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Fret buzz on one note that won't go away

Simon Ferocious

Simon Ferocious

Jan 30, 2022
135
129
London
#1
I just got a bass from the 80's, and it's in good condition except the frets are slightly worn. It's not too bad and I cleaned the frets with steel wool. Upon stringing there is only one buzz - a stri g in the e note, which i play quite a lot, the 7th fret and it's almost unplayable as the buzz is so loud and pure, there is hardly any strong sound or not, just a metallic buzz. As I play that note quite a lot, I'm not able to enjoy the bass.
The buzz is only on the a string, 7th fret. 6th and 8th fret are pure string, no buzz, the 7th fret is the opposite, no string, just buzz.
I tried a fret rocker, and the 8th fret is a little high. I slept the last 5 - 10 minutes sanding the fret with some high grade sandpaper, maybe around 1000 grit, and it's having no effect whatsoever. Any other advice? I tried playing around with neck relief, action and intonation. Still buzzes always on the 7th fret, a string.
The frets are really not that worn to think that it can't be fixed, but nothing is helping
 
#4
Since it’s a new to you bass do a full setup. The 8th fret could popped out of the slot a little. What can happen there is you keep sanding until the fret is sanded down to the tang and it’s still high because it’s not seated properly anymore and pops back up when you’re done sanding (that’s a bit of exaggeration to make the point but hopefully you get it). Check to make sure the 8th fret is fully seated on the fretboard. Trying to fix one high fret can lead to chasing high spots all over the fretboard and it’s sometimes easier to just do a complete leveling and crowning especially on an older, well played instrument.
 
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#7
rickdog said:
Hmm, E on the A string is a much more frequently played note than F (for rock, anyway)... any chance that the 7th fret is just a little more worn than the 8th?
Click to expand...
Good point, it does have some fretwear but not the worse I've seen. Might need to take it to a pro it i can't get it fixed.
I've also got oxidised knobs, anybody know how to remove the green spots?
1000019678.jpg
 
#9
rickdog said:
Hmm, E on the A string is a much more frequently played note than F (for rock, anyway)... any chance that the 7th fret is just a little more worn than the 8th?
Click to expand...
Yeah, the first thing to do is find out if the 7th fret is too low, or the 8th fret is too high. You can check this with the fret rocker: If it only rocks when you place it across frets 7, 8, and 9, then the 8th fret is probably too high. If it rocks when you lay it across frets 7, 8 and 9 AND across 5, 6 and 7, then the 7th fret is too low. (This is assuming there’s only one fret that isn’t level with the others.)

A high fret, or even a high portion of a fret, can be filed down. Check with a fret rocker where exactly it needs to be filed down, and while filing, check often with the fret rocker so you don’t take too much material off. But if a fret is too low, then you probably need to level all the frets. If the 7th fret is too low and you file the 8th fret down, then the problem will just move to the 8th fret.
 
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#11
Simon Ferocious said:
I just got a bass from the 80's, and it's in good condition except the frets are slightly worn. It's not too bad and I cleaned the frets with steel wool. Upon stringing there is only one buzz - a stri g in the e note, which i play quite a lot, the 7th fret and it's almost unplayable as the buzz is so loud and pure, there is hardly any strong sound or not, just a metallic buzz. As I play that note quite a lot, I'm not able to enjoy the bass.
The buzz is only on the a string, 7th fret. 6th and 8th fret are pure string, no buzz, the 7th fret is the opposite, no string, just buzz.
I tried a fret rocker, and the 8th fret is a little high. I slept the last 5 - 10 minutes sanding the fret with some high grade sandpaper, maybe around 1000 grit, and it's having no effect whatsoever. Any other advice? I tried playing around with neck relief, action and intonation. Still buzzes always on the 7th fret, a string.
The frets are really not that worn to think that it can't be fixed, but nothing is helping
Click to expand...
Do me a favour try to fret the note that’s buzzing with your pinky, and use your index finger to mute the string between that fret and the nut. I know it’s weird, but I actually had a weird resident buzzing on the nut side of the string before…. it could happen if the nut is too low.
 
#13
Simon Ferocious said:
Good point, it does have some fretwear but not the worse I've seen. Might need to take it to a pro it i can't get it fixed.
I've also got oxidised knobs, anybody know how to remove the green spots?View attachment 7121744
Click to expand...
I would try Brasso. Green is copper oxidation so they must be plated brass. Either that or sell them for $75 to a relic nerd :)
 
#15
Simon Ferocious said:
IMG_1922.jpeg
Good point, it does have some fretwear but not the worse I've seen. Might need to take it to a pro it i can't get it fixed.
I've also got oxidised knobs, anybody know how to remove the green spots?View attachment 7121744
Click to expand...

Simon Ferocious said:
Good point, it does have some fretwear but not the worse I've seen. Might need to take it to a pro it i can't get it fixed.
I've also got oxidised knobs, anybody know how to remove the green spots?View attachment 7121744
Click to expand...
 

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