PRS Intonation?
- Thread starter some_dude
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Re: PRS Intonation?
With a freakin' sledge hammer, that's my way! Man I hate those things ...
If your talking about the ones that have those preset compensation ridges on them ... like the old style bridges, you angle them accordingly to intonate the low e and then the high e ... if necessary you split it a bit. In other words it's a compromise (kinda like a three saddle Tele ...hated those too) there either a screw or allen screw that pushes against the stud post to push the bridge back away from the post to lengthen the scale length.
Lovely idea huh? Although with the right string gauge they work out very well. I guess the theory is that it transmits the strings vibration into the guitar better.
screamingdaisy said:
With a freakin' sledge hammer, that's my way! Man I hate those things ...
If your talking about the ones that have those preset compensation ridges on them ... like the old style bridges, you angle them accordingly to intonate the low e and then the high e ... if necessary you split it a bit. In other words it's a compromise (kinda like a three saddle Tele ...hated those too) there either a screw or allen screw that pushes against the stud post to push the bridge back away from the post to lengthen the scale length.
Lovely idea huh? Although with the right string gauge they work out very well. I guess the theory is that it transmits the strings vibration into the guitar better.
Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
Re: PRS Intonation?
Yeah....there is a replacement wrap around style bridge for the PRS's that has individual adjustment saddles on it....big improvement. I'm not a fan of the compensating thing....even though tuning any guitar is a compromise to a certain extent, unless you have the Buzz Fieten tuning system.
Yeah....there is a replacement wrap around style bridge for the PRS's that has individual adjustment saddles on it....big improvement. I'm not a fan of the compensating thing....even though tuning any guitar is a compromise to a certain extent, unless you have the Buzz Fieten tuning system.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: PRS Intonation?
Thanks. What you said is kinda what I figured from looking at it (preset intonation with minor adjustments available).
I don't think it's much good to me, as I like using large guage strings, and I'm assuming it's optimized for a .009 or .010 guage string set. I prefer the look of a TOM and STP better anyway.
Thanks. What you said is kinda what I figured from looking at it (preset intonation with minor adjustments available).
I don't think it's much good to me, as I like using large guage strings, and I'm assuming it's optimized for a .009 or .010 guage string set. I prefer the look of a TOM and STP better anyway.
Mac-P
New member
Re: PRS Intonation?
The answer is: you can't adjust the intonation. You gain some extra tone without all the extra parts (those evil saddles, screws and such), but at the expense of precise intonation adjustment.
I always shook my head that a company as good as PRS would do that. ANd shook my head even more that people buy the guitars and don't care.
If you change string guages or action height you are f*cked (I mean, if you care about intonation all the way up the fingerboard). It would drive me crazy personally.
The answer is: you can't adjust the intonation. You gain some extra tone without all the extra parts (those evil saddles, screws and such), but at the expense of precise intonation adjustment.
I always shook my head that a company as good as PRS would do that. ANd shook my head even more that people buy the guitars and don't care.
If you change string guages or action height you are f*cked (I mean, if you care about intonation all the way up the fingerboard). It would drive me crazy personally.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: PRS Intonation?
I'm as anal as it gets with intonation and setups and have also wondered why PRS didn't use an adjustable stop tailpiece like they do on most of their hollowbodies.
I also love McCarties, so it doesn't stop me from buying them, but I have come to realize that only 9's and 10's in standard tuning is how those tailpieces work properly.
On my sunburst McCarty, I leave it in standard with 10's and it rings perfectly. I did do a pretty thorough job of tweaking it, tho.
On my teal black McCarty, I needed to use it for my dropped D guitar.....basically, E flat with a dropped C#. Also 11-49's. The Tonepros McCarty bridge did the trick.
Now, that guitar is in an alternate tuning, but rings like a bell with perfectly sweet chords across the entire neck. The Tonepros also made the guitar resonate beautifully. THAT'S the way the McCarty should come from the factory.
I'm as anal as it gets with intonation and setups and have also wondered why PRS didn't use an adjustable stop tailpiece like they do on most of their hollowbodies.
I also love McCarties, so it doesn't stop me from buying them, but I have come to realize that only 9's and 10's in standard tuning is how those tailpieces work properly.
On my sunburst McCarty, I leave it in standard with 10's and it rings perfectly. I did do a pretty thorough job of tweaking it, tho.
On my teal black McCarty, I needed to use it for my dropped D guitar.....basically, E flat with a dropped C#. Also 11-49's. The Tonepros McCarty bridge did the trick.
Now, that guitar is in an alternate tuning, but rings like a bell with perfectly sweet chords across the entire neck. The Tonepros also made the guitar resonate beautifully. THAT'S the way the McCarty should come from the factory.
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: PRS Intonation?
While I'm ranting about intonation, how many folks here use accurate tuners when setting their intonation? Since the best tuner BOSS offers only +-3c accuracy, you're barking up the wrong tree if you're griping about intonation and not using something more accurate (like a strobe tuner). If you have a tech set your intonation, you're still only halfway there unless your tech has the same touch that you do. With a really precise tuner, you can see just what a difference finger pressure makes on pitch. For that matter, you can see what a difference the guitar's orientation makes (it's different laying on a bench vs. in playing position).
Finally, I'm a lot more interested in being able to adjust the action for each string than being able to get that last 1/4c of intonation (that's gonna get lost to inconsistent finger pressure anyway).
