Single fret buzz

[grobe]

I have a USA JB-2 with a buzz on the 19th fret only on the D string. Can this be lightly tapped in or does it need dressing? The rest of the neck is absolutely flawless. The intonation is amazing.

[john grey]

Frankly I would leave it alone - play the bass & enjoy it. Too often people pick at perceived minute flaws in an otherwise great instrument and begin a cycle of attempting to "make it perfect" and end it making matters much worse. If this buzz is not heard distinctly when amplified I would unquestionably not even think about it any longer. If it can be heard there is a good chance that the amount of effort tracking down why that happens isn't worth your time. Different strings, very slight saddle adjustment, etc could make it disappear.

I once got a fantastic deal on a Music Man SUB as the previous owner couldn't stand the buzz when the strings were lowered. When I got it the action was about a quarter inch off the fret-board. I lowered it & it indeed buzzed when UN-amplified. When amplified it sound fine and I still have it as it was one of the best deals I had ever gotten on a very playable low-priced Bass. Amplified, it sounds great and NO buzz is heard.
There are very few instruments that one cannot find a flaw in. ALL TOO OFTEN the "cure" is much worse than the disease as the attempt to "make it right" brings further and further problems. A "one fret" buzz (IMO) is not an easy thing to remedy other than simply raising the saddle a bit and trying other strings.
A VERY professional fret-dressing MAY find a bump but on a quality instrument it's not that likely. Fret wire is just not that irregular. All too often it's a very incidental situation of a particular weight and design string's vibration at a certain height from a particular strike or pluck. With a good instrument - a moderately poor fret-dressing could ruin or open more problems. It's a gamble that I would never make with a single incidental issue like that. Just my opinion; YMMV.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by grobe

I have a USA JB-2 with a buzz on the 19th fret only on the D string. Can this be lightly tapped in or does it need dressing?

I had one of these on my bench yesterday, but it was the 11th fret on the G and D strings.

I tapped down the offending fret and dressed the end that protruded slightly from the fingerboard edge as a result of the tapping. Done and done.

[grobe]

Ok, hmmm. Sounds like I'll need a professional to check it either way. Thanks for the advice.