Loose fret

A fret that has lost its grip in the slot and rocks or lifts when the string presses on it, producing buzz and a dull note.

The cause is usually a slot cut slightly wide, a fret with a narrow tang, dried glue, or a neck that has moved enough to work the wire loose. The audible symptom is a click or a rattle that appears on one or two frets, sometimes only on one side of the neck. The standard repair is to work a little thin glue into the slot and clamp the fret down, though a fret that has been loose for a long time often needs to be pulled and reseated.

Example: a note on the third fret that rattles on the bass strings alone and disappears when the neck is held is usually a loose fret rather than a setup issue.

Loose fret

See also