Fretless buzz?

Posted by Tres Seaver on October 30, 2009 at 1:25pm
I strung up the box i posted about (see the angled shim discussion), configured for low-action fretless play. The fingerboard looks nicely parallel to the strings, with a comfortable, low action. However, to my dismay the thing is unplayable (with fingers) below about the sixth fret: all four strings turn into monotone, sitar-like buzzers when depressed. They sound as I would expect when played at or above the sixth fret, and the intonation is fine when played with slide. Do I need to raise the nut? the bridge? both?

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Tags: action, buzz, fretless
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Replies

  • Outhouse Instruments October 31, 2009 at 8:51am
    First , obviously you need to get the neck straight when unstrung.
    Next, a fretless ( bass - I'm a bassplayer) will usually require a higher action to keep from buzzing. You have to have a good breakangle away from the board to keep buzz away. I would assume a guitar would be the same.
    You might be able to get away with a lower action by using some insanely hard fretboard material.

    Matt
  • HOGS GRUNT October 30, 2009 at 5:13pm
    Might want to try raising the action just a little.
    May overcome the problem with more of an angle to the bridge.
  • Tres Seaver October 30, 2009 at 2:41pm
    Gobi said:
    First check if the neck is still straight, when the strings are tuned!

    Thanks for the hint! Instead of the classic "neck turns concave when strung up" problem, the neck here is actually convex, or at least the middle (fourth - sixth frets) is raised: my straight-edge "rocks" across that area, while seeming straight at the ends.

    I guess I need to sand / plane it down and then try restringing again.
  • Gobi October 30, 2009 at 1:32pm
    First check if the neck is still straight, when the strings are tuned!
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