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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on May 5, 2015 at 1:26pm

The nut isnt the problem. The 12th fret sits lower than all the others. So when you say all other frets are good and play, yet fretting the 12th you get a muted or dampened sound or no sound, it is becuase the 12th is lower than the others. Question: do you level and dress your frets? If not, this is a good example why it is a good idea.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on May 5, 2015 at 1:45pm

I've done several fretted cbgs. I might have cut the groove of that particular fret just too low..or lower around that fret. As far as dressing the fret no..never.
Is there anything I can do at this point?

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on May 5, 2015 at 1:28pm

Or maybe I am misunderstanding the description

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on May 5, 2015 at 1:55pm

I'm pretty sure your right and maybe I've been extremely lucky until this point ...I'm just not sure if I should try filing down other frets nearby or what? It's a drag that on the string before and after all is fine ..sounding. And all other strings and frets are fine..

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on May 5, 2015 at 2:28pm

This is not an unusual situation with a new build. Even with your most careful efforts, it is possible for one or more frets to be higher or lower than the others. This may be due to a slight depression in the fret board, a fret that just went in to the wood a little deeper, or compression of the fret board when you glued/screwed it to the neck. The reason doesn't matter that much. The cure is what's important.

Leveling all the frets is not difficult and you won't need a file. A good flat section of 1x2 hard wood that is around 3/4 as long as the fret board will do.

1. find some 320~400 grit wet/dry sandpaper and cut a strip 3/4" wide to glue to the edge of your 1x2. You may need to cut several to completely cover the length of the board. Don't overlap where they meet. Just butt them. Let it dry well.

2. Take a sharpie and carefully draw a line across every fret.

3. Gently place the sanding board on the frets and move it back and forth while holding it level and not pressing unevenly. This will quickly remove the sharpie marks from all of the frets that are not sitting low. If your fret at the 12th is low at the low string, it will quickly show. Now just keep gently sanding until the low fret is cleared of sharpie marks. This will actually take very little sanding. A little acetone on a rag will remove the remnants of sharpie and you should be good to go.

You may actually find that the guitar plays easier with all frets level to one another.

Give it a try and you should be in business in about five minutes.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on May 5, 2015 at 2:49pm

Woah. That's an amazing explanation. I'm going to give this a try after re/-reading your response a few times. Thank you very much. I'll get back to this post after giving it a go

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 5, 2015 at 3:35pm

yes this is good advice.   You can also do it with a nice, flat sharpening stone.  Just wet the stone a little and run it over the frets a few times.  You can feel the resistance against your strokes change as the frets all level out.  It will leave the frets level but quite rough, and the ones which were higher will be flattened off more on top.  You can round them back over with a small file (this is where the sharpie mark comes in handy, to ensure you don't take too much off), be sure to mask off the fingerboard so you don't scratch the wood up. then you can polish the frets up again with fine sandpaper

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on May 5, 2015 at 3:37pm

Ok I can clearly see fret # 13 sits high. Problem is the neck is stained ...already done. Can I just file # 13 down or do/ should I do the above recommendations ...? If I take out that fret and re cut # 13 fret and lower it ..I'm gonna have to restain / re-sand the entire guitar including disassembly. On the other hand I've never had this issue so I'm asking.

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on May 5, 2015 at 2:36pm

I think Scott's right,try a straightedge over those frets,say 9 -14/15,i suspect 12 is a touch low,if so,you'll need to level, the high frets ,until all level,it's not that difficult,hopefully it's the other frets high rather than 12 low,because if so,you'll be working to a hollow on 12

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on May 5, 2015 at 2:57pm

Looking at the frets down the neck eye level ... I can now see the 12th fret is lower especially on the side that's bonking out...so hopefully toms method will be a fix.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on May 5, 2015 at 3:48pm

I think everyone's advice is correct it's just that the entire guitar's been stained.. sanded already. May just be no way around it ..other than a re-do of the fretboard by the methods everyone's described.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on May 5, 2015 at 6:07pm

Try Wayfinder's suggestion Jon. I get the idea you're not too keen on levelling and reckoning the frets.

Raising the bridge just a touch may give you enough clearance to stop the buzzing. Maybe just try sticking 1 or 2 credit cards under it to see if it works.

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