It is currently Tue Mar 17, 2020 1:04 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Intonation Woes
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:47 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Thu Apr 01, 2010 6:56 am
Posts: 4
Hi everyone, I have a Amer Standard 2010, & the intonation issues are driving me up a wall :evil: :evil: :evil:

I've done the work & it still sounds awful. I have a six saddle bridge. (I really want to change it to a three saddle but the standard three saddle bridge doesn't fit the guitar, unless I do some routing, which I'd like to stay away from.)

Any tips or guidance from my Tele brothers and Sisters???


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Intonation Woes
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 10:55 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 5:53 am
Posts: 1686
Location: Brooklyn NY
Welcome to the forum...Don`t change to a 3 saddle bridge because 6 individual saddles gives you better intonation. If your having trouble with this one its going to be more of a problem if you change it to 3. Why don`t you take the guitar to your music store and let them do a set up on it. It might be a simple fix your overlooking.

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Intonation Woes
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:24 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2009 10:03 am
Posts: 9449
Location: NL Canada
If you've exhausted all the most likely causes ie. old or dead strings,nut cut wrong, pickups to close to the strings etc.it would save you a lot of grief to bring it to an experienced tech as JPD suggested.BTW welcome to the Forum you should find help with most guitar related problems here.

_________________
'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Intonation Woes
Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:07 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:02 pm
Posts: 290
Location: Wisconsin
Yes, if you are having intonation issues, it is even trickier to set up proper intonation on the three saddle bridge. I did it last night for the first time and was amazed how far off it was when I bought it. (new a few weeks ago).
You said you did the work but didn't mention what you actually did. I recommend getting a good book that outlines the approach and following it. If there is still is a problem, get some professional help.
I know what a pain this is, so good luck.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Intonation Woes
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:16 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur

Joined: Thu Jan 13, 2011 1:35 pm
Posts: 129
The fully adjustable Wilkinson Telecaster bridge from StewMac was one of the greatest upgrades I've ever spent my money on. Intonation is key and the tele bridges that didn't allow me to fine tune it were annoying. I agree with the other folks though. Definitely throw on some new strings and make sure the neck and action is good before changing any parts.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Intonation Woes
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:55 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:47 pm
Posts: 4
I feel your pain. I have a brand new '52 Hot Rod. The strings that came with the guitar were pathetic and could not be intonated properly. After two weeks I put on some new Elixers and had another go with setting the intonation. The Hot Rod has the 3 brass saddle configuration, but the saddles are "compensated" somewhat. Still an inexact science with these saddles.
I've had to remove the spring on the adjustment screw to move the E/A saddle as far back as it will go. The screws that secure the bridge plate to the body protrude high enough to interfere with adjusting the intonation screw, as well as making the action more difficult to set. This pretty much undermines the "compensated" saddles. Also, I had to cut off part of the E/A intonation screw because it protruded high above the E/A strings, causing a buzz and being uncomfortable to the hand. Same deal with D/G string, it needs cut off so I don't cut my hand.
I come from a bluegrass flatpicking background and play hard. I want my cowboy chords down at the nut to sound right. Notes at the 12th fret are flat when pressed lightly, but are just about in tune with my style of play. I can live with it now.
I am frustrated that a guitar I paid $1500 for needs so much adjustment and modification coming right from the American factory! C'mon Fender. Is that a trade off you have to make for ' 52 style tele? I have seen a six saddle bridge with brass saddles somewhere online, but don't recall where. Why can't Fender offer this? It is not rocket science. I believe the brass saddle is a major factor in getting the traditional tele twang.
Other than that, I love the guitar. It is a beast that can stun small animals at twenty paces with the bridge pickup. And the mini-humbucker has an entirely different sweet sting to it. :wink:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Intonation Woes
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:31 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:02 pm
Posts: 290
Location: Wisconsin
There was a previous thread that mentioned that one of the new anniversary Tele's has a 6 piece compensating bridge. Think we will see more of this as the year goes on. I saw a picture that looked real nice. (can't find it-sorry) Don't give up hope. :D


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Intonation Woes
Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 1:35 pm
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:02 pm
Posts: 290
Location: Wisconsin
Banjocaster, I forgot to mention that I also had a spring issue on one saddle where it was too compressed to intonate. But- I would not remove the spring but rather cut it slightly shorter so that there is still some spring tension in the system. I didn't do that this time but will when I change strings and finish the intonation job. It works OK for now.
It is sad when you have to do this type of simple mechanics on an expensive guitar.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 8 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: