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Hey guys, its been a long time since I've posted on the forums! Been in college and just haven't had as much free time, well I guess I should say my priorities are in different past-times now, but I have been checking out stuff here on the forums.

I had a question regarding some fret buzz I've had on my guitar. I've seem to have it since I got the guitar. It is only on one note on the 7th fret on the g-string, and lately it sounds like it is also on the b-string, but that may be that I just need new strings. Would raising the bridge help fix that or is this a hopeless cause?

much thanks for any help guys!!

Zac

Fret Buzz is caused by a fret being higher than the other frets near it and new strings won't help if this is the issue; The problem fret, (Fret 8), If it's too high, Needs to be parallel to the other frets in height. You could raise the bridge to avoid the fret buzz but this isn't a permanent solution and it changes your guitar's setup so you might not like it as much.

Austin

101Volts wrote:Fret Buzz is caused by a fret being higher than the other frets near it and new strings won't help if this is the issue; The problem fret, (Fret 8), If it's too high, Needs to be parallel to the other frets in height. You could raise the bridge to avoid the fret buzz but this isn't a permanent solution and it changes your guitar's setup so you might not like it as much.

Austin

+1 on that. Take a short ruler, preferably a machinist's rule for accuracy, and place it on the suspect area of the neck, between the strings. Now, attempt to rock the ruler. If it rocks, it's sitting on the high fret, close inspection as you rock the ruler will identify the offending fret. Hope that helps.

Hey, Danny--

That's a great video, and Mr. Erlewine also wrote a great book on guitar repair and maintenance. Most of us probably already have it, but if you don't, you might want to check it out.

That's a cool tool he demonstrates!

Thanks!

--Jim

if its not severe, you can usually solve this issue with a few small taps on the fret with a hammer.

oipunkguy wrote:if its not severe, you can usually solve this issue with a few small taps on the fret with a hammer.

What would count as not severe? I tried finding the problem fret, but they all seem to be the same height, but I still get this slight buzz on this one fret, would hammering the frets around it do anything, or would that be very detrimental to the neck? I don't have the tools to do that right now anyways, but I can probably fix this over the summer or something, if I knew what needed to be done

Proper fret work is critical to the set up and performance of a guitar. That's what keep's tech's in business. However it is not too difficult to accomplish if you understand what you are doing and have the proper tools. Everybody has to start somewhere and doing is the only way to learn. Some good research helps immensely and YouTube is your best friend when it comes to learning. Here's a link to fret leveling and dressing that has some good information.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... 42l13l13l0

What would count as not severe? I tried finding the problem fret, but they all seem to be the same height, but I still get this slight buzz on this one fret, would hammering the frets around it do anything, or would that be very detrimental to the neck? I don't have the tools to do that right now anyways, but I can probably fix this over the summer or something, if I knew what needed to be done

severe would be using a small straight edge, or fret rocker and finding the fret and it have a lot of play in it. since you cant find it dont hammer anything. you can lower that fret too much and make the rest out of wack. and no hammering in a fret wont harm the neck, hammering in frets is the most common way to installing them. I agree with danny, before you do any work on it do some studing. dan erlwine's guide to guitar repair going throw this topic at length, and if you dont want to buy a copy it should be at the libary. you tube is a great source too.
what you might want to try also is adjust the relief in the truss rod a little. this isnt the propose of adjust a truss rod, but it can fix the problem.

oipunkguy wrote:

What would count as not severe? I tried finding the problem fret, but they all seem to be the same height, but I still get this slight buzz on this one fret, would hammering the frets around it do anything, or would that be very detrimental to the neck? I don't have the tools to do that right now anyways, but I can probably fix this over the summer or something, if I knew what needed to be done

severe would be using a small straight edge, or fret rocker and finding the fret and it have a lot of play in it. since you cant find it dont hammer anything. you can lower that fret too much and make the rest out of wack. and no hammering in a fret wont harm the neck, hammering in frets is the most common way to installing them. I agree with danny, before you do any work on it do some studing. dan erlwine's guide to guitar repair going throw this topic at length, and if you dont want to buy a copy it should be at the libary. you tube is a great source too.
what you might want to try also is adjust the relief in the truss rod a little. this isnt the propose of adjust a truss rod, but it can fix the problem.

Sounds like it may not be a fret problem at all, but a slight back-bow in the neck...same solution, 18" rule; with the guitar in the playing position, hold the rule in place along the neck, and apply slight pressure first at one end, then the other. If the ruler "rocks" at all, the neck has a back bow, and a slight easing of the truss-rod is in order... Hope that helps!