Intonation problem!!

[drazando]

i've been having intonation problems on my last string. the 12th fret note(and other fretted notes) is not in tune with the open note.. quite bad actually.. just started playing not too long ago and not sure how to correct the prob. i read smt abt saddles.. can i fix it myself or do i have to go down to a shop to get it fixed. if i do then how much will it cost?

 

[zax]

the will just raise the bridge , you can do it yourself but depends on what guitar you have , or it could be a neck warp , that would cost like 40 to fix

 

[Whitestrat]

if it's not a floyd rose, it's simple.

take a screwdriver. find the saddle srcew. turn it either direction to shorten or lengthen the saddle. eventually you'll find the position it should be in. you didn't say whether the 12th fret harmonic was sharp or flat against the 12th fretted note, so I can't tell you which way.

If it's a floyd rose, it's far more troublesome.

No need to take this to a luthier. This isn't a sign of a warped neck.

 

[drazando]

eh the note is flat compared to the 12th fret harmonic. so i which direction do i move the saddle? issit true old strings also cause such problems cause my strings are abt 1 month old. could it be bcus of that?

 

[daryl]

yes change your strings first then check again. if need be, adjust the saddles. you can google 'how to guitar intonation' i think you'll find some useful sites.

 

[Whitestrat]

The strings are only 1 month old? That shouldn't be the problem lah... My strings are like 6 to 8 months old, and no intonation problem. Old strings don't give intonation problems. They give tone problems.

eh the note is flat compared to the 12th fret harmonic.

This means the string length is too long. (I think) You should be moving the saddle towards the neck and away from the bridge.

 

[daryl]

really? old strings gave me intonation problems. and.. 6 to 8 months old that's really old! haha

 

[zax]

hey bro (whitestrat) it could be a neckwarp man and six month old strings hahah thats ancient , go change la .unless you use coated

 

[drazando]

wow.. neck wraps is serious right?? eh ok i think i should just give it to a shop then let them examine the problem.. i'll try the saddles thing 1st. btw any good shops to recommend? like those that dun con ur $$.

 

[zax]

look for beez , and thats also the name of his shop , hahah eccentric little dude but works miracles

 

[oahnuj]

omg 6-8 mths considered old?? mine is like 1.5 yrs!!

 

[Whitestrat]

hey bro (whitestrat) it could be a neckwarp man and six month old strings hahah thats ancient , go change la .unless you use coated

er... my strings stay perfect for about 1 year odd without breaking, corrosion, or going out of tune... no need to change wan lah...

 

[foxblinkhope]

er... my strings stay perfect for about 1 year odd without breaking, corrosion, or going out of tune... no need to change wan lah...

sia lar, how you did that teach mea lea, mine i say 2 month turn rusty liao.

 

[oahnuj]

lol pract everyday..and u find all de rust is on ur fingers

 

[Whitestrat]

Why would strings rust if they don't get wet? :roll:

 

[daryl]

there's moisture in the air. water can condense on your strings or the sweat from your fingers can come in contact with the strings. air + water + metal = rust no? if it doesnt rust it will at least turn black. which makes it sound damn dull and will affect intonation as well.

 

[Whitestrat]

there's moisture in the air. water can condense on your strings or the sweat from your fingers can come in contact with the strings. air + water + metal = rust no? if it doesnt rust it will at least turn black. which makes it sound damn dull and will affect intonation as well.

well, I dunno what there is on my fingers, but only the guitars that I don't play have the strings turn black. But those which I play at least once in 2 to 3 days always remain nice and shiny... and I've been playing for 18 years...

 

[drazando]

haha wow how do u ppl keep ur strings intact 4 so long... i fixed the prob already.. just tweaking the saddles and changing strings. thanks to all that posted here! anw another prob has occured. my lower 2 strings now have a buzz on the 4-6 frets after changing strings. issit normal?

 

[oahnuj]

hmm..i wanna ask this qns? approximately how long shld u change de strings? is it a major problem? how much does it affects de tone if the string is old but gt no rust?

 

[loldude333]

Depends...if the string is too old it'll sound 'dead' which means the bright/mellow watever tone the strings once possesed will be gone. Recommend u change strings at least once every 6 mths. Coated strings i dun recommend bcos the coating dulls the tone of the string and once it starts scraping off its dam irritating. Get normal sets. Recommended strings are DRs(Davis), Dunlops(Almost anywhere) and Curt Mangan(g77).