[Thumb NT] Fret buzz from approx 17th fret. What to adjust?

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MerijnB

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Hi all,

With my late '90s Thumb NT I have fret buzz from about the 17th fret up. I'm not sure what to adjust. I always had the strings very tight to the fretboard which I like a lot. Simply increase the height of the bridge feels wrong (?), also because it will increase the distance from strings to fretboard.

I don't really know when the buzz first came, I am using different strings, but with the same gauge.

Hope to get some advice, tia!
 
Hey Merjin,

Please check the relief of the neck.
You need to straighten the neck, and then to raise the bridge, to have the same action for fret 12, but no buzz there.
Cheers, FLo
 
Thanks Florin,
I'm afraid I need a little more help, straighten the neck, so the truss rod must be tighter?

And I don't really understand what you mention about the 12th fret, I currently don't have a buzz there?
 
PLease read the sticky threads here:

And if you still have questions, I will be glad to help :-)

Cheers, Flo
 
Hi Florin and all,

I ended up bringing my bass to a (remotely) local shop, after some trying out I didn't want to risk damaging anything.

Now I just got a call from there technical guy and he tells me that the neck is warped somewhat, on the treble side the neck is quite straight while on the low B it's somewhat 'curvish'. He doesn't think a new truss rod will fix this. Replacing the neck seems not easy / possible since it's a NT.

Any advice?

btw, I made a typo above, the bass is from '91, not late '90s.
 
This seems to be normal, and OK, since the low B needs more space to vibrate. As long as it is not twisted it should be OK...
Also, I hope you don't use a ultra low action for all the strings. You can set the G string as close as possible, even 1,5 mm on 12ve fret. But you need at least 2,5 mm on B string to let it breathe.
 
The curve of the neck should be the same on both sides.It sounds like it has a slight twist,but it should be ok because like florin said you need room for the low string to vibrate.If the twist gets worse one of the repairs is to have the fret board removed and the neck planed straight and the fret board reinstalled.and a fret job.
 
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