Hoffman Amplifiers Tube Amplifier Forum
Other Stuff => Guitars => Topic started by: TerryD on September 25, 2010, 06:39:43 pm
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I got a very nice neck and strat type body on EBay. I got two airline pickups...actually sounds pretty good,,except. All the strings are intonating pretty good except the D string. I've got that succer all the way to the front edge of my chrome strat bridge ( I removed the anchor screw in front of it and installed a longer saddle screw & spring to get it there and it's still going a little flat!....all the other saddles are in fairly normal positions, towards the back really.)
Help! What in the world could that be?? The nut came with the neck and looks pretty good??
Thanks ahead.
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Yeah, I'd try a new string. Bad strings happen, and they cause all kinds of problems.
It could also be that the pickup's D pole piece is too close to the D string, which could be pulling the string out of tune.
Gabriel
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Also check the angle of the cut on the nut if it is sloped taller in the back than the front this could cause that problem also they should always angle toward the headstock. Then again it could cause a flat sound if it was cut flat across the nut or the slot is not big enough. I only know this because I learn everything the hard way. Just my $.02
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1- Measure with a rule and make sure the distance is the same from the nut to the 12th fret and the 12 fret to the saddle.
2- Make sure the nut is cut correctly and not too much of the string is seated. Also use some of one of the lubes on the market today like graphite. Everybody should have some nut files.
3- Polish your saddle with some 1500 or better sandpaper and make sure there are no burrs in there.
4- Change your string or strings, it could be a bad string.
5- Make sure your pickup isn't too high or your magnets might be pulling on the strings making them out of tune and difficult to intonate.
6- Make sure your 12th fret is leveled and crowned properly. That's all I can think of right now.......
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Interesting about a bad string causing problems. What is it exactly that causes the issue?
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My experiences are few with intonation issues and a bad string. One issues was the winding on the ball end was loose and it would stretch a little. Every time I went to adjust the intonation it was off because the string was going out of tune. One time I could not find out why it just was, new string=no problem, I never found out why.
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1- Measure with a rule and make sure the distance is the same from the nut to the 12th fret and the 12 fret to the saddle.
No, make sure its NOT. The distance from the 12th fret to the saddle should be a bit longer (1/16"-3/16") than the nut to 12th fret distance. This is the compensation for stretching the string when you fret. Usually, the higher strings will be shorter than the low strings, but there will usually be a bit of a bump back for the first unwound string.
Gabriel
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I use a very low action. It's a starting point and not exact due to the fret, nut and saddle.
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I use a very low action. It's a starting point and not exact due to the fret, nut and saddle.
You still need compensation if your guitar is going to play in tune.
Gabriel
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Well a big DUH gabe.....you got that one right...very good. That's why they make adjustable saddles.
But to make sure your neck and/or bridge is in the right place you must first take a measurement.....right Gabe????? In fact that's the first thing you do with a bolt on neck especially. Even glued on necks have been known to not been set correctly and slightly off. Some people put necks on from different vendors and the holes don't line up, so the neck is not were it should be. It has to be doweled and re-drilled. I have even seen bridges put in the wrong place by big name manufacturers. When I was in Germany in the Army I bought a Fender Tele with a bridge that was not right and it was a Fender. The price was right though and I was in Germany so I bought it.
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"Interesting about a bad string causing problems. What is it exactly that causes the issue?"
Over the years I've run into a few that just did not sound right or were intonation monsters. My toolmaker mentality got the best of me and I checked the length of the string with a micrometer. I either got variations in diameter along the string or it thinned out. These are conditions that would typically occur at the start-up of the wire draw. Bottom line, crappy QA.
Jim
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Interesting about a bad string causing problems. What is it exactly that causes the issue?
Most commonly, its a loose wrap, or a inconsistent wrap.
Gabriel