Help with tuning/intonating a Tele

[Ambugaton]

Hey guys,

Just finished building my first Telecaster... haven't really had a lot of experience with them at all but I know they are known for having intonation problems and some specific tuning quirks.

I have mostly gfs hardware - 6 saddle bridge, lil punchers, locking tuners etc...

Anyways, I finished it up last night and quickly gave it a test run (neck has not been completely set up, might have to shim a bit). The intonation wasn't awful as is but I noticed that playing some open chords sounded off. I believe this might possibly be a problem with the nut? I will spend most of today ensuring the neck is properly set up and see if maybe the nut is causing the G to sit a little high. (Seemed like it was going sharp)

Any other suggestions?

[jjasilli]

Not sure exactly what problem you're experiencing.


Anyway, the distance from the nut (fingerboard side ) to the crown of the 12th fret, must equal the distance from the crown of the 12th fret to the saddle.  This can be measured with a ruler or tape measure.  Add those 2 numbers together and this will = the scale of the neck.  This should work-out with the individual saddles near the midpoint of their travel.  Then they can be fine-adjusted either way.

The strings must be leaving the nut at the very edge of the nut, fingerboard side. 

If strings are going sharp when fretted, they are too high off the fingerboard. 

Before you intonate, the guitar must be properly set-up:  string height at the nut (nut height & string slots); string height at the 12th, or 17th fret  (saddle height & slots); neck relief (if any).  There are stock Fender values for these things, available on the internet.  Stock values are a good go-to starting point.  Then intonate. 

As the neck breaks-in you may need to repeat the process.

I too highly recommend Dan Erlewine's books.

[Ambugaton]

I think I have it figured out. The nut will need some work. I am positive it is set high purposely by the manufacturer. I get sharp all the way until the 5th fret. The intonation between open and 12th fret are pretty spot on just need a little tweaking on the g. The neck is sitting straight and apparently my trust rod is slightly warped. Loosening does not provide any relief but it is sitting straight at least. Hoping that bringing the nut down a bit won't require more relief. Seems the high e might encounter some fret buzz when the nut is lowered though. The slots are shallow which I would prefer to keep so I will just sand the bottom.

Thanks for your time guys!

[jjasilli]

The nut will need some work. I am positive it is set high purposely by the manufacturer. I get sharp all the way until the 5th


Two objective tests: 
1.  Measure the height of your strings at the 1st fret.  Compare to standard Fender values, or Erlewwine suggestions; OR
2.  Fret a string at the 3rd fret.  The string should just barely clear the 1st fret.  If it touches the 1st fret it's too low at the nut.  If there's a lot of clearance it's too high at the nut.


Relief:
It might take time for a new neck to bend into relief under string pressure.  (Relief is not a necessity, except to cure string rattling, if any, in the 5 - 7 fret area of the neck.)

[G._Hoffman]

If the neck and nut aren't right, you'll never get the intonation right.  Everything is dependent on everything else, and you have to take things in order.  First, neck bow, then nut, then height at the saddle, and only when all of that is right can you get the intonation set.  You also probably don't have a good enough tuner to get it perfect, unless you've got a strobe tuner. 

But there is no reason any Tele, when set up properly, should have intonation problems.  Even with the three saddle bridges (which really do sound better, or at least more like a Tele), there are some tricks involving bending the screws to get them spot on.

And while I haven't read Dan's setup book, he does know his stuff, and most of his books are pretty good.


Gabriel

[G._Hoffman]

I think I have it figured out. The nut will need some work. I am positive it is set high purposely by the manufacturer. I get sharp all the way until the 5th fret. The intonation between open and 12th fret are pretty spot on just need a little tweaking on the g. The neck is sitting straight and apparently my trust rod is slightly warped. Loosening does not provide any relief but it is sitting straight at least. Hoping that bringing the nut down a bit won't require more relief. Seems the high e might encounter some fret buzz when the nut is lowered though. The slots are shallow which I would prefer to keep so I will just sand the bottom.

Thanks for your time guys!

  If you need to raise a string on the nut, put a drop of superglue on the slot, it will raise the string ever so slightly.

Only temporarily.  It will wear a lot faster than the original material.  It is much better to shim the bottom of the nut (we mostly use bone shims, but a bit of wood veneer works fine too), and readjust the slots.


Gabriel