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Fret buzz on second fret with roundwounds?

Coreymcd22

Coreymcd22

Guest
Apr 1, 2013
75
10
Upstate, SC
youngamericanlandscape.bandcamp.com
#1
I apologize ahead of time for my ignorance and inclusion of so many details because whenever something throws me off I tend to second guess everything.

I just got a Fender jazz used a few weeks ago and the online seller said it had just been set up. I got it and it was set up perfectly, great action and no fret-buzz. That was with the nylon flatwound strings that came with it, yesterday I wanted to swap them out with some rounds and now each string is buzzing on the second fret. It's the kind of fret buzz that's audible through the amp so I can't get around it. Normally I would just think it needs neck relief but if that's the case why wasn't it buzzing with the flats? Raising the bridge saddles cut down on it a little bit but it's still there, and I don't want to have to raise my action too high.

The only other factor I can think of that could possibly influence it (and it probably isn't) is that before I went to go change the strings yesterday the bass fell over in the hard case it was in and I guess that could have possibly knocked it around and changed the neck tension? Doubtful since it just fell over on carpet but I figure it's worth mentioning. Anyone else had a problem like this?
 
#3
Mushroo said:
You need to do a full setup every time you change to a different type/gauge of strings. (Like switching from flats to wounds, for example.)

If you'd like to try it yourself, there's a link to the Fender Setup Guide on this page: ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE | TalkBass.com
Click to expand...

That would make sense I've never used flats, I assumed that since they were the same gauge it wouldn't matter. I've read this guide before and done a setup on one of my cheaper basses so I'm not entirely unfamiliar with truss rod relief and everything else that goes with a setup. I'm assuming the adjustments will be pretty small increments?
 
#4
I have the same issue with another bass with a narrow nut width. My luthier says that occasionally a neck can back bow at the top couple of frets, especially if it is a top-adjust truss rod. It can also be because the factory didn't level the frets properly to begin with, so if the 2nd fret is buzzing, check the 3rd fret to make sure it is seated and crowned properly. Finally, what strings were on it, and what did you change to? If the new strings are effectively lighter in tension, that could be the case.

In any event, as posted above, start with a complete new setup, let it sit for a day, and see what happens.
 
#7
RattleSnack said:
Sorry to hijack, but I have this problem with one of my basses. I can see a slight back bow in the region of first 3-4 frets. Hi tension strings and setup help a lot, but not 100%. What does your luthier recommend as a fix?
Click to expand...
Not much. I took the bass with this issue in last week, it's still there. If it is not just a fret seating or crowning issue, then the fix may be anything from heavier strings to a new, thicker fingerboard.
 
#9
iiipopes said:
Not much. I took the bass with this issue in last week, it's still there. If it is not just a fret seating or crowning issue, then the fix may be anything from heavier strings to a new, thicker fingerboard.
Click to expand...

Yeah, thought so. Hoped to hear that clamping it for a couple of days can fix this. Please, let me know if your luthier managed to correct this, and what was the method and price.
 
#11
hdracer said:
If it is hitting the 2nd fret and not the first (do we know for sure that it isn't touching the first too?) than it needs the 2nd fret leveled.
Click to expand...
No. If the 2nd fret is buzzing, then something is going on somewhere from the 3rd fret on down. No mention was made of the 1st fret, so the nut and 1st fret are fine. And if it is neck backbow, nothing having to do with the frets will help except raise the action at the bridge.
 
#12
iiipopes said:
No. If the 2nd fret is buzzing, then something is going on somewhere from the 3rd fret on down. No mention was made of the 1st fret, so the nut and 1st fret are fine. And if it is neck backbow, nothing having to do with the frets will help except raise the action at the bridge.
Click to expand...
It could be a lot of things, hard to say without seeing the bass or a good photo.
If I had it on the bench The first things I would do is put it in my neck jig and check fretboard and fret level to see where the neck and frets are.
 
#13
iiipopes said:
I have the same issue with another bass with a narrow nut width. My luthier says that occasionally a neck can back bow at the top couple of frets, especially if it is a top-adjust truss rod. It can also be because the factory didn't level the frets properly to begin with, so if the 2nd fret is buzzing, check the 3rd fret to make sure it is seated and crowned properly. Finally, what strings were on it, and what did you change to? If the new strings are effectively lighter in tension, that could be the case.

In any event, as posted above, start with a complete new setup, let it sit for a day, and see what happens.
Click to expand...

They were the same gauge as what I've just now put on: 45-105. There's a little buzz on the first and third fret but mostly just the second. I'm not sure what you mean by seated and crowned properly.
 
#15
seated properly just means it's all the way down into the fretboard ... sometimes a fret will pop up a little bit ..

crowned is the filing of the fret so it is round on top ... so the point where the string meets the fret is right in the middle of the fret for proper intonation ...

I've had similar problems while changing string types/tensions ... I'd adjust the truss rod a little to pull the neck back up for a little more relief ... and the saddles a little ... give it a day , try again ...

Stewmac makes/sells several tools that can help find high/low spots ... and various fret files for leveling , crowning , etc ... if you're into DYI ... I've bough t a few of those over the years ... I think it's fun , but you need to know your own limitations .. !! if you like to experiment with different strings , then getting a grip on some set-up and minor fret work would be a Good thing ... ! ...

here's one of my basses ... diamond filed some high spots , radius sanded frets , crown , polish ... the blue tape protects the fretboard and helps to clean and pull out dirt when removed .. then lemon oil , or whatever you prefer ... re-string , set-up ...
taped_up.jpg
 
#16
Also, being new to Fenders I'm trying to figure out what tool I need to adjust the truss rod. I've got an allen wrench that should be the right size (for ones I've done before) but it's not grabbing it so there's no actual turning the rod. I've tried a few different sizes and nothing will actually turn it.

Also, a minor update. When raising the bridge saddles it cut back the buzz a little bit, but I'd like to try and avoid high action if at all possible. It should be since the action was perfect with the flats, I think I just need to give the truss rod a little bit of relief and see what happens.
 
#17
Coreymcd22 said:
Also, being new to Fenders I'm trying to figure out what tool I need to adjust the truss rod. I've got an allen wrench that should be the right size (for ones I've done before) but it's not grabbing it so there's no actual turning the rod. I've tried a few different sizes and nothing will actually turn it.
Click to expand...
Here is a link to the Fender setup guide:
Invalid Link Removed

According to this link, the size of the truss rod allen key is 3/16:
Invalid Link Removed

Make sure when you purchase one you get one with a long leg so that it fits all the way down into the hex socket in the truss rod nut.
 
#18
Ah, mine was a 3 but I found the 3/16 and now it's adjusting. I loosened the rod and sure enough, the buzzing is fixed. I never would have guessed it needed that much adjustment just for new strings, I had to loosen it up a good deal. But that's why I asked so thanks. Now the action is high for my liking but I'm going to fix through the bridge saddles and see how it does me.
 
#20
So basically what I'm now looking at is this: I've got the neck relief and bridge saddles to where nothing is buzzing, but to do this I had to loosen the rod way up and not keep the saddles too low. So now that it sounds fine my action is way too high. I can use it for the purposes that I need to tomorrow but I definitely don't want to keep playing it this way. Does that mean the neck relief was fine the way it was before and that there really was something wrong with the nut or crowning?
 

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