My strat won't intonate.

[jimbo1]

I have a fender mexican strat. It's tuned down half step. No matter how far I move the saddles back the fretted note is sharp. It has 11- 49 strings on it. I haven't cut the nut out either since I like how it plays. Also I was wondering if I am doing it right? Do I need to loosen the string before moving the saddle?

 

[Curly]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

I think you should go through Fender's entire set up routine.

It's not really as bad as it sounds, and you're likely to find something that's a bit out. .. and use new strings.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

New strings, and make sure those11s are not hanging up in the nut slot. Lubricate the slots with graphite (pencil lead) in a pinch.

 

[ErikH]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

By putting 11's on there, I wouldn't be surprised if the nut slots need to be widened a bit. A majority of the time, the stock nuts will accept up to 10-46 "comfortably" before needing a little work for bigger strings.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

Can't stress enough again....Make sure you are using brand new strings...I've also ran into situations where a brand new string wouldn't intonate.Rare but it has happened to me,but only on one or 2 strings.

 

[jimbo1]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

So as the strings age, a guitar that is "in tune" is actually out of tune at the high frets?

 

[lotus eater]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

So as the strings age, a guitar that is "in tune" is actually out of tune at the high frets?

well, the strings have been bent and have the old location of the saddles in their "memory" so to speak. metal wire doesn't like to bent bent one way, and then another.

 

[viewaskew2k5]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

make a truss rod adjustment. I had the same problem until i gave her a turn!!

 

[baritone]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

For most adjustments, I loosen all of the strings, adjust, and retune. For saddle adjustments, I tune correctly, and then I loosen strings one at a time and retune for every adjustment.

 

[Christopher Caruana]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

well, the strings have been bent and have the old location of the saddles in their "memory" so to speak. metal wire doesn't like to bent bent one way, and then another.

+1

A new set of strings should take care of the problem

 

[glassman]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

^^^all great suggestions!
I have a mexican Strat that had similar issues when I bought it. I found that all 3 pickups were the same polarity and the resulting string pull made intonation all but impossible. I backed them down as far as they would go with only marinal success. A pickup change was what finally did the trick. This probably isn't what you are experiencing but I thought I might share it anyway.

 

[blueman335]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

make a truss rod adjustment. I had the same problem until i gave her a turn!!

Ah! That changes intonation, and may get you where you want to be.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

It might help to add your location next to your avatar, because there's always a chance you live near a forum bro who's an expert at setups, and might hook you up for nothing.

If you lived in the San Fernando Valley, Ca. I would.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

Been there. Done that. Bought the T-Shirt.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143626&highlight=intonation

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

So as the strings age, a guitar that is "in tune" is actually out of tune at the high frets?

Yes

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: My strat won't intonate.

Intonation is a lot more complicated than most people realise and almost every aspect of the guitar's set up will affect it. Too high a nut will make it impossible to temper the intonation at the higher frets (a process too long to explain here but which I go into in a little detail somewhere on my website, if you can find it...:cool2 as will too much arc relief.

Don't attempt to use a digital tuner; again, my website will tell you why. Learn to intonate by ear only.

There were a few Telecasters made in the last couple of years on which the bridge was incorrectly located, but I've never come across a flaw like that on a genuine Strat, be it Fender or Squier, Mex or American, although the strings height at the nut is always too high on American Fenders...

The most likely causes are

1) magnetic weighting from the pickup pole being too close to the string
2) bad or old string

If you still have problems after going through all the excellent suggestions from the guys here, PM me...

Eltham