Fret noise on 1st fret?

krivingus · #1 12-26-2007, 05:25 AM

Hello guys, i really dig my sx jazz, but after doing a little setup a very strange problem appeared. I set the action pretty low and its ok all over the fretboard. Only the first fret on all string is unplayable due to heavy fret buzz, when i play a note on first fret, the string lays on the second fret which is muting the string... What do you guys think?

SpaceYourBass · #2 12-26-2007, 05:33 AM

http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass...al/relief.html

That should help you out. Read and understand, and keep clicking the arrows until you understand the problem. You're going to have to loosen your truss rod by rotating counter-clockwise just 1/4 of a turn. I stress just 1/4 of a turn. Take the strings of or loosen them almost all of the way first. It will take your bass a while (I've heard even a whole day) to adjust fully. So, read the page, make the adjustment it tells you, and don't make any more adjustments for a long time.
There may also be a way you can fix it with the bridge saddles - someone else could explain this better than me. But loosening the TR should work. Your problem is your action is TOO low. After you get it right, if the action is too high, just barely tighten the TR back (remember to straighten the neck while you tighten, that link will show you), give it a minute, and repeat until it is perfect, but not too low like it is now.

krivingus · #3 12-26-2007, 06:12 AM

thank you, i hope it will help me.

bassbully · #4 12-26-2007, 07:41 AM

I could be you might have set you action to low. Try setting up your string heighth a hair on one string to see if it helps. If not then you need more neck relief...follow the guide.

Kindness · #5 12-28-2007, 02:23 AM

It might simply be that the neck is too flat. If so, loosen the truss rod a hair and recheck. However, based on the fretwork I've seen on the SX basses I've worked on, it is possible your second fret is significantly higher than the first fret. It may seem extreme, but a leveling and crowning of the frets is the only way you will get the typical SX bass in condition for proper setup.

krivingus · #6 01-04-2008, 10:33 AM

thanks quys, the problem was that my neck was just too flat. I did some adjustments on truss rod and the buzz disappeard.Thanks a lot for your help