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| Problem with intonation https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=43485 |
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| Author: | Jdsupertinter [ Mon May 19, 2014 2:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Problem with intonation |
hello, finished my third guitar with a fretboard from StewMac. It's supposed to be a Martin scale, I've got exactly 25.5 inches from nut to center of saddle and it sounds all screwy!! If I tune the low E and A correctly and play a simple power chord, I have to slide the A string a full fret up to make it sound almost right, so I can play power chords in third positions up the neck. I hope this makes sense...... Did I get the wrong fret board? I'm going to steam off bridge, but need advice on what distance. Thanks as always!!! |
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| Author: | Jim Watts [ Mon May 19, 2014 3:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
Jeff, Check the distance from the nut to the 12 fret and then the 12th fret to the saddle. The 12th fret to the saddle should be the same plus some compensation. You should be able to rule out or confirm a fingerboard problem by a few simple measurements. |
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| Author: | RusRob [ Mon May 19, 2014 3:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
The center of your 12th fret should be exactly half the distance from the nut (string side) to the center of the saddle not counting the compensation. That full distance is your scale length. The compensation for a 3/32" saddle thickness should be 1/16" treble side and 5/32" on the bass side so those measurements should be added to the measuremant of above. Here are a couple of links for you: Frank Fords " Calculating Intonation Correction" http://frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Data/compcalc.html This is a link to the document on the Saddlematic by Stew Mac which I use and is a good tool to have. But this explains saddle location pretty well. Think of the Saddlematic as a ruler with no measurement because you can do the exact same thing by measuring. This just makes it a no-brainer. http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Repair_tools,_specialized/i-4462.html Hope this helps, Bob |
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| Author: | Colin North [ Mon May 19, 2014 5:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
Martin long scale is 25.34". I use the stewmac fret calculator for compensation. seems fine. |
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| Author: | ericschaeferguitars [ Mon May 19, 2014 5:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
So is it only the A string that isn't intonating properly? |
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| Author: | Joe Beaver [ Mon May 19, 2014 5:42 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
Good advice here. First confirm your scale length. If it is a 25.34 scale then I try to have 25.428 on the 1st string to the center of the saddle and 25.553 to the center of the saddle on the 6th string. I intonate from there. |
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| Author: | Peebs [ Tue May 20, 2014 7:15 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
Replace the A string, and check it again. Al |
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| Author: | kencierp [ Tue May 20, 2014 9:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
Call me old fashion step one -- clip on your "Snark" or other electronic tuner, tune it to pitch, What notes are you getting at the octave? (12th fret) Could be the saddle take offs are not compensated quit right. Should look something like shown here: http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/saddle.html |
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| Author: | Jdsupertinter [ Wed May 21, 2014 7:07 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Problem with intonation |
OK, I'm an idiot.....switched out nut and it sounds awseome!! Weird. I was using a super old nut I had laying around cuz the new one wasn't shaved down enough yet, I was excited to string it up, maybe its was possessed or something, switched it with new one, BOOM!! problem solved!! Thanks for all the help guys!! (by the way, it was 322 mm to 12th fret and just over 644mm at the saddle) |
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