Is This a Dead Note? + Lowering Pickups

[Poop-Loops]

Hey all, just got my new SX Jazz. I love it. Only thing I can't seem to setup on my own is there are 2.5 (the other doesn't buzz as much) frets that cause a horrible buzz and dampen out in a fraction of a second. Super buzz. 2 frets on the D (12 & 14) string and .5 on the A (uhhh... I think 15). When I first got the bass the action was super high and the buzzing was on different frets. Now that I made the action the way I like it, the frets moved. So I assume that's a dead note. Any way to fix it? I assume I'd have to take it to a tech. But I don't know if it's even possible in the first place, since it doesn't effect the entire fret.

Also, the pickups are as low as possible and they are almost touching the strings. Slapping is impossible because the strings hit the pickups before they hit the frets. Weird. So I'd have to route deeper holes, correct? I'm comfortable doing that on my own, but some pointers would be nice.

[Poop-Loops]

If it needs some filing, I'm definately not the one to do it. I just find it odd that the spots moved when I changed my action and relief. I'm not too worried, I mean, it only costed $160, and for that price it's still awesome. I just wanted to know if it was anything fixable. I'll ask my bass teacher. He might be able to diagnose the problem when I show him the bass.

It's odd, the screw heads are stripped, as in, someone tried to tighten them too hard and the screwdriver took off part of the X from the head, so it's harder to tighten now. I assume they tried to lower them too and were just as surprised when they couldn't. I don't mind routing. I love tinkering with stuff. Just had to make sure I wasn't missing something. I'll also ask my teacher about that.

[Poop-Loops]

Thanks. I'll try that.

Turns out, though, that the pickups are good. Either the springs are too strong, or too long and compacted too far, because when I push down with my fingers, I can lower them a lot more. The screws by themselves just aren't strong enough to push down, I guess. So I pushed down and then screwed them in a bit and now it's where I want it.

[Poop-Loops]

Just used a straight-edge. Definately some frets that aren't even. So what would I do now? Taking it to a tech can be expensive, right? =/

[ibnzneksrul]

Fret leveling/dressing shouldn't be that expensive, and you'll love the results if your tech does a good job.

[Poop-Loops]

Indeed. I tried to adjust my intonatinon today. Plucked the open D. Plucked the D fretted at the 12th fret. Crap, that's one of the problem spots.

Well it's only a few frets, so I guess it won't be super expensive.