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Post subject: Intonate!
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 8:49 am
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Shame on me. I switched string brands and didn't re-intonate my guitar. Same string gauges 10-46, but I swear the GHS strings are a smidge heavier than the Ernie Balls. I went for a couple months without fine tuning my intonation, and big surprise, it sounded OFF.

MY NEW TRICK: Okay, so what I did new when I got around to adjusting my intonation is a technique that has probably been around forever, but it was new to me and has made a HUGE improvement in how my strat sounds (American Standard with trem flush to body).

I did the usual intonation adjustment on each string using my Korg electronic tuner. Was meticulous about it, but when I was done, it wasn't right on.

Once adjusted, if I carefully tuned the guitar with the electronic tuner and didn't follow-up with a fine tune by ear, the tuning would sound off. I'd LIKE it to be right on when I'm done with the electronic tuner, and I'd LIKE it if a chord (say, and A) played as a barre on the 5th fret sounds sweet AND an A played in the first position would also sound sweet.

So...after doing the basic string by string intonation, I played an A on the fifth fret...slowly...starting with the low E. It sounded good until I plucked the G (3rd) string. I re-adjusted the saddle for the G string (by ear) until the chord sounded sweet (at least up to the G string). Then I plucked the chord string by string until I got to the B (2nd) string, and that string sounded a little sour. I adjusted the bridge saddle until that string sounded good in the A chord at the 5th fret. Ditto for the 1st string.

Then I slowly plucked an A at the first position to see if each note was sweet. Sounded pretty good.

So, basically, I did a basic intonation adjustment (I didn't explain how to do that here cuz you probably already know how or can easily find good instructions on the net) and followed up by fine tuning it by ear. The key for me was to pluck a chord note by note and adjusting anywhere it was sour.

Of course, it's impossible to make the tuning perfect everywhere on the neck, but a happy balance can be found pretty easily using your ears.

The difference on my guitar was very noticeable. Chords ring out sweetly on most of the neck.

Note: When I intonated by ear, and when I tune the guitar each time I play it, I DO NOT us the harmonic for each string...I just pluck the "raw" string. I think that's important (could be wrong), cuz I changed the intonation from what the tuner dictated to what my ears like. Which is to say that on some of the strings the pitch of a string compared to the harmonic pitch of the string is slightly "off" for some of the strings now.

And yes, I can tune with the electronic tuner, smack a chord, and it sounds great (I wanted to be able to tune with JUST the electronic tuner so I can tune silently whether at practice or a gig...no screwin' around playing the ancient Chinese song, TOO NING.

Guitar that won't stay in tune: We hear so many posters on this site complain about a guitar that won't stay in tune. Strats are challenged in this regard cuz of the trem, but I wonder how many guitarists (particularly the newer players) think their guitar goes out of tune a lot, not realizing it may not have been in tune in the first place (bad intonation).

Moral 'o story (at least for me): Intonate!


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 9:10 am
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Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 4:57 am
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Location: Peckham: where the snow leopards roam
Good.

And you'll likely be hearing from Mr Nikininja on his further experiences in this area. He has a suggestion for you.

Also interesting to check out Jerry Donahue's approach to intonating a Tele with traditional saddles. It's alll grist to the mill...

Cheers - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:01 am
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WOW Intonation Masturbation! :twisted:

I'm glad you are happy with the results

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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 11:45 am
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Yes. Most people think of this as some tech-guy voodoo that only they can do. Simplest thing in the world, and makes a HUGE difference in the guitar.

Just remember, when you hit that 12ft fret harmonic - High and Tight. (if it's high, you tighten).

I do this every time I change strings, and sometimes in between.


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:14 pm
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Your homework assignment now is to do research on tempered tunings and how they relate to the guitar.

There are two systems I know of they help to cut down on the problems we all encounter when we try to tune "perfectly." One is the Earvana nut. The other is the Buzz Feiten system.

There is no such thing as perfection, but you can get close enough.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:16 pm
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mthorn00 wrote:
WOW Intonation Masturbation! :twisted:

I'm glad you are happy with the results


:shock: :shock: :shock: ..........

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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 12:19 pm
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Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:47 am
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I dont intonate by harmonic to fretted note comparisons, I tune the open string and then check the twelfth fret fretted. After thats right i move up to the 17th then 19th frets, fretted and fine tune through them to make sure pure pitch is ringing through the neck.
Ofcourse this method is very reliant on a even set string action. I try and keep to 2mm @ 7th fret to 3mm at the 15th fret and rising up to 4/5 mm on the bass side.
To get really good intonation you need a shelf nut I use earvana their superb, when you install one you need to check for pure pitch on frets 1-5 and angle the shelf of the nut to suit.
http://www.earvana.com/

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