TUNING AND SETTING INTONATION ON GUITAR WITH Buzz Feiten System

[Chistopher]

I think we are forgetting that the biggest element of what makes music sound nice is that the sounds contained within are sounds that we are used to. We tend to like the sound of what we are familiar with. So even though cowboys chords may be mathematically out of tune, most of our ears won't hear it because that same out of tune quality is on so many records.

 

[Gstring]

This has proved to be an interesting thread with some interesting viewpoints. As somebody who has jammed quite a bit with other guitarists..keyboard players and various other instruments, I can't agree with Seasure's inference that the Buzz Feiton system affects guitar compatibility. As I have stated I tend to tune at the 5th fret but I have played with people who all have slightly different tuning techniques without issue,.

 

[Seashore]

This has proved to be an interesting thread with some interesting viewpoints. As somebody who has jammed quite a bit with other guitarists..keyboard players and various other instruments, I can't agree with Seasure's inference that the Buzz Feiton system affects guitar compatibility. As I have stated I tend to tune at the 5th fret but I have played with people who all have slightly different tuning techniques without issue,.

Well, like I say, I don't have a guitar with a Buzz Feiten nut. I do have an Ernie Ball compensated nut on one guitar and I don't treat it any differently from my others. It's weird to me that the website recommends tuning with fretted E notes or using a tuner with special settings, because that implies that there's some reason not to tune the open strings to the same notes everybody else is using.

More broadly I think it depends on what you're playing. I've had the displeasure of tracking down intonation discrepancies between guitars in a few bands, and they were always in tune and sounded good on their own - it just came down to little differences in how people set them up. But a lot of the stuff that we would play was close or parallel harmony lines, so if our 5ths and octaves weren't spot on, it would get sour pretty quickly. There's a lot of music where it probably wouldn't be a problem.

 

[ehdwuld]

had this conversation off line with a friend of mine last night

if you tune to Open strings
if you tune at the 5th fret
7th fret
12th

as long as it is in tune and intonated somewhere close to everyone else

wtf cares

I have went to jam with hillbillys who
"tuned to each others guitars"

horrible cacophony

my buddy played a qig last weekend with a bunch of guys who he thought were out of tune the entire set

payed the same

 

[Bill Dennis]

The Buzz Feiten Tuning System is designed to improve the intonation of a guitar, particularly for chords and intervals that might sound slightly out of tune due to the inherent limitations of standard tuning methods. To intonate a guitar for the Buzz Feiten system, the process differs slightly from traditional guitar intonation. Here’s the correct method: Step-by-Step Guide to Intonating a Guitar for the Buzz Feiten System:

1. Ensure Correct Setup for Buzz Feiten:
   • Your guitar must be equipped with a Buzz Feiten compensated nut or be designed for this system.
   • Make sure the neck relief, action, and string gauge are set to your preference before intonating, as these factors affect intonation.
2. Tuning with the Buzz Feiten Tuning System:
   • To correctly tune the guitar, you’ll need a tuner that supports the Buzz Feiten offsets or a chart listing the correct offsets.
   • Some tuners (like certain models from Peterson) have a specific Buzz Feiten mode built in, while other tuners will require you to manually adjust for the offsets.
3. Setting Intonation (Using Specific Frets):
   • Instead of tuning the intonation at the 12th fret, as you would in a traditional setup, the Buzz Feiten system uses different fret locations for more accurate intonation.
   Here’s the method:
   • Low E, A, and D strings: Check the intonation at the 12th fret, just as you would with a traditional setup.
   • G string: Intonate at the 8th fret, instead of the 12th.
   • B string: Intonate at the 3rd fret.
   • High E string: Intonate at the 12th fret, like usual.
4. Adjust the Saddle Position:
   • For each string, compare the fretted note at the specific fret (e.g., 12th for low E, 8th for G, etc.) with the open string. If the fretted note is sharp, move the saddle back (away from the neck); if it’s flat, move the saddle forward (toward the neck).
   • Fine-tune each string until the fretted note matches the open string’s pitch as closely as possible.
5. Recheck Tuning:
   • After adjusting the saddle, recheck the tuning for all the strings, paying particular attention to the compensated nut adjustments provided by the Buzz Feiten system.

Buzz Feiten Tuning Offsets:


If you're using a standard tuner, here are the Buzz Feiten offsets that you can use for tuning:

• Low E: Tune -2 cents
• A: Tune -2 cents
• D: Tune -2 cents
• G: Tune -2 cents
• B: Tune +1 cent
• High E: Tune +1 cent

Once you’ve intonated the guitar using the specific frets and applied the tuning offsets, your guitar should be much more accurate across the entire fretboard. Important Notes:

• You’ll need to use a tuner capable of reading in cents (to apply the offsets) or one that supports the Buzz Feiten system.
• The compensations made by the Buzz Feiten system help make the guitar sound more in tune, especially when playing chords in various positions.

By following this method, your guitar will take full advantage of the Buzz Feiten Tuning System’s benefits, providing better overall intonation across the neck.
​

 

[Ascension]

Christopher
I now understand why I found your post so confusing!


Hi 56LPC

Thanks for posting . I think what you say makes sense.


Hi Jeremy

Thanks for posting. It's good to hear from another Washburn fan. Those made circa 2000/2006 in the USA and Korea were, in my view very greatly underestimated . From what I understand there was actually little difference between the US Custom shop models and those made in the Cort factory except for the CTS pots. An issue easily sorted . I actually prefer the binding and finish and the 4 pots on the Korean guitars. Also I think the Korean axes were more hollow . Fast approaching 80 years young I very much prefer guitars that weigh less than 7 and half pounds. I had a luthier level crown and polish the frets on both my washburns and he said only a minimum amount of work was actually needed. He had seen worse custom shop fretwork. I very mich endorse your view of the BF system

There is more than a little difference in the US built Chicago Custom Washburns and the imports. Have owned quite a few of those guitars and still own 4. About the only thing that will compare with the US built Washburns from the 90s till around 2010 or so are brands like Anderson Surhr etc.

 

[jeremy]

i dont know if i agree with that, usa made washburns are great, i own one. but there was lots of other great stuff being made then as well. im a huge usa hamer fan for example