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Post subject: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:01 pm
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Got my new Blacktop Tele Wednesday and changed strings to a 10-46 set.
Stretched out and played in the new strings. I checked the intonation and it was way off so I started adjusting and the saddles on the E A and D strings are almost maxed out as far as they would go. The little springs around the screws are compressed almost completely. The G B and highE are not as bad but are back a long way. The intonation reads correct with my tuner and it sounds o.k. Makes me wonder if the bridge is not mounted back far enough on the body [ factory mistake?] If I wanted to go with even heavier strings I don't think it would be possible to make it intonate correctly. Anyone came across this problem before?


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:27 pm
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Telemore, I haven't experienced this problem before. If it will help I measured my Blacktop Tele and it is 26 5/8 inches from the back of the nut to the back of the bridge plate. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:29 pm
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I will check that out right now.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:51 pm
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S Bender,
Mine measures the same. I didn't check the intonation before I changed gauges but I don't think it sounded funky right out of the box. I was surprised how far I had to crank the screws to even get it close. They were mostly forward , the other extreme.
Should string gauge make that much change?


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 7:19 am
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Going from a .009 gauge set to a .010 gauge should not make a huge difference in intonation, a tweak, but not a drastic adjustment. I would check things like the string height and the amount of relief in the neck. Strings too high and you will be fretting the notes sharp, causing you to pull the saddle farther back to compensate. Too much relief and you can have the same issue, AND the added effect that too much relief, or bow in the neck is effectively shortening your scale length a little...... I bet with slight truss rod adjustment and setting the string height to a reasonable height should do a lot to clear up this problem :)


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:39 am
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The saddle for the low E string on my Tele is adjusted nearly as far rearward as it will go. Once the intonation is set on a fixed bridge such as ours only very minor tweaks should be needed when changing string gauge. If you look around at pictures of tele's with 6-saddle bridges, you will see that many of them are adjusted back pretty far.

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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:19 pm
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Changing from 9s to 10s shouldn't make it necessary to move the saddles that much. I would start over and set the intonation making sure you have your tuner set to standard tuning and I like to start with the small E string and then the remaining strings. You should end up with ample room for adjustment behind the saddles. Those are great guitars and when it's right a real joy to play. :idea:

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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:42 pm
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I did think about too much neck bow making the strings shorter but it doesn't look extreme to me.I have not actually got the feeler gauges out yet[ no time] but I want to use it at church Sunday then I will have a pro take a look at it.
It feels great to play and looks really fine.It is better than what I thought it would be.I haven't had a solid body guitar since I sold my Kramer back in the 80's to help pay for my kids being born. Wish I had that one back.
Thanks for the info everyone.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:11 pm
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Telemore wrote:
I did think about too much neck bow making the strings shorter but it doesn't look extreme to me.I have not actually got the feeler gauges out yet[ no time] but I want to use it at church Sunday then I will have a pro take a look at it.
It feels great to play and looks really fine.It is better than what I thought it would be.I haven't had a solid body guitar since I sold my Kramer back in the 80's to help pay for my kids being born. Wish I had that one back.
Thanks for the info everyone.

You don't need a feeler guage. Sight down the neck and see if there is any forward bow to the neck. Then adjust the truss rod so that the neck is as close to straight as possible when you sight down the edges of the neck. Tune the guitar and check for fret buzz on each string at each fret, and adjust the bridge height accordingly. Re tune the guitar and check the intonation at the 12 fret. This might get you a little extra room at the bridge for further intonation adjustment, if needed.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:44 pm
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The Fender owners manual says: Tune guitar to pitch. install a capo at the first fret. Depress the 6th string at the last fret. Using a feeler gauge, check the gap between the bottom of the 6th string and the top of the 8th fret. the string clearance should be approximately .010" That is a small gap but they say the neck should be slightly concave.
I have sighted down guitar necks for years and always thought straighter is better but I am wrong alot,so I have been told by my wife.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:54 am
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When I received my Blacktop Tele from mail, it came with the neck unbolted due to size shipping restrictions to Brazil. After I bolted the neck on I did not make any set up on the guitar yet. I am still using .009's and I plan to keep it that way. The action right now is very low, it has a fret buzz on the 3rd and 4th strings most. I'll try to adjust the saddles and set the string a little bit higher, hoping the fret buzz will go away.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Tele intonation
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:46 pm
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I used mine at church on Sunday.It performed great. I use a 2-12 Bogner Alchemist amp and a Digitech multi-effects peddle.
When I got home I noticed in the owners manual that the hight of the pickups should be
4/64" when the strings are fretted on the highest fret. They were alot more than that so I raised them to that distance. It sounds like there is a little more output now so setting things up correctly is an important thing.


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