Excessive Fret Buzzing

Reynoldbot · #1 01-31-2010, 10:45 PM

So I've been really enjoying my new Fender Jaguar bass, but one problem has emerged and I can't seem to fix it myself. When I play notes in the upper register, I get excessive fret buzzing to the point where the note completely deteriorates. I know it's being caused by the strings buzzing against frets higher up on the neck. The problem is, the action is not really set that low, and the saddles on my bridge are already about as high as they can go. Checking the bow of the neck, I can see there is no backbow, and even when I loosen the truss rod and raise the action to the point where it is almost unplayable, I still get lots of buzzing in the upper frets.

I've even gone as far as switching necks with my Frankenjazz to see if the problem would go away. The neck I switched is a warmoth in goncalo alves with an ebony fretboard, and it plays very well on the jazz (super low action with no buzzing). But when I put it on the Jag, I got the exact same excessive buzzing. So I know the problem is not the neck. I also tried putting a shim in there, but it just made the problem worse, and changing the strings had no effect.

What are my options? I don't think the saddles on my bridge are supposed to be set as high as they are, and the neck is not the problem, so I just don't know why there is so much fret buzz. Please help!

PBass101 · #2 01-31-2010, 10:47 PM

Take it to a pro technician.

Barring that, take it to a pro technician.

If that isn't an option, take it to a pro technician.

Your frets are messed up and no amount of truss adjustments is going to fix it.

Reynoldbot · #3 01-31-2010, 11:00 PM

I would have come to that same conclusion a while ago except for the fact that I had the same problem when I swapped out the neck with a warmoth that on my old jazz lets me play with super low action and no buzzing. However, I will definitely take your advice and bring the bass to a pro tech.

PBass101 · #4 01-31-2010, 11:14 PM

Luckily a good tech will look it over and tell you what he thinks needs to be done before you ever have to pay him anything.

willsellout · #5 01-31-2010, 11:19 PM

Take it to a tech. Probably need a shim.

Reynoldbot · #6 02-01-2010, 01:06 AM

As I said in the OP, I already tried using a shim. It just made the problem worse.

202dy · #7 02-01-2010, 05:48 AM

There is no data in the OP. An accurate (sight unseen) diagnosis can not be made. Why play guessing games?

Please measure your string height at the twelfth fret from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string, bass and treble sides respectively. Also measure the relief at the seventh fret. If you do not know how to do this refer to the sticky at the top of the page. Post the data here and someone will help you.