Intonation, it's always about the intonation

[symptom]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

Thanks for all the inputs. I know that it's nearly impossible to keep a guitar exactly in tune all over the neck. But this is a new thing, a issue that I haven't before and I have now.

I was noticing that under distortion, I'll try it clean too. But before the setup, I used distortion and the chords sounds fine. Honestly, I don't mind if it's perfectly in tune, what is really annoyng is struming an E chord and hear all that oscilation.

But you guys bring a point that I haven't considered before: a bad packet of strings. This problem came up only after the set up, which included a new Daddario 10-46 set...

 

[uOpt]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

Is it possible that the thing has tall frets and you simply don't apply the pressure when checking intonation compared to playing chords.

What does the tuner say how much off the same note is when checking and when the note is when gripping a chord (but only playing that string)?

 

[rts99]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

I also have an SG which I struggle to intonate. Mostly the G string but at times the B & D strings too. I'm not convinced the low budget tuners are up to the task. I know my ears are not. There is a Peterson Strob-o-matic tuner that is probably what I'll need to get it right. Unfortunately my budget isn't compatible with it. I have no problems with any of my acoustics, since they have fixed bridges. The intonation on any acoustic I pick up seems fine to me all over the neck. But my SG is trouble.

I also have a fixed bridge China-caster that has its moments. It rarely has intonation issues as bad as the SG but from time to time I have to fight it as well. I don't know if its something about the SG that makes it more trouble or if there's something about the Strat that makes it less. But for sure the intonation on the electrics is the bane of the guitars. If I ever get the SG to my liking I expect it to be a magnificent instrument. For now it simply has moments of brilliance constrained by pure frustration.

Good Luck

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

guitars are never in tune completely... nature of the beast. as stated.

just live with it man.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

how old are your strings?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

The position of the frets on the majority of Western stringed instruments is determined by a Pythagorean ratio. Unfortunately, this numerical theory makes no allowance for some of the physical properties of vibrating wires when they are held down over a rolled edge.

My first presentable electric guitar was a Telecaster with the three-saddle bridge. For string sets with a plain G, the intonation is severely compromised. I learned to bend the strings to correct for the error.

For what it is worth, I also play a lot of fretless bass guitar. On fretless instruments, the player has to learn to find the pitches by ear.

 

[stringbender11]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

My Jr has a stopbar bridge and I can tell the intonation is close but isnt completely right, but I just live it. Funny how intonation on guitars is, you can have it pretty close and then change the strings - even the same guage, and suddenly something isnt quite right again. I guess it's just the nature of the instrument as someone else said.

 

[symptom]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

I decided to spend some money and, regard I've had the strings for only one week, I bought a new set of ernie ball slinkies. Problem solved and the guitar went back what it used to be. It looks like it was a bad set of d'addarios.

 

[Securb]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

I once in awhile have Pat DIburro work on my guitars the guy is one of the best luthier in the country. A trick for setting up your intonation he showed me is use two tuners. Set one to fast and one to slow to get the best note samples. I use my rack tuner on slow and my pedal tuner I also have the headstock clip tuner on when setting my intonation. Works great.

http://www.diburro.com

 

[karpathion]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

And spend some more time with the guitar playing it, and your fingers will learn to press less and more when needed.
I for one cannot play on those things with almost dead accurate intonation mods...makes everything fall apart soundwise to me
Get used to how it reacts, and you will learn how it plays.
And maybe try a few different strings too

This is the exact reason I stopped buying and selling guitars every few months. Once I kept the same couple of guitars for a while, I started to learn how the guitars played, not how I want it to be played. Every guitar has it's own little quirks.
Keep the guitar for a while and learn it. They really are just like women. Each one likes to be touched a certain way, in certain places. Learn your girls needs, and she will reward you for it.

 

[62 Vintage]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

I'd advise you to use your ear instead of a tuner. I was having a similar problem and it was the tuner. When a chord rings true you know it and you feel it. I set it without using an amplifier as well.
Use the force.-lol :cool2:

 

[OttoMatick]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

When you intonate spot on at the 12th fret harmonic, all notes and chords are going to be sharp by the amount of distance from the open string position to the fret board when the string is pressed to make the chord or note. If you have a low action you're not going to notice so much. If you have a high action, then this setup issue becomes more of a problem. Since neck relief is most noticable around the 7th to 9th frets, i would say your action is to high, or adjust your harmonics at the 12th fret to be a little bit flat to compensate for string depression while playing, reduce relief or lower the action. It is never going to be perfect everyplace on the neck, ever.

 

[OttoMatick]

Re: Intonation, it's always about the intonation

I think this post serves as an example that players should learn how to and maintain their own guitars. It is easy. If you have a number 1 and 2 phillips screw driver, gap gauges, then you can complete a guitar setup.

How to's for your fender and fender clones are found here:

http://www.fender.com/support/articles?section=articles&category=how-to-guides

for your stop / wrap bar bridge guitars search the internet.