Fretless buzz at 5th fret "D" string

[kirkdickinson]

I have a Michael Kelly Dragonfly fretless. When I got it the guy at the store set it up for me. I told him that I like very low action.

I like it but there is buzz that I can't control by changing finger pressure when I play the G at the 5th fret position on the "D" string. Buzz is strong at that one place, also weak at Ab, but I can control that by firmly fretting with the less meaty part of my finger.

I can't figure out if this needs more relief or less? If it was buzzing before the 5th, I would think, more relief and if it was buzzing in the middle, it would need less.

Which is it? Or does it need higher action.

Kirk

[FretlessMainly]

If it's just that one spot, relief doesn't sound like the answer to me. It's possibly a slight inconsistency in the plane of the fingerboard just bridge-side of the note G (and Ab). You might try a bit of 0000 steel wool to see if you can even out the board, but you can get yourself into trouble pretty quickly if you over-do it or if the problem is something else.

I'm not sure what type of bridge it has, but if you can raise the action just on the D to see if the buzz goes away, that might pinpoint that it is a discrete high point on the board. If you have to raise the whole bridge, so it be it - it's just a trouble-shoot. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, if it is just a small area that needs taking down, it should be a fairly easy and inexpensive job for a good luthier. Depends on whether the board is finished too.

[bassmeknik]

Are the inlays loose? I own a Dragonfly and while I marvel at the beautiful inlays your post leads me to ask...

[kirkdickinson]

Originally Posted by bassmeknik

Are the inlays loose? I own a Dragonfly and while I marvel at the beautiful inlays your post leads me to ask...

I haven't noticed any loose, I will examine it closer.

Thanks,

Kirk