Fret buzz at top of neck - should I hit it with a hammer?

clodhopper · #1 10-20-2011, 03:08 AM

I have a fender jazz bass with some fret buzz on the last few frets of the neck (the high notes). I've tried adjusting the truss rod to get rid of it but no joy. I suspect that the top fret is high. I'm thinking of using a small mallet with a hard rubber tip to gently tap the fret down a bit. Is this acceptable and appropriate behavior?

john grey · #2 10-20-2011, 09:02 AM

Bring a saddle up just a bit, see if you can stop it from buzzing (through the amp) w/ the most genteel of alterations before moving to more in-depth stuff. Check out if you're getting a buzz when you bend that notes adjacent and next too it; how old is the Bass & how long has it been buzzing? Does the neck "ramp" at that point?

JLS · #3 10-20-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clodhopper

I have a fender jazz bass with some fret buzz on the last few frets of the neck (the high notes). I've tried adjusting the truss rod to get rid of it but no joy. I suspect that the top fret is high. I'm thinking of using a small mallet with a hard rubber tip to gently tap the fret down a bit. Is this acceptable and appropriate behavior?

No.

clodhopper · #4 10-20-2011, 01:43 PM

Seems to be worse on A and D from fret 14. It's a 2009 American Standard. Not sure what "ramp" means but sighting down the neck I can't see any obvious problems. I'm no expert but I have done reasonably successful fret jobs on guitars before. I can't tell you how long it's been buzzing. To be honest I've only recently started to put a lot of playing time in on the bass since I got it.

slaphappychappy · #5 10-20-2011, 03:34 PM

I've been mucking with my set up and find if its too low without enough neck adjustment it does the same. If I raise the strings and tighten the truss I get the action right and it goes away.

electracoyote · #6 10-20-2011, 03:39 PM

Sometimes you can remove most of the relief and that helps the frets level out, but only if the hump is very slight.

Otherwise, in mild situations, a good tech can level just the offending frets above the 12th.

Welcome to the wonderful world of Fenders. My tech has my '70s Jazz and will be removing frets above 12th, re-planing the hump out of the fretboard, and re-fretting. Weeeeee!