I am at my wits end. I have been trying to intonate my Highway 1 for over a week. Let me start from the beginning and see if anyone has a suggestion. I might not be thinking this through.

1st of all I purchased String Saver Saddles for my guitar. I made sure and got the right size. They went on without any issues. I started the intonation process:

1. Tune and set the action. Action set—no buzzes

2. Tune and set intonation—cannot get the low E to intonate—ok…intonate the rest and come back to it.

3. Rest of the guitar intonates without any issues.

4. Again, start with the saddle all the way forward—E open pitch on, E pinch harmonic is dead on, press the string at the 12th fret—4 cents flat. Long story short from the very beginning of the screw to the saddle being tightened all the way back—same thing, E open pitch on, E pinch harmonic dead on, press the string at the 12th fret—4 cents flat.

5. Check the neck relief—dead perfect.

6. Tried one of the longer screws that came with the package and repeated step 4 again. Same thing, all the way up and down the screw still 4-6 cents shy of the Key of E only at the 12th fret.


I am about to start to putting on the old Fender Saddles back on. I had no issues with them before, just wanted a different look for the guitar. But before I do, are there any suggestions from our resident experts here at Fender Forum? Any help would be appreciated.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Replace the low E string and see if the new one will intonate.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

Thanks for the suggestion Chet. I thought about that, but didn't want to think that I may have had a string issue with a new set of strings. First thing in the morning I am trying it, just too frustrated to continue tonight.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I have had a few issues with new strings in the past.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
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F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I'm not sure how many guitars you've set up, but without a "roto" style tuner it's going to be very difficult.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

RK ditch the tuner mate. Do it by ear, after you've replaced the string. Also don't tune a pinch harmonic, tune a regular harmonic yeah but not a pinch. You'll sharpen the initial attack of the note by hitting the string hard enough to pinch.

All I do is reference the 12th fret harmonic to the 12th fret fretted. I don't worry about pitch, if it's right for D#+18 cents it'll be right for E.
Get them two to match up so you can't hear a difference and bobs your uncle.
All that tuner stuff is meaningless. If it sounds right it is right.

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No no and no

I have both a TU 12 and a TU 2 and both have pretty much the same reading +\- a cent.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Nik,

Must have been tired and/or frustrated last night. I meant regular harmonic. I still haven't had a chance to change the string just yet, just finished mowing and about to edge, once I drink a little more water. The string plays flat by ear, I usually do not rely totally on tuners since I first learned to tune by ear.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Don't keep us all in suspense.. Enquiring minds here want to know if a new string solved the problem. Plus of course, we're all worried about your predicament!

I'm with Nik on this one. Intonation is a job for the ear. Leave the tuner for quick 'on stage' checks only - it has nothing to offer you here but confusion and unpredicatability. Plug the guitar in with a nice clean sound, and no other sound distractions and work with that. Trying to do it unplugged isn't going to work. Try turning the tone pot down a little too, so the high frequency content of the notes doesn't irritate you.

And I hope I'm not trying to teach my grandmother to suck eggs, but when you compare the fretted note against the harmonic, remember not to fret with too much pressure. That will send the fretted note sharp.

Apologies if you know all this this stuff, and remember not to expose your ears to any Ted Nugent before attempting work.

Finally, I know you have good guitars - I've never yet encountered a Strat bridge that can't be properly intonated across all 6 strings. Be that Fender or Squier. Tune-o-matics on the other hand can be a nightmare. Let us know how she sounds with the graphtec saddles - I have them on my Burns guitar and I really do like them..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Update...Used another E string. Open E dead on, 12th harmonic dead on, E note on the 12th fret is flatter than flat. For $h1ts and giggles, I removed the high E saddle and swithched them around and guess what, I am now having intonation issues on the high E. The low E is spot on. Now I know it is just the saddle.

My wife says it is family time now, so I will have to put my Fender saddles back on this weekend.

Happy 4th of July to all. Time to start up the BBQ...

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Happy 4th RK. At least you have a bit of peace of mind now.

When you can get round to it and this is a long shot. Take a look at the offending saddle. Rub a bit of wet and dry through the groove. All I can think that could have suddenly gone wrong is for something to be ontop of the saddle, but back from the leading edge a little.

Like I said, it's a long shot.

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No no and no