Fret levelling, new fret or something else?

[Fishbrain]

I have a jazz bass with a nasty buzz on the 14th fret G string. On closer inspection that fret looks a touch lower than the others which I imagine is causing the buzzing. Whats my best bet to go about fixing it? Full fret levelling to balance it all out or pull out the fret and replace it?

I've not really done any repairs so either way would be completely new to me. Any suggestions?

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Viewed with the aid of a short straight-edge, is the said fret really lower than the others.

Low fret is much rarer than a high one, so it's worth to investigate before starting any drastic repairs.



Unless the most of the frets are in need of a levelling and re-cowning, I'd replace only the offending fret.

Neither the fret replacing (+levelling & crowning) nor full levelling & crowning are something I'd rehearse on an even remotely valuable instrument though.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

[Fishbrain]

I've had a good look with a credit card on it and it is low. I was quite reluctant to do the fret level 1. because it seems pretty major and 2. I don't think the other frets do need it.

Have I got any other options than replacing the fret? Except maybe take it to somebody else to replace it!

[heavyfunkmachin]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Neither the fret replacing (+levelling & crowning) nor full levelling & crowning are something I'd rehearse on an even remotely valuable instrument though.
Sam

Could you elaborate on that please?

WHY?

[202dy]

Originally Posted by T-Bird

Neither the fret replacing (+levelling & crowning) nor full levelling & crowning are something I'd rehearse on an even remotely valuable instrument though.

Just my 0.02€
Sam

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

Could you elaborate on that please?

WHY?

Rule #1: Practice on scrap.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by heavyfunkmachin

Could you elaborate on that please?

WHY?

Because there's about a million things that can, and usually will, go wrong the first time around.

While not rocket surgery, fret dressing require some skills that only come from doing the deed, and from effing up a few times .

Regards
Sam

[Fishbrain]

Back on topic... Any advice with how I should tackle this?

[Lo-E]

You're going to want to use something a little longer than a credit card. Ideally, you'd want to get the fingerboard as close to perfectly flat as you can, and then look at the entire run of frets with a precision straightedge. Only then can you determine if that fret is really low, or if the frets around it are high. Having a vernier depth guage is also helpful for assessing this.

Do you see where this is going? I'm not saying that nobody should try to do fretwork on their own, but it's a big job that requires a lot of thought and patience, and it's pretty easy to screw something up.

You'd be better served by using that credit card at your local luthier. He or she can properly diagnose and fix the problem for you. Then you can try your hand at fretwork on a real beater instrument where any mistakes won't jeopardize your main player.

Good luck-
E

[Fishbrain]

Ok cool, nice one for that.

[mdogs]

Originally Posted by Lo-E

You're going to want to use something a little longer than a credit card. Ideally, you'd want to get the fingerboard as close to perfectly flat as you can, and then look at the entire run of frets with a precision straightedge. Only then can you determine if that fret is really low, or if the frets around it are high. Having a vernier depth guage is also helpful for assessing this.

Do you see where this is going? I'm not saying that nobody should try to do fretwork on their own, but it's a big job that requires a lot of thought and patience, and it's pretty easy to screw something up.

You'd be better served by using that credit card at your local luthier. He or she can properly diagnose and fix the problem for you. Then you can try your hand at fretwork on a real beater instrument where any mistakes won't jeopardize your main player.

Good luck-
E

Yep, credit card is too short and a good fret level and dress is never a bad thing!

[gerry grable]

Hi T-bone,
May I ask, does the replacing of frets ( I have a 1969 Fender Jazz with rose wood which I bought new) lower the value or the authenticity of the bass? I have wear in what we DB players call the 1/2, 1st, 1 1/2 and 2nd positions. No wonder! I've played it since '69 and the frets are the original ones.
I thought of filing them down, but I'm afraid to scratch up the wood and/or mother of peal inlays.
Thanks,
Gerry G

[Lo-E]

If done with care, a good refret should not affect the value of a vintage bass, just as a new fingerboard will not affect the value of a vintage upright if correctly installed.

Frets are like tires... they wear out and need to be replaced periodically.

If the fingerboard on your Jazz is in good shape, you might also consider a partial refret where only the badly worn frets are replaced and then levelled and crowned to match the rest. It's a little less invasive than a full refret, although there's nothing wrong with refretting a bass every 40 years or so!

If the board has grooves worn into it, it might be worth a full refret so the board can be levelled before refretting.

[202dy]

Originality is everything.

Fretwork will absolutely affect the value of a vintage guitar. It is not as bad as say, a refinish, which will halve the price. Figure five to ten percent as a rule of thumb. That assumes that the fretwork is flawless and in keeping with the nature of the vintage piece. In other words, the binding nibs must be in place on a Gibson. No jumbo frets on the '59 Precision, either.

Even if the fretwork is perfect it should be disclosed to a potential buyer.

Another note: If it is possible, skip the refret in favor of a dress or at worst, a partial refret. It is less invasive and is more in line with preserving the piece as original.

[walterw]

Originally Posted by Lo-E

You'd be better served by using that credit card at your local luthier.

nice!

if this is a cheaper instrument and the problem really is one low fret, one "cheat" is to heat the offending fret with a soldering iron, pull it up out of the slot just a bit with little sharpened end-nippers, then run superglue under it to freeze it in its new higher position.

then a quick spot-leveling of that area and you might be OK.

[Lo-E]

Walter makes a good point.

I did think of this, but I would only do it to a cheaper instrument, as he says. I consider it a temporary fix, but it will work - for a while.

[Fishbrain]

Hmmm, I think a trip to the luthier it is then!

[gerry grable]

although there's nothing wrong with refretting a bass every 40 years or so!

Ha, ha, ha. . .I get your point, but then. . . one doesn't want to rush into these things

Thanks to you and all on BG for the great advice.
Gerry G