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Post subject: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 1:34 pm
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Hi. Let's try to keep this one technical, it's all theoretic.

Is it possible to completely back off the sadle so it touches the edge of the bridge plate and get a false positive for setting an intonation?

Almost all Strats have a problematic low E intonation. I know I have to back off the saddle quite a bit. I played a Strat lately that still had the factory intonation set up and it worked just as good as my setup does. Everything was to pitch. The saddles were way in front, plenty of room left before the edge.

I always used Erlewine's method for setting up a Strat that is to back all the saddles a little further before even putting fresh strings on, you want the strings to play absolutely flat and go from there driving the saddle towards the nut. The string develops a kink where it lands on the saddle and you never want the kink to go past the saddle into the playing area. I am strong believer in the technical aspect of this method, but maybe I am still far off and just enough to get a false positive reading on my tuner?

Or could it just be the neck pocket or bridge position inconsistency?


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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 4:23 pm
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First you have to make sure your setup is dead on. Back down your pickups far from the strings. Make all adjustments in the playing position. Works for me.


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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 5:59 pm
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What do you mean by "false positive" for intonation?

Why does it matter whether the supposed kink is before, or after the saddle?

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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 8:09 pm
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Here's what he's talking about:

If the kink in a string gets adjusted so that it ends up in the playing area, the string may not vibrate cleanly.

I don't how much it gets messed up, but we're speaking theoretically .

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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 1:35 am
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An easier way, surely would be to tune the E string to F, so tightening the string, intonate it perfectly, then detune back down to E , the kink would then be either on the saddle as normal, or behind it
(BTW, never had this problem myself)

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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 4:01 am
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A kink would seem to make the string slightly longer and vibrate differently. Thus giving you a false reading on the open string and an error in intonation. That's why new strings should be used. This kink would only create a very minor error, perhaps a cent or two.


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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 9:06 am
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First thing I'd look at would be my tuner. If it's any less accurate than 0.5cents then ditch it. Better still, use your ears.


The only series of Fender guitars that I've seen that problem on are the American Deluxes as the saddles are a little longer.

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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 10:35 am
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nikininja wrote:
First thing I'd look at would be my tuner. If it's any less accurate than 0.5cents then ditch it. Better still, use your ears.


The only series of Fender guitars that I've seen that problem on are the American Deluxes as the saddles are a little longer.

This is what I was thinking also a good tuner is a must


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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 12:22 pm
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tbazzone wrote:
This is what I was thinking also a good tuner is a must


Definitely. I was stunned at the difference setting intonation up with a good tuner made when I first did it, the whole instrument just seemed to resonate more.

There are a few PC shareware strobe tuners out there which are supremely accurate and free to try - you might be surprised how far out your existing tuner actually is. :shock:


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Post subject: Re: Intonation dilemma
Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 2:21 pm
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Vulpinity wrote:

There are a few PC shareware strobe tuners out there which are supremely accurate and free to try - you might be surprised how far out your existing tuner actually is. :shock:



Yep, I used to use one. Since I got the Line6 Mobile app for my I-thing with it's plug in thingy, I use Strobesoft for I-Thing. On stage I use the TC Electronic Polytune which reads quite different to Strobesoft.

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