Shaving 1st Fret

[tokin20deuce]

I had my Washburn 5 String set up recently, and when we finished working on it and got the action just right, we found that the first fret buzzes considerably on all strings. There's no buzz when I play open strings and no buzz on any other frets, so my bass tech suggested that the 1st fret may be sitting a little high, and that we could shave it but he didn't have the tools to do it. What would one need to shave a fret, and is it a complicated process? I'm just learning on how to set up a bass, but is it something I could do myself?

[Bassic83]

Not advisable unless you can live with the thought of a ruined fret. All you really need is a fret file, easily obtainable from Stew-Mac, and some masking tape. Need to be careful, as you can easily take off too much, or gouge the fretboard. If you decide to do it yourself, get the diamond fret file, tape off the fretboard on either side of the fret, and go slow.

[202dy]

While it is difficult to diagnose without more information, if in fact the relationship between the nut and the first fret are an issue, the problem is almost always the nut. Shimming the nut a few thousandths of an inch would be a better remedy. It is also an easily reversible change.

[JustOpenYourMind]

Hi, since the problem is on a fretted note any change to the nut won't change anything about fretbuzz.

Your tech might be wrong on something though. If your first fret buzzes it is very unlikely that it is too high. If it was, the string would actually clear the other frets better and you would get less buzz than the other frets.

So there are two possibilities, Your first fret is too low and it causes the fretted note to buzz. or your second fret is too high and the string buzzes against it when you are fretting the first one.

[meev992]

It's the second fret that is sitting too high.

[202dy]

Misread the post. Sorry.

It could be the second or third fret that is high. Shimming the nut make take care of the problem. Then again, it might not. It would be prudent to take it back to the tech and have the frets examined for level. It may be something that can be adjusted around. It may be that the frets could stand a spot dressing. Again, hard to tell without the data. If you do not have precision straight edges, get it to the tech.

[Eric Moesle]

I would be suspicious of any tech that:

1) Didn't already have a simple fret file to fix this problem;

2) Suggested to "shave" a fret instead of level and recrown it;

3) Suggested it was the FIRST fret that was the problem when fretting the first fret. It would HAVE to be the second or third fret.

**** Get yourself a new tech and avoid this guy like the plague ****

[GeoffByrne]

It could be the first fret sitting too low.

[justinbass]

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

I would be suspicious of any tech that:

1) Didn't already have a simple fret file to fix this problem;

2) Suggested to "shave" a fret instead of level and recrown it;

3) Suggested it was the FIRST fret that was the problem when fretting the first fret. It would HAVE to be the second or third fret.

**** Get yourself a new tech and avoid this guy like the plague ****

seriously. Your "tech" is a hack.

[dbcandle]

Originally Posted by meev992

It's the second fret that is sitting too high.

+1 My first thought too! And a tech without the proper files?

[202dy]

It is easy to pass judgment on something that has not been seen. There are many reasons why there is a buzz when the strings are fretted at F1.. It could be the F2. It could be the F3. It is rare but not unheard of for it to be F4. There could be a small hump in the fingerboard. It could be the hump is accentuated when the neck is straightened. Someone pointed out that F1 could have been over driven on installation. It could be a very worn set of strings at F1 that makes the string buzz at F2. (This is one of the reasons why a complete set up should always include a new set of strings.)

There are a lot of different reasons why there is buzzing.

The tech might not know what he is doing. The OP might have misquoted him. There are only two things that can be assumed to be true here. The tech let an instrument leave the shop that should still be on the bench. The second is that without a thorough examination of the guitar and the subsequent posting of the findings here, no one will be able to help.

[Lesfunk]

Key word :"Washburn"

[Eric Moesle]

Originally Posted by Lesfunk

Key word :"Washburn"

Brand has nothing to do with it. With enough work, I can get ANY piece of crap bass to play great. I had an SX to tinker with once, and after leveling and recrowning the frets, a neck shim, some good strings and careful tweaking, it played like butter with no buzz.

I'm certain I could get any Washburn to play great as well.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by Eric Moesle

Brand has nothing to do with it. With enough work, I can get ANY piece of crap bass to play great. I had an SX to tinker with once, and after leveling and recrowning the frets, a neck shim, some good strings and careful tweaking, it played like butter with no buzz.

I'm certain I could get any Washburn to play great as well.

Listen to a man who knows of which he speaks.

[tokin20deuce]

Washburns aren't crappy. It plays great and sounds great, except for the buzz on the first fret. Please don't degrade my bass.

[WashburnBasser]

Sure, washburn has some crappy basses, but they also have some great ones too (And I'm definatly not biased... )

[tokin20deuce]

every brand has a crappy bass, that goes without saying. but to call my bass a crap bass just because of one little thing is ridiculous.

[meev992]

Originally Posted by dbcandle

+1 My first thought too! And a tech without the proper files?

That's like going to the dentist and providing your own Ether rag.