Mikelamury
New member
What are your guys thoughts on compensated tuning for guitar? I just now heard about it and am curious if anyone ever actually does that?
Compensated tuning
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Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Like "sweetened" tuning you mean? Or like intonation compensation like Earvana nuts and whatnot?
Becuase for sweetened tuning, my understanding is you'd have to tune for each chord you play, because if you sweeten the tuning for a chord to sound better, then others will be out of tune.
Becuase for sweetened tuning, my understanding is you'd have to tune for each chord you play, because if you sweeten the tuning for a chord to sound better, then others will be out of tune.
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Mikelamury
New member
No I was referring to a method of tuning where (I believe) you tube each string to a couple cents below perfect tuning so that when you hit them and the sound quickly spikes it will sound more in tune or better or something like that. I saw a video on compensated tuning on CS guitars and it was basically promoting a tuner that has the compensated tuning method for guitar. I'll include a link. I was wondering if this is horsepoop or not?
http://www.cherubtechnology.com/wst_905li
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Oh, that makes sense. I've read some metal producers make players tune slightly flat on the fast parts, especially if they're hard pickers.
I found that to be even more of an issue when playing bass.
I wouldn't think that'd be that good of an idea if you're playing long sustained chords, though.
i have a usa washburn with the buzz feiten tuning system, which basically moves the nut a fraction of an inch closer to the first fret. there is also suggested intonation and tuning setup guidelines. is there a difference? maybe a subtle one but its still not like things are in tune up and down the neck
I agree with Artie's luthier friend.
A guitar is a vastly imperfect instrument, as far as tuning is concerned. Tuning slightly out of pitch on the open strings (as this tuner is designed to do) only "corrects" the pitch near the nut and only with certain chords, but it creates huge tuning issues up the neck.
Mincer said that even with his guitar with a compensated nut he still heard issues. That could be in part due to the design of the compensated nut. I've done LOTS of experimenting with different designs of nuts over the years (including the Earvana compensated nuts) and have found that most of them help, but just don't quite hit the mark. That's why I designed my own compensated nut and have been using it on every guitar that I have built in the last 15 years. Is it perfect? No. But it is a better design than all of the rest and it works very well. The design is scale-dependent and even has to be modified for acoustics but for the 25.5" scale electrics that I make, it is terrific. Professionals that use my guitars are all amazed how well they play. I'm not necessarily tooting my own horn here, just trying to point out that compensated nuts work great when they are designed properly for the right instrument it's to be used on.
I truly believe in compensated nuts for guitar and my guitars stay nearly perfectly in tune everywhere on the neck.
I would not buy one of those tuners. I would not even use one if it were given to me. I have to admit that part of a guitar's charm is its imperfectness, but it's just a little too imperfect for my taste without a correctly designed compensated nut.
A guitar is a vastly imperfect instrument, as far as tuning is concerned. Tuning slightly out of pitch on the open strings (as this tuner is designed to do) only "corrects" the pitch near the nut and only with certain chords, but it creates huge tuning issues up the neck.
Mincer said that even with his guitar with a compensated nut he still heard issues. That could be in part due to the design of the compensated nut. I've done LOTS of experimenting with different designs of nuts over the years (including the Earvana compensated nuts) and have found that most of them help, but just don't quite hit the mark. That's why I designed my own compensated nut and have been using it on every guitar that I have built in the last 15 years. Is it perfect? No. But it is a better design than all of the rest and it works very well. The design is scale-dependent and even has to be modified for acoustics but for the 25.5" scale electrics that I make, it is terrific. Professionals that use my guitars are all amazed how well they play. I'm not necessarily tooting my own horn here, just trying to point out that compensated nuts work great when they are designed properly for the right instrument it's to be used on.
I truly believe in compensated nuts for guitar and my guitars stay nearly perfectly in tune everywhere on the neck.
I would not buy one of those tuners. I would not even use one if it were given to me. I have to admit that part of a guitar's charm is its imperfectness, but it's just a little too imperfect for my taste without a correctly designed compensated nut.
Mikelamury
New member
Thanks for all the feedback guys, I was contemplating ordering one of those tuners but i tend to agree with achie here that it seems like it would create more problems than it solves. Thanks for your guys thoughts.
Gstring
New member
Have to mention I have a couple of Korean made Washburn Idols with the Buzz Feiten set up. These are my favourite guitars re weight, playability and sound .....In my view greatly under rated guitars. I personally think the B F system works.
Problem with Buzz Feiten system is that he is trying to "correct" certain intervals by making compromises to the tuning to make those intervals sound better. But that ONLY applies to those intervals being played on certain strings (such as a third or sixth played between the G and B strings). If you play the same intervals on different strings (as the B and E or D and G strings) it will sound horribly out of tune. So, if you're good with only playing certain chord shapes using those specific intervals at certain places on the neck you'll be fine with this system (but without playing different chord shapes at the same place on your neck, you'll be a very boring sounding musician).
This is why the compensated nut works so well...it corrects the REASON why certain strings sound sharp or flat played in different locations on the neck.
Like I said, it's not perfect. But it's the best compromise I've ever seen.
This is why the compensated nut works so well...it corrects the REASON why certain strings sound sharp or flat played in different locations on the neck.
Like I said, it's not perfect. But it's the best compromise I've ever seen.
ICTGoober
Well-known member
Matthias Eklundh plays the answer. True temperament fretting.
True Temperament - Mattias Eklundh Guitar Lesson - YouTube
True Temperament - Mattias Eklundh Guitar Lesson - YouTube
Mikelamury
New member
I actually bought the tuner with the compensated tuning mode on it. I was in need of a backup tuner anyway and it's rechargeable. Only $25 so even if I don't use the compensated tuning mode it still has regular, chromatic, or strobe tuning modes for guitar and 6string bass. I'm going to try the compensated tuning mode today and I'll let you guys know how it sounds.
Mikelamury
New member
Ok so I tried out the compensated tuning mode and it sounded alright when I would hit the strings at first but very quickly got dull. As rex mentioned earlier this might be useful for recording solo's on a record but for playing chords and regular playing situations I don't see it helping more than it would hinder you. All in all it's still a pretty good little tuner that is rechargeable and I did need a backup tuner so I'm not sour about the purchase and I learned something so I can't complain.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
The only improvement I see in tuning over the traditional guitar design, is zero frets. It makes the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fret more in tune, makes the open strings sound the same as fretted notes, and stops binding at the nut. It has no downsides unless you don't like the look.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Give me wiggly frets or give me death!
What do you think a refret would cost on one of those things?
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
They probably use stainless steel so that few people would actually need a refret. What I wonder is how much you need to worry about not bending a note so your finger goes past the fret.
