Setup Dillemma - Action Incredible; Three Frets Don't Work

BassGod · #1 03-18-2007, 07:54 PM

Alright, so I bought myself an Ibanez BTB six string, my first six string bass. I was blown away by the action after I did a setup on it. It's very low, perfect for tapping. However, today I noticed that three frets don't work (they buzz out). The twenty-third fret on the G, the twenty-second on the D, and the twentieth on the E.

I rarely use these frets. I mean, I can't imagine ever needing the twentieth fret on the E string. But still, I don't like the fact that three parts of something I paid good money for don't work properly.

So, if this were your problem, would you raise the action noticabley to make the three frets work, or would you leave the action where it is, and deal with the dead notes?

Graeme

P.S. I realize I'm probably over-reacting.

Dan1099 · #2 03-18-2007, 08:03 PM

might be high frets. check it out with a straightedge.

GlennW · #3 03-18-2007, 08:57 PM

A little fall in the last few frets should make it work.

BassGod · #4 03-19-2007, 09:13 AM

Alright, so if it is a couple of raised frets, I'd need a fret dressing. The good repair shop around here is www.12fret.com.

Holy crap, they charge $125 for a fret dressing, plus setup, which is $75, plus strings, which is $40. $240 in total.

So, I don't want to do that. Is there any way I could do this on my own, and avoid that insane cost? Otherwise I can just have the bass exchanged.

Thanks,
Graeme

pkr2 · #5 03-19-2007, 10:48 AM

Or, you can raise the saddles on the strings that are buzzing, kiss the buzz goodby and get on with it.

The odds are overwhelming that this will correct your prob. In fact, I'll bet Josh's reputation on it. lol

Josh, don't mean to second guess you here, but I'd eliminate the simpler stuff first. Unless, of course, the saddle height adjustment is out of adjustment range, which would suggest a neck angle or shim situation.

IMHO

OP, there are two very common causes for your problem. The first and by [i]far[i], the most common reason is simply that the saddle height is too low.

The other reason (in a four string bolt on neck) is a bend, or hump, at the point where the neck bolts are located. Your bass being a 6, shouldn't suffer this prob because of the beefier neck. But who knows? If raising the saddles doesn't fix it, it's easy to check.

Rattlehead · #6 03-19-2007, 02:49 PM

I have an Ibanez SR 905. When I played it in the store, I noticed one fret (17th on G) didn't work. It turned out that the problem wasn't that the 18th fret was too high.
The problem was that the 17th was too low.
Aparently this problem wasn't easy to fix, so I got them to reorder the bass before I bought it.

I don't know if this is common on Ibanez basses, but maybe you might have the same problem?

theshadow2001 · #7 03-19-2007, 03:26 PM

If the frets were okay and the saddles were too low with this not cause buzzing on most of the frets not just 3?

BassGod · #8 03-19-2007, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theshadow2001

If the frets were okay and the saddles were too low with this not cause buzzing on most of the frets not just 3?

That's the weird thing, there's no buzzing whatsoever anywhere else.

Joshua, there is no shim, if a shim is what I think it is (something placed in the neck pocket, right?).

Graeme

BassGod · #9 03-19-2007, 03:48 PM

Could this be a relief thing? There are two truss rods in this bass, which I'm not used to. The bass side has a little bit of relief in it, while the treble side has almost none.

Something I've noticed is that on at least one of the dead frets (the twentieth, for example): When you fret the note, you have to push quite hard, and there's still tonnes of buzz. Then, if you fret one half step higher, it will be the exact same note, sans buzz. Does this mean anything significant?

Graeme

BassGod · #10 03-19-2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkr2

If it doesn't work, simply put the saddles back where they were. What will you have lost? 30 seconds to turn an allen screw maybe 1 turn.

Yes, but that will hinder playability. I've tried raising it, and you must raise it a considerable amount for the problem to go away. I'd much rather fix the problem without doing something detrimental to the instrument's playability. Again, there's no buzzing anywhere else, including from the frets above and below the offending frets.

Graeme

PilbaraBass · #11 03-19-2007, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennW

A little fall in the last few frets should make it work.

+1...a proper fretdress would take care of this pronto...

