Quote Originally Posted by EsquireEsque View Post
Yes - that's another thing I was thinking - to gently work on a fret that I suspect is not behaving... (but i've not seen it mentioned before, so I though there'd be some problem I hadn't considered or knew about)
As mentioned - it seems that the second and (possibly) the 17th fret are the cause....
It's done, and your approach should work. It's not a substitute for fret leveling, but it can be helpful when you have a single fret--or just a part of a fret, that is a little high. I should also say that I can usually identify the fret or the part of the fret that is a problem with the fret rocker. I found this video helpful for using the fret rocker...



...I've looked up sanding sticks and there seems to be a type that resembles a "q-tip" (looks like a bamboo skewer with a flat top on an agle with a small piece of sandpaper.... It'd be simple to make a similar tool out of a "popsicle stick" or a fatter skewer and a small piece of sandpaper. obviously It'd be run down the length of the individual fret (underneath the buzzing string).
You can use those, or a small file. I like the stick because the belt makes it easy to "refresh" the sanding surface. Also sand-paper is slower than a file which reduces my chances of getting it too low. Also the sticks are cheap. Usually a criterion for me liking a tool ;-)

I do notice that the strings seem further away from the fretboard than they are on my Telecaster - which it is hard not to see as a possible cause - although you have advised that's normal for a Gibson (or a 24 3/4" scale length) neck
Lower string tension could be a reason for the strings to need to be a bit higher "all things being equal" as the economists say. But the strings being higher should reduce buzz, not cause it. So if it's still buzzing there may be something else.

I am also still wondering if the neck was settled in another 1mm lower - then the angle would be just that little less near the higher frets (say 16 to 22)......
Maybe I am confused... It seems like it would be easier to just raise the saddle by 1mm to produce the same effect? There is an oldschool method of setting the action where you increase the height at the saddle to where you don't hear a buzz and then lower it until you do. Then raise it back up just to the point of no buzz.*

*You want to make sure that your nut height is OK. Do this by capo'ing at the 3rd fret and making sure you can slide a piece of paper between the first fret and the string.