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Fret buzz after a setup?

hrodbert696

hrodbert696

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Jan 15, 2010
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#1
Quick question -- I took my bass in for a setup about a month ago (a Washburn Taurus T-25, neck-through five-string). Seemed good when I got it back. I had tried doing my own setup on it before but I'm a newbie to this, had the string height uneven and the intonation wrong.

About a week later, I have practice, and the singer likes to tune everything down a half-step. When I tuned down, the first fret on the G string buzzed terribly. (we were practicing "Pump It Up," which hits that G# a lot). At standard tuning it wasn't buzzing -- but then today, practicing with it in standard tuning, the buzz at that fret appeared again.

It had a buzz like this in the same spot about a year ago and a tech at a (different) guitar store said that the neck had gotten a little twisted, and a couple tweaks fixed it. I was surprised to see the buzz come back now AFTER a professional setup.

So what's likely to be causing it? Should I just take it back and ask the guy to tweak it? Or is it a sign that the guy who did this new setup messed it up and doesn't know his stuff as well as I had heard? Is it likely I have a bad neck or a bad fret?
 
#2
Well, for starters, you need to let your tech know that you are tuning half step down. He is setting relief based on standard tuning likely. If he is setting the action extremely low based on 440, you are likely just running into buzz from the lower string tension. Sometimes though, things just need to settle in after adjustments, you likely just need a bit more relief added back into the neck, have him look at it again.

A few "tweaks" wont "fix" a twisted neck however, the fretboard would likely need to be shaved and reradiused, then refretted to repair an actual twist.
 
#3
Sometimes small buzzes will "play out" after a week or two of use. Dan Erlewine mentioned that in his repair book, and I've experienced it on a couple new instruments.

I think what's happening is that the string is effectively dressing the buzzing fret just a wee bit, until it no longer buzzes.
 
#4
I agree with the post that says it's your detuning that is causing it. The tech has set up your neck relief, action, and intonation for standard tuning, not half-step-down. Try loosening the truss rod about a quarter turn and see what happens. Along with playing with a slightly lighter touch (you only lost about 3-5 lbs of tension by detuning), you shouldn't have the fret buzz anymore.
 
#7
hrodbert696 said:
Quick question -- I took my bass in for a setup about a month ago (a Washburn Taurus T-25, neck-through five-string). Seemed good when I got it back. I had tried doing my own setup on it before but I'm a newbie to this, had the string height uneven and the intonation wrong.

About a week later, I have practice, and the singer likes to tune everything down a half-step. When I tuned down, the first fret on the G string buzzed terribly. (we were practicing "Pump It Up," which hits that G# a lot). At standard tuning it wasn't buzzing -- but then today, practicing with it in standard tuning, the buzz at that fret appeared again.

It had a buzz like this in the same spot about a year ago and a tech at a (different) guitar store said that the neck had gotten a little twisted, and a couple tweaks fixed it. I was surprised to see the buzz come back now AFTER a professional setup.

So what's likely to be causing it? Should I just take it back and ask the guy to tweak it? Or is it a sign that the guy who did this new setup messed it up and doesn't know his stuff as well as I had heard? Is it likely I have a bad neck or a bad fret?
Click to expand...

It was set up likely for low action at standard tuning. Now you downtune, the lower string tension gives you some buzz... not your tech's fault!!!
You can't expect to change an important parameter and not affect the set up. Sometimes you can get away with it, sometimes not.

Try loosening the truss rod a bit. Half a turn anticlockwise. It will make things a bit better. If nothing changes at all, take it back and explain you need to alter tunings. The tech can then ensure no buzz in both situations. It may now require a slight fret level, and or slightly higher action at standard tuning, but should be doable.

Do you really need to downtune the whole bass?
I only ever downtune the B string, or more often the E string. I'm surprise you need to change the whole set!
If you change one string or two only, you will not have such an adverse effect and half a turn of the truss rod usually is enough.
 

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