Help! Fret buzz above the 8th fret

[AznKenshin]

I'm quite embarrassed to ask such a noob question, but this one's got me stumped. The buzzing becomes progressively worse as it gets around the 12th to 19th frets.

There is no audible fret buzz at the last 2 frets.

What could be causing this? I've adjusted the truss rod, from the original straight neck, to some bowed relief. Both did not resolve the problem.

 

[maddog]

might need to raise the saddles.

or the neck shifted at the heel and needs to be looked at.

this advice is only worth the electrons it took to print so you may want to try a tech or luthier.

 

[five7]

+1

 

[patpark]

I'm quite embarrassed to ask such a noob question, but this one's got me stumped. The buzzing becomes progressively worse as it gets around the 12th to 19th frets.

There is no audible fret buzz at the last 2 frets.

What could be causing this? I've adjusted the truss rod, from the original straight neck, to some bowed relief. Both did not resolve the problem.

could be a lot of things that we couldn't diagnose properly here. If it's the SBMM bass you bought, send me an email at:
patpark AT praxismusical DOT com and we'll see what we can do.

Thanks

 

[AznKenshin]

I've just sent pat an e-mail and I'm waiting for a reply.

Not that I don't trust him or anything, but I thought that I'd like to keep you guys up to date. Here are my notes when I took a closer look at which frets caused buzzing:

E string: light buzzing @ 10; normal buzzing @ 12-19
A string: light buzzing @ 8; normal buzzing @ 11-19
D string: normal buzzing @ 8-20
G string: light buzzing @ 12-16

 

[five7]

What is normal buzzing?

 

[AznKenshin]

What is normal buzzing?

It's just my own way of notating the degree of buzzing. Light meaning "less buzzy" compared to Normal.

 

[spencer]

if you have more buzzing at the top you need to raise your saddles, but this will overall raise your strings, you'll then need to lower your action via truss rod [tighten, to remove relief]

Generally if you have buss in your lower frets you need more relief in the neck, if you buzz in the top registers you need to raise saddles, you need to get an overall even but good buzz you need a balance of each.

begin by setting your truss rod, fret the first and 12th fret on e string you shoukd have a gap the size of 2 sheets up paper-a credit card depending on the action you prefer. then adjust saddles to desired height..

 

[Freddels]

Hold the phone!! Look through here first: music-man-basses | faq

 

[Basspro]

+1....Spencer has it right.

 

[spencer]

+1....Spencer has it right.

Thank you!! Wasn't expecting that, most people disagree with the whole buzz in lower frets = more relief/ buzz higher frets raise action. Its not that simple though because usually youll have a buzz in the lower frets and in the higher frets too, and raising the saddles untill the buzz in lower frets are gone will just leave you with uneven action, very high at the higher frets..

They work together its usually best to start with adjusting the relief [holding down 1st and 12th fret and checking gap at 6th fret] then moving to the saddles. Then you fine tune it, to me I will add or remove relief untill I have my desired amount of buzz [I do like a little] in the lower frets and then adust the saddles, however you will have to go back and most likely adjust the relief agian because the saddles will effect the lower registers too. Its a balance, and once you get it right, it will be perfect.

 

[AznKenshin]

Okay, thought I should give you guys an update.

Raising the saddles was the first natural thing I looked at. I raised it a bit, but didn't really solve the problem. I made sure the neck was straight with a BIT of relief, enough to avoid buzzing while playing open string.

I raised the action a bit after straightening the neck.

After playing, I discovered the buzzing in the higher frets diminished. But this also introduced equal diminished buzzing in the bottom frets. I think it's fine as it is now (since I'd rather have faster action than clean, buzz-free tone).

However, in case I felt the need to clear up the fret buzz completely (which is equal throughout all the frets), what should I do?