General setup question (my Jazz is buzzing)

[Keef]

I went to a rehearsal this weekend and my fretless Jazz was buzzing to the point of being unplayable on the G string, 2nd through 4th fret positions (open string and first "fret" ring out fine).

A few days prior, I switched to a slightly lighter gauge G string, but it didn't buzz at the time.

What do I need to do to resolve this? I'd think it was the nut being too low for the new G string, but it doesn't buzz on the open string.

Truss rod adjustment? New nut? Shim? Time to re-radius? What do you think?

TIA,

~ Keef

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[jacostilllives]

you can check the truss rod by putting your finger on the first fret and the 12th and looking at how much space you have between the string and the fretboard. I know on a fretted it should be touching around the 6th fret so i guess on a fretless there should be a little gap. Maybe you just need to raise the bridge on the g string just a tad? Those are my suggestions. Its probably as simple as a bridge adjustment.

 

[jacostilllives]

oh plus if it was a truss rod the other strings would probably be doing the same thing too..or atleast i think they would be?

 

[Keef]

Maybe you just need to raise the bridge on the g string just a tad? Those are my suggestions. Its probably as simple as a bridge adjustment.

Thanks, JSL – I raised the action and the buzz (which was severe – NO note at ALL) went away. I had to raise the saddle about an eighth of an inch (!!!) to get the notes to ring clearly. I also raised the other saddles to keep the output consistent.

Now I feel stupid about my original post – but how on earth did my action go south so quickly?!?!?

But for now, things are good once again. Thanks for your advice, JSL.

 

[pkr2]

Thanks, JSL – I raised the action and the buzz (which was severe – NO note at ALL) went away. I had to raise the saddle about an eighth of an inch (!!!) to get the notes to ring clearly. I also raised the other saddles to keep the output consistent.

Now I feel stupid about my original post – but how on earth did my action go south so quickly?!?!?

But for now, things are good once again. Thanks for your advice, JSL.

Because the lighter strings allowed some of the relief to go out of the neck. Pretty common, actually.

Fwiw, you adjusted the wrong thing. Notes buzzing at only the nut end of the neck always indicate truss rod, or relief, adjustment is in order.

 

[Keef]

Because the lighter strings allowed some of the relief to go out of the neck. Pretty common, actually.

Fwiw, you adjusted the wrong thing. Notes buzzing at only the nut end of the neck always indicate truss rod, or relief, adjustment is in order.

I'm assuming I'd need to loosen the truss rod, pkr2?

 

[pkr2]

I'm assuming I'd need to loosen the truss rod, pkr2?

yes.

 

[Keef]

Thanks, pkr2!