[/rant]
If you use any "standard" set of 9s, 10s, or even 11s, and take a strobe tuner, you'll be nuts on in terms of intonation. Since I use typical gauges and standard tuning, I'd love to be able to set the intonation for just two strings and have the others be on without having to mess around. It might even make it worth the hassle of setting the action on a stoptail (all my PRS guitars have trems).Mac-P said:
While I'm ranting about intonation, how many folks here use accurate tuners when setting their intonation? Since the best tuner BOSS offers only +-3c accuracy, you're barking up the wrong tree if you're griping about intonation and not using something more accurate (like a strobe tuner). If you have a tech set your intonation, you're still only halfway there unless your tech has the same touch that you do. With a really precise tuner, you can see just what a difference finger pressure makes on pitch. For that matter, you can see what a difference the guitar's orientation makes (it's different laying on a bench vs. in playing position).
Finally, I'm a lot more interested in being able to adjust the action for each string than being able to get that last 1/4c of intonation (that's gonna get lost to inconsistent finger pressure anyway).
[/rant]
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: PRS Intonation?
Yeah, you're right about intonation being an exact science. I normally tune my guitars with a Boss TU-12, but when I setup my guitars, I plug into a Sabine rackmounted tuner, which is ultra ultra sensitive. I either intonate the guitar while standing or sitting with the guitar, and also double check EVERY SINGLE note on the neck, especially from the 10th up to the 21st fret. If you can get all those notes as close to dead center as possible, your guitar will ring like a bell, and rarely slip outta tune.
One of these days, I'm going to buy an old Peterson or Conn Strobe tuner...the old analog kind. Or, I'll settle for a Peterson Digital tuner. I have to give my Sabine back to my friend, since it goes in his bass rack. I love those old fashioned tuners. They're SOOO acurate!
Here's an old Conn I just saw on Ebay. This is as accurate as it gets.
Yeah, you're right about intonation being an exact science. I normally tune my guitars with a Boss TU-12, but when I setup my guitars, I plug into a Sabine rackmounted tuner, which is ultra ultra sensitive. I either intonate the guitar while standing or sitting with the guitar, and also double check EVERY SINGLE note on the neck, especially from the 10th up to the 21st fret. If you can get all those notes as close to dead center as possible, your guitar will ring like a bell, and rarely slip outta tune.
One of these days, I'm going to buy an old Peterson or Conn Strobe tuner...the old analog kind. Or, I'll settle for a Peterson Digital tuner. I have to give my Sabine back to my friend, since it goes in his bass rack. I love those old fashioned tuners. They're SOOO acurate!
Here's an old Conn I just saw on Ebay. This is as accurate as it gets.
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Re: PRS Intonation?
I use a BOSS TU-12H and had it double checked with a strobe ... dead on the money, the BOSS +/- 1 and you can't hear that anyway. Plus every *standard gauge set of strings* aren't standard, different companies have different opinions as to what the proper gauges should be ... so one brand might ring perfect with those wrap arounds, while another is off.
Concerning equal temperment ... funny how you never notice is on keyboards huh? Why, a good piano is not equal tempered, it uses stretch tuning ... a good guiatr is not equal tempered either, it is offset according to it's nature, in essense it's split tuned ... the reality next to another instrument you'll get at the worst a *subtle* natural chorus effect ... like two singers singing the same note, just slightly off, but very musical. But each instrument must be in tune with itself or that will sound out of tune, and be noticed immediately.
aleclee said:
I use a BOSS TU-12H and had it double checked with a strobe ... dead on the money, the BOSS +/- 1 and you can't hear that anyway. Plus every *standard gauge set of strings* aren't standard, different companies have different opinions as to what the proper gauges should be ... so one brand might ring perfect with those wrap arounds, while another is off.
Concerning equal temperment ... funny how you never notice is on keyboards huh? Why, a good piano is not equal tempered, it uses stretch tuning ... a good guiatr is not equal tempered either, it is offset according to it's nature, in essense it's split tuned ... the reality next to another instrument you'll get at the worst a *subtle* natural chorus effect ... like two singers singing the same note, just slightly off, but very musical. But each instrument must be in tune with itself or that will sound out of tune, and be noticed immediately.
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Re: PRS Intonation?
I check the 12th and if it has a 24th, I check that out of curiosity ...there is no need to check each fret ...number one they will most likely be out a tiny bit ... well what are you going to do? Relevel each fret ...hhmmm fret buzz, okay then move the fret forward or backwards .007" ...nah I didn't think so.
I see what your saying, but if the frets are out, well trying to compensate via scale length isn't going to cut it.
BTW ... concerning the Feiten system, I still can't fathom why if the first fret (per se' for this example) pulls the string sharp, why instead of moving the nut section forward you just can't move the fret back to where it would pitch true ... I still can't figure that one out ...don't anyone try to explain it, because you are wasting your time... :smack:
Gearjoneser said:
I check the 12th and if it has a 24th, I check that out of curiosity ...there is no need to check each fret ...number one they will most likely be out a tiny bit ... well what are you going to do? Relevel each fret ...hhmmm fret buzz, okay then move the fret forward or backwards .007" ...nah I didn't think so.
I see what your saying, but if the frets are out, well trying to compensate via scale length isn't going to cut it.
BTW ... concerning the Feiten system, I still can't fathom why if the first fret (per se' for this example) pulls the string sharp, why instead of moving the nut section forward you just can't move the fret back to where it would pitch true ... I still can't figure that one out ...don't anyone try to explain it, because you are wasting your time... :smack:
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