17 replies to this topic

[rockman1994]

okay so I've been watching make videos on how to intonate guitars but my guitar just won't intonate. Like on video tells me to tune the guitar first. Then it said to do harmonic on the 12th fret and make sure thats in tune. Next is to play the strings 12th fret. Then if ist sharp take a screwdiver and turn the screw on the saddle and turn it counterclockwise (then is flat turn clockwise). Then tune ur guitar again and do a harmonic on the 12th fret. then it should be intonated right. but my tuner says its still high. wtf either my guitar is crap or that was wrong. Or maybe right after i change strings I'm suppose to intonate it. I dunno but can u guys (who most seem to have alot of experience with guitars ) can tell me how to do it.

[Another Tool]

Follow the video, but instead of using a tuner, use a piano/keyboard or some loop program like fruityloops, tuners can be off.

And you want to do it with new strings.
Install the new strings, play them and bend them in a little, then tune and intonate.

[tragictravisty]

guitars are pieces of #### when it comes to intonation. without fretting compensating for intonation it will never be close to 'perfect' we just try to get close enough that it sounds ok to our ####ed up eardrums

[rockman1994]

k so i intonate the 12 fret right. then when im done all the open strings are flat. then when i tune back to standard the intonation in the 12th fret is sharp again. I keep doing it and it never works. its pissing me off.

[tragictravisty]

try this:
put all saddles as far to the tailpiece as possible. then put on new strings, stretch them out and LET THEM SETTLE over night. then do the intonation.

[danny]

you could try to intonate your B string a bit lower and your G a bit higher,..this could improve your sound million times better.

tune and intonate,...and the next day again!

[funtoosh]

last but not least, make sure your hardware is not broken: is the nut firm in place and evenly cut? are the saddles okay? the neck firm in place? strings are not old & rusty? are you using a good quality tuner, w/ fresh batteries?

(oh, what kind of guitar are you using anyway?)

and keep going, this may be frustrating … … but worth it in the end :~]

[rockman1994]

last but not least, make sure your hardware is not broken: is the nut firm in place and evenly cut? are the saddles okay? the neck firm in place? strings are not old & rusty? are you using a good quality tuner, w/ fresh batteries?

(oh, what kind of guitar are you using anyway?)

and keep going, this may be frustrating … … but worth it in the end :~]

i'm using this guitar

http://www.hamerguit... ... 2&sid=190#

[tragictravisty]

theres your problem! the guitar sucks.

[rockman1994]

theres your problem! the guitar sucks.

the whammy bar in the guitar is horrible. My friend put in a block of wood to block out the whammy so its a little better. but yea this guitar kind of sucks and its weird too. I'm hoping to get mustang soon.

[einseins]

you could try to intonate your B string a bit lower and your G a bit higher,..this could improve your sound million times better.

This is seriously good advise! Either intonating or just tuning as above. I won't go into the whys and hows, but when you play the B and G together it will sound a lot sweeter.

[funtoosh]

you could try to intonate your B string a bit lower and your G a bit higher,..this could improve your sound million times better.

that ’d only go for unwound Gs, wouldn’t it?

[einseins]

No, not at all. Its more to do with the pure tuning temperament (very old school) versus the equal temperament which is used on guitars.

[tragictravisty]

if the B is lower and the G is higher, wouldnt the G just sound sharp? and is the B lower relative to the E or the G? is the G higher relative to the B or D?

[danny]

imagine yourself a perfect intonated instrument,.... like a organ.
you'l notice that some chords sound real flat and fals,...its the same thing.

i believe its the same way to tune a piano.

try it ! you'll love it, i'm sure

it don't really matter wat strings you use,... i used them al and it worked for me. ...009,..010,....011,..012

[funtoosh]

groetjes danny,
i was told that, on a 12string, one should always keep the doubled strings slightly out of tune … and in fact, you can both see and hear, that they vibrate much better.
’s that for the same reason?? or something entirely different?

[tragictravisty]

no, thats different. when two strings are played together, they will never be perfectly in tune with each other. so, at some times they will be in phase, and gradually go out of phase, and loudness will change. if they are slightly out of tune, this will happen more quickly, so it will sound like a chorus effect, and not slow changes in volume

[funtoosh]

well explained, trav, cheers!