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 Intonation 
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Post Re: Intonation
earthgene wrote:
I'm enjoying this thread having recently joined Club NS. I am ready to change my strings too - maybe we can rastle Dean K. into the discussion or possibly Don Schiff?


If you are replacing strings with the same gauge. You probably will not need to reintonate.
If you have found that over time your intonation has been going further and further out you might need to tweak the truss rod.


Tue Dec 24, 2019 11:53 am
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Post Re: Intonation
Seancasler wrote:
ixlramp wrote:
Checking 2 notes an octave apart is actually completely unnecessary, that is just a leftover habit from the 'matching 12th fret to 2nd harmonic of open' no-tuner method of guitar or bass guitar.
Checking only 2 pitches an octave apart will also leave the high frets unchecked, which are more sensitive to saddle movements. So fine tuning the intonation will be left undone.


Everything is a compromise. Short of having adjustable frets for each string gauge it is always going to be a best effort.

If you don’t play the lowest string above the 15th fret you can intonate at 1 and 13. If you don’t play the highest string below the 5 fret you could do 5th and 17th.

Then we could also open the just vs equal temper “in tune” can of worms argument.



Seancasler is right.

I've been playing quality electric and acoustic instruments since the late 80s, and have been doing all my set ups, etc... on my own.
Too much of a major ordeal is made out of tuning and intonation, and one thing where I feel the M.Megatar people got it right on was with their Buzz Felten tuning, where things are not as they appear to be from a strobe tuner standpoint - but yet work perfectly with the ears.

It's all good !!
Cheers.............

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Sat Dec 28, 2019 6:51 pm
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Post Re: Intonation
Seancasler is right on the compromise and imperfection, however ... i think it is a mistake to use the 'perfection is impossible' fact to justify giving up on using a good method to intonate, which is what i am explaining. I am assuming that a player wants reasonable intonation across all the played pitches. I only give the very best advice because i assume someone wants to intonate well.

I have studied Just Intonation in depth, it is not relevant in this context because the intent is to get as close to 12 Tone Equal Temperament as possible (in all this i am assuming that is the target, because it usually is).

2 frets an octave apart is unnecessary, better to use the lowest and highest played frets if you must only check 2 pitches, but 3 or more is better.

In fact, not enough of an ordeal is made of intonation, because (being a guitar technician and a qualified physicist who has studied the science of music, Just Intonation, historical tuning systems) i have discovered that most of the common intonation advice for guitars is a little sloppy and is based on misunderstandings.


Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:17 pm
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Post Re: Intonation
One common problem people have in setting their intonation on tapping instruments is bad technique. If you pull the string away from its axis the resulting note will be sharp when you tap (or pluck) it.

Make sure you are tapping along the string axis (use hand motion).

Also, with low-tension strings, it's always best to check the instrument in playing position rather than laying it down, unless you have a bench setup that provides support under the middle and ends of the instrument. Any pushing (or pulling) on the ends of the instrument from underneath, even just from gravity, will give you different results.

Make sure your truss is adjusted properly, because higher action means stretching strings, which will also affect your intonation.

Tappy New Year!

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Wed Jan 01, 2020 7:02 am
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Post Re: Intonation
IX and Greg.

All good and valid points.

My point is really to just to try to simplify and demystify this as much as possible.

Intonation is and should be a basic skill that everybody should feel comfortable doing themselves. Unfortunately, it seems like too many people are intimidated to the point of being unwilling to give it a shot.


Wed Jan 01, 2020 8:34 am
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