Checking Curvature With Worn Frets

RedTide

So I'm trying to straighten my neck out and setup my 2003 jagstang, but it's difficult to check the curvature with the capo at the first fret and a ruler because my frets are pretty worn down in some spots, including the 8th one. Is there another way to check curvature that would not be affected by lower frets?

Fran

I've not done much fret work but i imagine using a long ruler will reveal low points. Obviously the high frets (past 12th fret) will be virtually unworn.

Because a guitar neck should have a slight bow with the lower frets being a high point you may get away with just dressing them frets. Depends how bad it is.

RedTide

The high frets aren't quite as worn as the 1st through 7th frets, but they're pretty obviously ground down a bit. I've had my JS for 6 years and used it as my primary guitar the whole time, with pretty heavy strings and a lot of bending and agressive picking. I also noticed a lot of the setup guides strongly discouraged adjusting the action with the saddle screws, but I'm definitely getting a lot of buzzing down there as well as up around the 1st and 2nd frets. Coud this have something to do with switching from 11's to 12's recently?

Fran

Could be, its surprising how much difference a gauge can make. Normally though 12s would make things more stable due to added tension, thicker gauge strings usually cope better with worn frets too.

RedTide

Well thats good to know. I think I've come to peace with my neck's small bow regardless of whether or not its factory perfect. Now my issues lay in intonation, especially in the G (tuned down a whole step to F) string. I've got the saddle all the way back and fretting the note at the 12th fret is still much higher than the 12th fret enharmonic. Could this be an issue with bridge height? I also tightened the tailpiece of the trem down to keep it in tune. And I can't seem to stop the buzzing, it's all over the place, near the nut, at the bridge...