Help! Sterling fret buzz issue

[rcgrnc]

Hi all,

I recently picked up a very nice '93 Sterling. My problem is some serious fret buzz on the 1st through 4th frets. A straight edge verified that indeed there was a small hump around the 4th fret so I went to work on a fret leveling (which I have done many times before) with proper tools. The weird thing was after removing the strings and adjusting the truss rod I was able to get the frets perfectly level. String tension, hump. No string tension, no hump. So, under wishful thinking I did a mild level and re-crown and no surprise that the problem didn't change. It's as if there is a mild back-bow from the nut to the 4th fret and the truss rod only affects the 5th to last fret. Ever see this? Any words of advice or magic fairy dust I can sprinkle on the hump before I just give up and live with it or try to save my pennies for a PLEK job (that's a lot of pennies)?

Thanks much for any comments.

 

[narud]

you have backed off the rod right?

 

[rcgrnc]

you have backed off the rod right?

Sure, I have to back it off and dial in a good amount of relief to minimize the buzzing on the lower frets, but the buzz is still at unacceptable levels and any more relief results in buzz on the higher frets as well.

 

[73jbass]

Sounds like the nut is cut too deep.

 

[rcgrnc]

Sounds like the nut is cut too deep.

I replaced the nut as I broke the original trying to remove it for the fret level. Right now the slots are a little taller than spec and still no change. Good thought though, I was hoping that would make a difference as well.

 

[jlepre]

Please contact EBMM Customer Service. BP recommends this to ALL us knuckleheads.

 

[narud]

Please contact EBMM Customer Service. BP recommends this to ALL us knuckleheads.

its a 93, it wouldnt be a warranty issue right? if its really what the op is describing than the board needs to be trued and refretted. its wood, **** happens so its possible. im a little curious as to asking the forumites this question if the guy has experience doing repairs he would be able to diagnose the issue himself. and i wouldnt say plek'ing would be the answer if the board isnt true.

 

[rcgrnc]

im a little curious as to asking the forumites this question if the guy has experience doing repairs he would be able to diagnose the issue himself. and i wouldnt say plek'ing would be the answer if the board isnt true.

Point taken, narud. Actually I believe PLEK'ing would have better results than to true the board as the shape of the board changes when under tension and PLEK takes this into account. I posted this here simply looking for a miracle or confirmation of what I believe my options are. I can tech, but I'm no luthier and certainly no EBMM expert (the other two I've owned never needed anything except regular setups). Yep, it's wood and **** happens especially to wood, and I guess I'm all out of miracles.

Fact is I don't have the money to get the neck properly repaired or replaced so I'll have to live with it. Not like the audience notices anyway.

Thanks all, appreciated.

 

[narud]

any repairman is going to recommend not compensating for a flat board by taking meat off the frets and isnt a plek job going to cost as much as the right repair anyway?

 

[rcgrnc]

The repairman without a PLEK machine will recommend shaving the board, yeah.

One or the other. It doesn't matter how you get there as long as the fret crowns are level. A fret level on a proper neck jig will get me there too for less cash than either of the above. It's all moot, I'm broke.

Enough of this. Time to play.

 

[jlepre]

Oh well...I tried...