Problems with action

indo · #1 06-10-2009, 09:30 AM

I own an Ibanez GSR200 4 string (link), and it came with relatively high action right out of the box. However, I want that awesome poppy-punk sound of low action like pretty much all of the basses at the store. I lowered my action but I found one fatal problem, the 14th fret of the A and D strings doesn't make any musical tone, just fret buzz. Is there anything I can do? Does anybody know if this specific bass (or Ibanez's) are made to have high action? Any help is appreciated.

EagleMoon · #2 06-10-2009, 11:53 AM

Sounds like you might have a high fret.

indo · #3 06-10-2009, 04:08 PM

That makes sense its only on the A and D due to the curve of the fretboard. Should I just take a hammer to it?

EDIT: Ok I did the straightedge test - putting it against the frets and see if it rocks - and all of the frets were even. Maybe the setup I have is just weird and messing with that exact fret? Maybe a tiny adjustment to the truss rod would fix it?

Jo6Pak · #4 06-10-2009, 04:29 PM

Minor truss rod adjustments generally only affect the lower portion of the neck, whereas upper fret buzz can generally be corrected by a saddle height adjustment. This is assuming the neck is near its optimal straightness already, of course and the frets are level (as it would appear you have already deduced).

indo · #5 06-10-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jo6Pak

Minor truss rod adjustments generally only affect the lower portion of the neck, whereas upper fret buzz can generally be corrected by a saddle height adjustment. This is assuming the neck is near its optimal straightness already, of course and the frets are level (as it would appear you have already deduced).

I raised the action again for the time being and its fine right now but even when the action is like medium height action I'm getting massive buzz. And yeah, the necks still straight.

Hell, its still buzzing at high action. I have no idea whats wrong

EagleMoon · #6 06-10-2009, 06:17 PM

You can also have a fret that's slightly lower than the others, and a rocker test doesn't work as well to find those.

indo · #7 06-10-2009, 06:42 PM

I tapped on the 15th fret (because the 14th would be buzzing on the 15th) with a mallet a bit and it fixed the problem sorta. It may be a low 14th, that seems possible. However, the tapping did help a bit.

Craig_S · #8 06-10-2009, 07:26 PM

ByF · #9 06-10-2009, 07:42 PM

My new SR-505 came with a fret that was lower than the rest--I had a bad buzz off the 5th fret, when I played the E string on the 6th--it was buzzing behind where I was fretting. The 6th fret was just a few thousandths of an inch lower than its neighbors, and the slot in the nut for the E was a little too low.

I ended up dressing the frets and replacing the nut. A bit drastic on a brand new bass, but I enjoy working on instruments, and now it plays like a dream.

When I dressed the frets, I realized that every other fret was a little low. But only that one was low enough to make the one behind it buzz.

Ed

indo · #10 06-10-2009, 09:02 PM

Well, if it is a low fret I think I'd rather have a professional work on it, I don't trust myself with something like that lol. Thanks for your diagnosis guys, it's very much appreciated.