alteredbeast
New member
Getting one, always had guitars that had them installed already. Is it difficult? Experts say what? Intonnate with tension?
Intonnating a fresh Floyd
- Thread starter alteredbeast
- Start date
vinta9e
New member
Re: Intonnating a fresh Floyd
Rough in the intonation pattern, while you've got the bridge still loose. Move the claw out a good bit, then put the floyd on the studs and catch it with a single spring, so the bridge doesn't fall out and possibly make a mess. Find a way to support the bridge in neutral position - most often I use a piece of cork or rubber under the whale tail; other guys take a couple of coins, wrap them in masking tape and shove them between the sustain block and cavity wall, some guys use gimmicks like tremstops, backstops, arming adjusters, tremolnos and whatnot. Put the strings on, winding the slack onto the tuners. Now make sure you've installed enough springs before you start tuning, duh! You can pull the claw back in a bit as well.
Tune the strings to pitch. Once they are stretched and in tune, check the intonation in the usual spots (12th, 24th, 19th frets and harmonics). Watch the tuner and note how far off you are and in which direction. Now loosen the string, unscrew the saddle from the baseplate, and correct the string length (you'll get a feel for it once you've done it a couple of times). Reattach the saddle, retune the string to pitch, check the intonation again. Repeat until all the strings are intonated. If you're running your floyd full-floating, set up your spring tension, moving the claw until the cork just becomes free. Sniff the cork (optional).
Rough in the intonation pattern, while you've got the bridge still loose. Move the claw out a good bit, then put the floyd on the studs and catch it with a single spring, so the bridge doesn't fall out and possibly make a mess. Find a way to support the bridge in neutral position - most often I use a piece of cork or rubber under the whale tail; other guys take a couple of coins, wrap them in masking tape and shove them between the sustain block and cavity wall, some guys use gimmicks like tremstops, backstops, arming adjusters, tremolnos and whatnot. Put the strings on, winding the slack onto the tuners. Now make sure you've installed enough springs before you start tuning, duh! You can pull the claw back in a bit as well.
Tune the strings to pitch. Once they are stretched and in tune, check the intonation in the usual spots (12th, 24th, 19th frets and harmonics). Watch the tuner and note how far off you are and in which direction. Now loosen the string, unscrew the saddle from the baseplate, and correct the string length (you'll get a feel for it once you've done it a couple of times). Reattach the saddle, retune the string to pitch, check the intonation again. Repeat until all the strings are intonated. If you're running your floyd full-floating, set up your spring tension, moving the claw until the cork just becomes free. Sniff the cork (optional).
Snoogles
Cranky-dologist
Re: Intonnating a fresh Floyd
this is the very last procedure, after everything else is adjusted (neck relief > action > tuning/trem-leveling if its a floater > intonation)
my method
1. tune guitar to pitch
2. check intonation on which ever string you'd like to start with, using what ever method you prefer
3. loosen string enough to move out of the way of the saddle screw, and to have enough slack to move the saddle rearwards if needed
4. loosen saddle screw and adjust saddle position accordingly
5. lock down saddle screw
6. re-tune string to pitch
7. repeat as needed
8. move on to next string
this is the very last procedure, after everything else is adjusted (neck relief > action > tuning/trem-leveling if its a floater > intonation)
my method
1. tune guitar to pitch
2. check intonation on which ever string you'd like to start with, using what ever method you prefer
3. loosen string enough to move out of the way of the saddle screw, and to have enough slack to move the saddle rearwards if needed
4. loosen saddle screw and adjust saddle position accordingly
5. lock down saddle screw
6. re-tune string to pitch
7. repeat as needed
8. move on to next string
constant mesh
New member
Re: Intonnating a fresh Floyd
There's no magic behind it. Of course if you don't have the tool, you always have to slacken the string you're working on. A wedge is just a bonus, anyone can do without.
Rough in the intonation by the simple 3+3 rule of thumb, set the hi somewhere in the scale lenght zone and all the other according to the 3+3 pattern, where the D string is again somewhat parallel to the hi E (not really, but should be leading the G string which should be far behind the D).
I use a chopstick or a dowel cut to size to hold the fork end of the saddle (and eventually pushing to lenghten the scale if needed) while I am undoing the screw, because the tailspring on the fine tuners can still push the saddle forward a fair amount.
There's no magic behind it. Of course if you don't have the tool, you always have to slacken the string you're working on. A wedge is just a bonus, anyone can do without.
Rough in the intonation by the simple 3+3 rule of thumb, set the hi somewhere in the scale lenght zone and all the other according to the 3+3 pattern, where the D string is again somewhat parallel to the hi E (not really, but should be leading the G string which should be far behind the D).
I use a chopstick or a dowel cut to size to hold the fork end of the saddle (and eventually pushing to lenghten the scale if needed) while I am undoing the screw, because the tailspring on the fine tuners can still push the saddle forward a fair amount.
Ashurbanipal
Well-known member
Re: Intonnating a fresh Floyd
Or you can get this tool to make things easier.
Or you can get this tool to make things easier.
alteredbeast
New member
Re: Intonnating a fresh Floyd
thanks for replies, i'm gonna give it a go and see what happens whilst reading the posts.
thanks for replies, i'm gonna give it a go and see what happens whilst reading the posts.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Intonnating a fresh Floyd
I installed a new gotoh on my ibby sabre and the intonation was 100% perfect out of the box. :nana:
I installed a new gotoh on my ibby sabre and the intonation was 100% perfect out of the box. :nana:
