Tonedef
Hi all,
I've been tweaking my axe using the guides on here (excellent job, Alan), and I managed to get the intonation spot on for e, b, g and d. A is almost on the money, but e is giving me major headaches. Adjusting the saddles simply moves the pitch linearly for both open and fretted, with no 'closing of the window', so to speak. It's also the most variable when it comes to finger pressure. Pressing just hard enough to sound the note cleanly, the best I can get is halfway between E and F. How much of a problem is this, realistically, and what else could I try? The saddles are the floating type with the two studs either side of the string. Thanks!
ezietsman
Firstly, Are you using the harmonic at 12 plus fret at 12 method? Alan's article explains this. The two should be the same pitch if the intonation is set correctly. if the saddles can't be moved enough to make the intonation correct your frets are in the wrong places and you're pretty buggered. However, if your guitar (very cheap?) still has the factory strings on them or if they aren't new anymore, you can forget about setting the intonation correctly. ALWAYS set the intonation with brand new strings. and also, you need to tune the strings after every adjustment. halfway between E and F is ULTRA bad. Every chord you play on the higher frets are going to sound like cats fighting (procreating).
AlanRatcliffe
The guitar has single coil pickups at (at least) neck and middle positions? I think you have another problem there - Stratitis.
Stratitis is when the pickup magnets interfere with the strings (basically introducing a harmonic node point in the string), causing "wolf" tones (two notes ringing at once and beating against one another). Stratitis is easily identified as even your single notes will sound out of tune and it is more pronounced on the thicker strings and gets worse as you play higher up the neck. In extreme cases the harmonic note is loud enough to confuse a tuner.
The solution is a simple one, lower your neck and middle pickups until it disappears.
Tonedef
Thanks, guys. The guitar is both new and cheap. The thing's sound has improved a lot with the tweaks, and I'm happy with it. I've got a diy-see-if-you-can-fix-it-yourself personality, and considering the low basic cost of the axe, i was hoping to avoid the luthier. Nevertheless, I dont want to teach my ear bad tone, so Im gonna fiddle once more and then off to the pros if it remains stubborn. Maybe a new set of quality strings would do it good too.
Tonedef
I think I've solved the problem. The issue seems to have been the sharp leading edge on the thread of one of the action adjusting studs had cut a groove into the bridge chrome, preventing the saddle from sliding smoothly. I slackened the string so as to be able to disconnect the saddle, dressed the studs with a needle file and reseated the saddle in a different positiom away from the offending rut. Much better. I cant get it quite spot on, but it is fine for now. The rut in my brain is a much bigger problem, lol! The lesson learnt is, dont adjust your action with the strings tensioned!
