(Very) Minor fret buzz on my SX

C.Linton · #1 08-22-2010, 01:54 AM

Just got an SX Ursa 1 p-bass, did a quick setup and, using the Sadowsky setup guide stickied at the top of this forum, was able to get it to what Roger Sadowsky calls low action in the guide. No abnormal buzz anywhere on the neck except for one spot - on the A string at the 12th fret. It's not a big deal, As far as I can tell, it doesn't even come thru the amp, but I just wanted to ask a couple of things. Why would this happen on only the one spot? Perhaps the 13th fret is a little high? What might be a fix? Perhaps a little filing of the 13th fret?
Or, is this something I should just let go, seeing as it's the ONLY spot with the problem, and as I said it isn't really noticeable amped. Would a fix be more effort and expense (I would probably need to buy proper files) than it would be worth for such a minor problem? Opinions?

Jimbob Jones · #2 08-22-2010, 12:15 PM

IME new strings always buzz a little when they first go on, but it seems to go away after they're more broken in; so you may have a perfect setup!

Also, you could either have a little hump on your 13th, or a dip on your 12th, or even a very slightly warped neck. You could level and redress the frets, but there isn't much point.

Finally, there may be a very small kink on your A string causing buzz.

As you say, it's not a very big issue, so I wouldn'y worry about it.

Jerry Ziarko · #3 08-22-2010, 06:25 PM

I had a similar issue with my Sadowsky MV5. It wasn't really noticeable, but it always prevented the adjustment of the action from good to great. I finally brought it to a local tech, and indeed, it had one fret that was ever so slightly high. He took care of the issue, and now this bass has action better than any bass I have ever owned.

C.Linton · #4 08-23-2010, 08:29 AM

Well, I checked out the 13th fret using a straight edge as a fret rocker and looking a little closer under maginification, and it appeared to me even with my poor eyesight, that it was a little high, like it wasn't properly seated in the slot. So, I carefully covered it with masking tape and carefully took a couple of light whacks at it with a hammer, and that seems to have fixed it. It's not 100%, but it's good. I was concerned about it fretting out, but that seems not to be a worry anymore.

rojo412 · #5 08-23-2010, 08:33 AM

You can always mask off the board, use some sandpaper (let's say 320 grit or more), file it down a little, then use higher grade paper (1200 grit or so) and smooth it, finished off by some metal polish (mothers billet is the best, for me!) to bling it up.

TGLbass · #6 08-24-2010, 02:55 PM

I filed two frets on my p bass yesterday. I've had to file frets on Fenders 5 times at least. It's easier to do the last couple frets than to do the 12th or 13th or whatever. If you file too much up there you have to do the rest of them on down the neck. The buzz just transfers to the next higher fret.

I file -with a jewlers file- a very small amount then get some 400 and go over it then some 600 and then .0000 steel wool. Then re -tighten the strings and check it. I use my shop vac alot when fileing.