I'm borrowing a friend’s Am Stnd Tele and have lowered the action for him. However, I'm having problems with the intonation on the B string. I tune it open and it's on. I tune it at the 12th fret using the harmonic and it's on. When I fret the string it starts out sharp and as I work up the neck it gets flatter.
So what am I doing wrong?
"I don't play no cords."
-B.B. King
Never use the harmonic for setting intonation. The guitar needs to be fretted at the 12th fret. Using a harmonic can work, but you need to be exactly precise. The harmonic will work regardless of the saddle setting, it would be off the fret a bit but so slight you'd never notice. Go back to the drawing board using the 12th fret and a good tuner.
Last edited by telecast; 12-06-2005 at 11:15 AM.
A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.
Does your friend know that you're "fixing" his guitar for him? :)
I agree that you should use the fretted note.
I only use harmonics when I play Roundabout (in other words, never).
If that doesn't help look at the action at the first fret. If it's to high the notes will be sharper the closer you get to the nut because the string needs to be stretched to far to reach the fret.
Could be a problem with the nut. Tee hee.
The nut could be too high so that fretting any note pulls the string sharp.
Could also be a bum string. Or the guitar could be possessed of evil spirits. I suggest you send it to me immediately.
s'all goof.
The saddle, nut, string height, neck relief, fret crown, pickup height, and strings as well as player technique all play a factor in intonation. You may need to take it to a professional if you are still having trouble.
Thanks for the help guys.
Don, yes, my friend knows I'm fixing the guitar...I would never mess with anyone’s guitar without getting permission. Isn't that like one of the guitar 10 commandments! "Thou shall not mess with your neighbor’s guitar without permission!"
I will try the fretting thing Telecast. Back to the drawing board.
Curt, if it's the nut wouldn't the other strings be off as well? Maybe I should send the guitar to you....no, stupid Jedi mind trick!
"I don't play no cords."
-B.B. King
1st thing to do is start with new strings.
The slot for the B string could be a problem while the slots for the other strings are okay.
Perhaps if the new B string is tad heavier than the previous, it'll hang up in the nut slot and not seat properly.
This is not the guitar you're looking for... move along, move along...
s'all goof.
Marc, they are new strings...got that covered.
Curt, gottcha...thanks for explaining. They are the same gauge, but will take a closer look.
Thanks again.
"I don't play no cords."
-B.B. King
There's lots of tuning badness that lurks around the nut.
That's the first place to look.
You can never have too
much music in your life.
2nd thing to do is press all strings down at the 3rd fret. Then look at the distance from the top of the 1st fret to the bottom of the strings. The distance should be very small just enough so some light can be seen any major distance here like the same size as your small e means the nut is cut too high and that makes it really hard to intonate correctly.
Thanks guys. I'm learning a ton here.
"I don't play no cords."
-B.B. King
Originally Posted by jim in texas
There's lots of tuning badness that lurks around the nut.
That's the first place to look.
Well, no. I have to respectfully disagree. The first place to look is the simplest, ie: saddle adjustment, string height, relief. A standard setup will usually do the trick. Then if it still isn't right, I agree the nut is the next stop. Much better to turn a screw than start filing on a nut that may not need filing.
A friend in need is a good reason to screen your calls.
Of course you are correct. I should have been more precise.
Look at the nut after you've gone thru the set up process and you have determined that you have a problem.
You can never have too
much music in your life.
I go one step back. First check that you know HOW to measure the intonation of the string.
The FIRST mistake that usually crops up here is that person is measureing the open string against the harmonic on the 12th fret. Of course, it's always perfect because you can't change that. It's always exactly one octave higher. then when they fret the notes on the neck they find it's out of tune.
Probably what happened to the thread originator. Easy mistake to make...
...once.
Good advice.
I start by setting the small e saddle at 25.5" from the nut then eyeball the rest as a starter. Sometimes I barely have to adjust anything.
A big help thanks guys. Never messed with intonation before. I feel like a complete idiot.
"I don't play no cords."
-B.B. King
No need to feel like an idiot. There was a time everybody here set intonation for the first time. I wish I had a resource like TFF when I first started monkeying around with my guitars. It would have saved me a ton of time and money.
s'all goof.
ain't that the truth!
When I first got my first good guitar in 1966 an ES335 Cherry in color I thought all the saddles should be set the same like straight across hahah boy what a nightmare.
Most guitar players have a go to set up guy. In Seattle we all use Mike Lull. The best $80.00 you will ever spend, and you will have a benchmark for that guitar forever.
Yeah, I have a go to guy down here, but I thought the intonation thing was something I could learn...and I have! I don't want to be totally dependent on the "go to guy" because it cost money and he's usually backed up.
Besides, why not learn a thing or two from all the experienced players on the TFF.
"I don't play no cords."
-B.B. King
most people can learn to do simple setups,string height,intonation,etc without major problems.refrettingor cutting nut slots are better left alone IMO.
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote