In all honesty, I never intended to belittle you. I believe I was comparing your good ear to an accomplished Producer/Engineer. I'm not sure why you felt that way. If that's how you felt, I do apologize. I'm all for civil discussions, especially with people I consider mentors.

That being said, I personally don't think it's as normal as you might think it is that an average person can intonate more accurately with their ears. I praise you for your optimism. But what might seem perfectly normal to you (even though you may have trained your ears for it), may not be for so many others. What you then may be doing is generalizing that everyone has good or perfect hearing.

Fact is, not everybody does. And not everyone has that kind of ear for it. I know a great many guitar players who have been playing for years and really can't tell if the octave is 5-cents off. I don't have any problems showing them how you can learn to accomplish the task by use of a tuner ( this one in particular anyway). Some people just relate to it better by seeing the visual.

I for one, am perfectly confident in my ability to intonate a guitar by using a Boss TU-12 and ear-plugs as well as anyone can by using only their ears. I've already been through that challenge (basically) with a professional.. That doesn't mean to say that I think I'm better than they are, or that either method is better than the other. Because conversely, using a tuner would be little or no help to a person who has poor eyesight. So I have to be careful not to generalize myself.

I would personally endorse either way as long as the task gets done accurately even if it means using 2-cans and a string and a telescope. The main point of my post was to bring to the discussion that tuners can and do get used by professionals to intonate with accurate results. Even a tuner as basic as a TU-12. The name dropping was more to give credibility to that point. It's rare that I ever do that, but in this case, I thought it would be better than just saying "I know a guy". Probably a mistake on my part.

I think to say that a basic tuner is useless for intonating just isn't completely correct. The TU-12 works just fine. That's where we're going to always differ. I do it all the time. It's no big deal, it's not very hard for me. Like anything else, it takes practice and maybe a good teacher.

I do agree with you that a human ear is just as capable. I don't discount your position on that. And I do agree that a cheap tuner like this:



Should not be used.

In this vast world full of so many musicians, and so many people in the recording industry, tech industry, etc.. (good and bad), I believe you have a gift that isn't as common as you think. And I mean that as a compliment. And my compliments to the people who directed you to use your instincts. It's obviously good advice that paid off well for you.

Peace my bruthah!!

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Shredd, mate.

That was my point, you didnt belittle anything. A fact that I was pointing out to your merit. Sorry for any confusion on that part.

In all honesty I dont think a good ear comes into the equation with intonation setting. Its nothing more complicated than strike the harmonic, remember the pitch while you hit the fretted note. Something that can be done in the space of a tenth of a second. All it takes is a little concentration. Its not like your having to pick out wherever theres a perfect 4th and a augemented 5th in some classical opus, whilst your on the bus into town and screaming kids are arguing at your feet.

I dont have that kind of hearing, i know people that do. I dont envy them, the joy of music seems to have left a lot of them. (not all).

I would ask anyone to spend an evening intonating their guitar by ear. If you trust your ear alone, you may be very suprised at the results. Its not a good idea to stray too far from concert pitch. When you do things can go a bit off. You dont need to be bang on A440 concert pitch to do it though. Simply refrencing harmonic to fret is enough.

Your right I have put a lot of work into my hearing, around 20 years worth. I'm at a point now where I dont need a tuner to get within 25 cents of concert pitch, with no refrence. I dont recognise all intervals that well though, some still confuse me.

That said I've been intonating guitars by ear since I was 16. I didnt buy a tuner till I was 24, I always tuned to records which isnt always accurate with vinyl. Consequently it took a lot of work when I decided to get my ears in order for concert pitch.

Heres a great tuner btw that doesnt cost the earth or anywhere near it.
http://www.tbstrobetuner.com/
It costs about $9/£6. I sold my strobostomp once I downloaded it.

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No no and no

I fancy I have pretty good pitch. Which is absolutely not the same thing as "perfect pitch", which I sure as heck do not have.

I wouldn't dream of trying to intonate a guitar without a tuner. Though I wouldn't do it without my ears either. The one is checked against the other. When both agree it's likely the job is being done right.

If the tuner and my ear are saying different things then some more work is necessary.

BTW: I've watched piano tuners doing their stuff - which makes guitar intonation look like kindergarten stuff. I've seen a guy do the entire job by ear and another using an electronic tuner for reference. They both made the piano sound excellent - so that proves nothing at all!

Cheers - C

Place a vertical shim between the neck and body, about 1 or 2 mm before having to grind a bridge saddle.

Erm - can anyone tell me if there's something wrong with that? Cos right now that sounds like a very sensible solution to me.

Nice one, rdclmn7! Why didn't the rest of us think of that...?

Cheers - C

That could work. The neck mounting holes in the body usually have a little play in them ... ya gotta be able to attach the neck ya know.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

I think I'd rather ground a saddle before moving. Its a lot less visualy apparent. Easier and cheaper to correct too, should it go bad.

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No no and no