.
drjohn