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Post subject: Intonation question
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:51 pm
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How often should intonation be checked and how often does the average guitar need it adjusted?


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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 4:58 pm
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Usually only if you change string gauges (some purists insist it be checked merely when switching among different brands), adjust your tremolo action, or re-set your neck relief via the truss-rod screw.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2014 6:34 pm
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Check it?
You can check it as often as you like.
Adjust it?
Only if it needs it.

Like Arjay says, once it's dialed in you shouldn't need to be messing with it.

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 12:56 am
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I check the intonation
a) every time I change strings, and
b) if I have doubts it ain't right.
These days of electronic tuners make checking so easy - you can check it every time you tune a guitar...

Usually a guitar needs intonation adjustments when something has changed, suddenly (like string gauge) or slowly (like trem springs aging).


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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 3:31 am
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I usually have my guitars in the shop for a set up (if i can afford it) during seasonal changes.

As to checking and setting up the intonation, I agree check it if things don't sound right after you've tuned up. On that note - invest in a Peterson clip-on strobe tuner. They will run you a little bit, but they are are very accurate.

Here are some good videos to help you set up your own guitar. They are easy to understand and short. Start with step 1of 4 and then watch the rest in order.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... ratocaster


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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:51 am
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Okay, good to know. So simply changing strings with the same gauge should not affect the intonation, correct?


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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:10 am
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MKuhn wrote:
Okay, good to know. So simply changing strings with the same gauge should not affect the intonation, correct?

Correct.
Provided you are still using the same tuning.
Alternate tunings can also affect intonation.
For that reason, if someone plays a lot of songs in a particular tuning they should think about having a guitar set up for and dedicated to that alternate tuning.

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:08 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:
Alternate tunings can also affect intonation.
For that reason, if someone plays a lot of songs in a particular tuning they should think about having a guitar set up for and dedicated to that alternate tuning.


+1

My Les Paul Jr is optimized for just such a purpose -- open G tuning for slide work.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 1:04 pm
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Retroverbial wrote:

My Les Paul Jr is optimized for just such a purpose -- open G tuning for slide work.

Arjay
That would be a great guitar for slide work. Love the P90 for slide.

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 1:13 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
That would be a great guitar for slide work. Love the P90 for slide.


Indeed.

Think Mountain's "Crossroader" and you'll have the gist of it.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 5:27 pm
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MKuhn wrote:
Okay, good to know. So simply changing strings with the same gauge should not affect the intonation, correct?


Correct.


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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2014 11:21 pm
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BMW-KTM wrote:
MKuhn wrote:
Okay, good to know. So simply changing strings with the same gauge should not affect the intonation, correct?

Correct.
Provided you are still using the same tuning.
Alternate tunings can also affect intonation.
For that reason, if someone plays a lot of songs in a particular tuning they should think about having a guitar set up for and dedicated to that alternate tuning.


This is the reason I haven't bought a Tronical tuner yet. My first instinct was to get it because it makes changing tunings effortless. Except that it doesn't, because it doesn't adjust the intonation.
So after some thought, it would only be useful for staying at one tuning, and then they need to come down a bit in price (and preferably get a standard battery option too - I hate planned obsolescence).


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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 12:14 am
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MKuhn wrote:
Okay, good to know. So simply changing strings with the same gauge should not affect the intonation, correct?


No!
Simply changing strings with the same brand, type and gauge should not affect intonation.

If you slap another brand of string on there chances are something will change with the intonation, although that change should be small.

I have stuck with the same brand, type and gauge of string for years, and have found that on the rare occasion when I've checked intonation it doesn't need adjustment.
I suspect that that's the same for everyone here.

I have used D'Addario EXL110s on all of my electrics for a very long time now, with the exception of just one guitar which is set up for E flat tuning, and that sports a set of EXL115s (the set with the plain 3rd).
My intonation doesn't drift.

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 12:21 am
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Stratmangler2 wrote:
MKuhn wrote:
Okay, good to know. So simply changing strings with the same gauge should not affect the intonation, correct?


Not quite true!
Simply changing strings with the same brand, type and gauge should not affect intonation.

If you slap another brand of string on there chances are something will change with the intonation, although that change should be small.

I have stuck with the same brand, type and gauge of string for years, and have found that on the rare occasion when I've checked intonation it doesn't need adjustment.
I suspect that that's the same for everyone here.

I have used D'Addario EXL110s on all of my electrics for a very long time now, with the exception of just one guitar which is set up for E flat tuning, and that sports a set of EXL115s (the set with the plain 3rd).
My intonation doesn't drift.

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Post subject: Re: Intonation question
Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2014 7:04 am
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Stratmangler2 wrote:
No!
Simply changing strings with the same brand, type and gauge should not affect intonation.

If you slap another brand of string on there chances are something will change with the intonation, although that change should be small.

So the type and gauge can be exactly the same but if it's a different brand then intonation will be affected, albeit slightly. Would you care to explain that?

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