I have a 79 hardtail with an e string (big) that I can't quite get intonated. It is still too sharp when fretted at the 12th fret and the saddle all the way back.

Webchiro

Its a bit of a problem on those vintage saddles as you cant really grind any off the back.
All i can suggest is trying a higher string gauge on that one string. It could be a slightly off size, or a faulty string.

If not its entirely probable that the bridge has crept forwards. Hopefully thats not the case and you should be able to spot it by checking body to trem string holes. Not a repair i'd like to undertake on a 30 year old guitar.

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No no and no

Another idea.

If you have a 3 bolt neck could it have slipped a tad upwards. That could theoreticaly require the saddle going back more than usual.

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No no and no

Thanks, I will try the string gauge change.
Maybe if I tilt the neck back slightly I would gain some saddle-nut length.
Thanks again for the input.

I dont think the microtilt will make much difference, not anymore than lowering the action. All i was thinking is that 3 bolt necks can slip up or down (treble or bass sides). That may have caused it. Far more likely to be a string issue though.

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No no and no

Hi webchiro, welcome to the Forum.

Nikininja is right as usual. Change the string - and try one of the same size first, because there may just be something odd about the individual one you have there.

You are implying that all the other strings intonate OK, yes? Well, if the top e string is a smaller gauge than the B then it has to intonate closer to the neck, not further. Laws of physics. If you can get the B right, the e must follow.

How are the other saddles set, by the way? Are they unusually close to the back of the bridge, or pretty normal?

Oh, and just to eliminate simple issues. I presume you are tuning with the volume and tone controls wide open? The tuner works fine on other guitars? No issues with the pickups?

In other words, the signal is getting from the guitar to the tuner all right...?

Let us know how you get on.

Cheers - C

Welcome!

Your's is a very common problem.

Three more alternatives, any one or combination of which (where appropriate) have worked quite well for me:

Remove the saddle's intonation spring.

And/or:

Try straightening your neck just a bit more but not to the point where it creates other problems. This increases the traveling length of the strings from the nut to the saddle.

And/or:

Slightly loosen the three bolts which hold the neck to the body and ever so slightly shift the base of the neck towards the low E side where of course, the high E string is to still remain adequately over the fingerboard and not riding on or falling off the edge at the upper frets; then retighten the three bolts. As above, this does the same thing.

With the latter two ways, all six strings' intonation will have to be redone.

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You dig?

Thanks for all of the great input. There was a slight deviation of the neck towards the E (big) string side and I think a little towards the bridge. So, I shimmed the neck straight. I also realized that a harmonic was being generated at and above the 12 fret on the E and A string due to fret wear. This was compounded by the lack of wear above the say 14 fret or so. To remedy the problem I brought the neck slightly forward using the tilt screw and re-adjusted the saddle heights and pickups down and reset intonation. The relief was still good so no change there.
The basic physics advice helped very much in looking in the right spot for the problem.
She plays and sounds fabulous! Cheers!

All's well that ends well!!

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You dig?