BassGod · #12 03-19-2007, 04:36 PM

Is there any way to do a fret dressing without spending the ridiculous amount of money I was quoted above? Like, filing the fret myself?

Again, for $240, I'd rather just take the bass back and get another one (same model) without this problem.

Graeme

PilbaraBass · #13 03-19-2007, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGod

Could this be a relief thing? There are two truss rods in this bass, which I'm not used to. The bass side has a little bit of relief in it, while the treble side has almost none.

Something I've noticed is that on at least one of the dead frets (the twentieth, for example): When you fret the note, you have to push quite hard, and there's still tonnes of buzz. Then, if you fret one half step higher, it will be the exact same note, sans buzz. Does this mean anything significant?

Graeme

no...not a relief thing...

what you've just described is high, or raised frets

use your eyes and a metal straight edge...

are the frets seated properly? is there any rocking, or light shining through under the straight edge? if so...fret dressing is the solution

BassGod · #14 03-19-2007, 04:54 PM

Okay, I did the ruler thing. No rocking, but I did see some light come through. The only frets in the area that did have light coming through were twenty-two to twenty-four.

So, it seems I need a fret dressing. The question is, what to do. I have a few choices:

1. Pay way out the ass, get it fixed.

2. Possibly have it covered under one year warranty, get it fixed for free (that all depends on what the warranty covers though).

3. Return bass, get all money back, buy another one (and shop for basses with a straight edge from now on*)

4. Do it myself with a metal file for free.

Thanks for the help guys. But for this next step, what do you reccomend? Would advise against the DIY approach, or is it an easy procedure?

* I'm serious, I'm taking a ruler and some allen keys next time I buy a bass.

Graeme

theshadow2001 · #15 03-19-2007, 06:10 PM

If you can get a replacement I would go for that option. I don't think a bass should require $240 work just to make it playable. Get it exchanged if the new one needs a fret dress I would foget about that bass completely and get something different.

While the fret dress is expensive you dont need new strings or the setup. Which is like $115 of a saving. Can't you get the fret dress without the rest?

BassGod · #16 03-19-2007, 06:14 PM

Well, I think I'll give the shop a call. If this is a warranty issue, I'll just have it fixed for free (I'd like to keep this bass if I can, as it's perfect in every other way). If not, I'll get it exchanged. They have a thirty day return policy.

If the next bass has this problem... well I'm not sure of any other six strings in my price range. But I'll cross that bridge when/if I get to it.

And no, they'll charge you for a setup anyways, those turds.

Graeme

Figjam · #17 03-19-2007, 06:35 PM

Mostly likely high frets.

pkr2 · #18 03-19-2007, 07:30 PM

OMG, there goes your reputation, Josh. LOL

PilbaraBass · #19 03-20-2007, 03:59 AM

polls are for opinion...

but popular opinion <> truth

therefore,

I decline to vote.

why? because you can have low action AND no dead frets.

but the call is completely up to you.

(hmmm...maybe I should vote to raise the action

)

PilbaraBass · #20 03-20-2007, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGod

Okay, I did the ruler thing. No rocking, but I did see some light come through. The only frets in the area that did have light coming through were twenty-two to twenty-four.

So, it seems I need a fret dressing. The question is, what to do. I have a few choices:

1. Pay way out the ass, get it fixed.

2. Possibly have it covered under one year warranty, get it fixed for free (that all depends on what the warranty covers though).

3. Return bass, get all money back, buy another one (and shop for basses with a straight edge from now on*)

4. Do it myself with a metal file for free.

Thanks for the help guys. But for this next step, what do you reccomend? Would advise against the DIY approach, or is it an easy procedure?

* I'm serious, I'm taking a ruler and some allen keys next time I buy a bass.

Graeme

1. save up for a good fret dress...a bass with a good fret dress should be your ultimate goal.

2. I doubt the warranty would cover uneven frets (try and see what you get, though)

3. return the bass only if you want to return the bass...this is ENTIRELY your call

4. no...don't touch it...when you said "metal file" I cringed...that's not the way to do it...and yes, you can make it worse...

finally, taking a straight edge, and a set of allen keys is not a bad thing to do when buying...just make sure you don't go crazy in the shoppe...work with the shop's tech...otherwise, you could create some irate store people.