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| Hi, I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice on this. I've got an older celebrity cc057 model and the intonation on the g string is horribly flat. The rest of the strings are ok, and the neck looks good. I have light strings on now, and some guys on the gear page suggest putting a thicker set on which I'm going to try this weekend.
Anyone have any other ideas? |
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | Welcome tibs... I am glad you took my advice.
Come on you OFC experts, chime in here! |
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Location: NJ | thicker strings are your answer |
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| that seems to be the consensus. I'll pick some up friday and let you guys know how it goes.
fingers are crossed! |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Thicker strings is good a good idea.
Your Nut Slot my be fouled... (I sorta wanna say that again... just to say it again, in an accusatory hygiene manor)
Saddle could be an issue...
A good SetUp will likely help, even if, the heavier strings solve it. |
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | True, be sure to put a little graphite (pencil lead) in the nut slots to avoid any sticking issues. |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Also, some of those plastic compensated saddles move the string slightly. Check it out at your local guitar store. |
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| The heavier strings solved the problem.Thanks for the advice guys. |
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Location: NJ | told you |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | I never tire of being right, or having an opinion.
Without getting into quantum physics, in this case, how does moving to a different gauge NOT throw off the other strings' intonations?
Theoretically, could you custom-fit an individual instrument, by varying the individual string gauges, to achieve intonation nirvana?
Probably relevant only to fixed-saddle design, since most electric guitars have adjustable saddles.
Inquiring (and obviously, idle) minds want to know...... |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by tibs:
The heavier strings solved the problem.Thanks for the advice guys. Intonation wasn't the problem, but rather, it was a consequence of the problem. If we are used to playing acoustics with heavier strings, then switch to a guitar with super lights, particularly those typically found on pure electrics, we have a tendancy to strangulate our chord fingering technique by over-depression, thereby bending one or more of the depressed strings. Even the slightest string bend will affect intonation. The problem is resolved by learning to be softer with your left-hand technique (for right hand players). Heavier strings are harder to bend, so it compensates for a heavy fingering technique. |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Great explanation, and answers the second part, also. Thanks! |
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Location: New Hampshire, USA | Related question: on a 12 string, even if each string pair is on a separate and adjustable bridge piece, how is it that those two vastly different gauges don't intone differently as you move up the fretboard?
Or do they in fact intone differently, and you just have to find a compromise? |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yikes! This is getting positively intriguing!
OK, so what's the speculation- or even, the facts? |
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Location: Cork, Ireland | Originally posted by scooterboy:
Related question: on a 12 string, even if each string pair is on a separate and adjustable bridge piece, how is it that those two vastly different gauges don't intone differently as you move up the fretboard?
Or do they in fact intone differently, and you just have to find a compromise? I think they do but it's less noticeable. Also (I think) a slight difference beween the members of a pair of strings may produce a pleasing effect, it's part of the sound of a 12-string (or other paired-string instrument like a mandolin). Often free-reed wind instruments such as tremolo harmonicas and some accordions have paired reeds that are deliberately tunes slightly apart to give a 'tremolo' effect. In physics terms this is due to an interference pattern) |
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Location: New Hampshire, USA | Interesting. If someone did want perfect intonation for each string within a string pair, has any guitar manufacturer ever made split saddles so that each string in a pair can be adjusted for intonation separately? |
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Location: Texas | I would think that the heavier string would determine the pressure from your finger and prevent some of the "over pressing" on the lighter string next it, and thus it would be less of a problem on a 12 string? Once your fingers are heavily callused, it would be pretty difficult to press the lighter string further than you can press the heavier string right next to it…
That's my guess…
But I like the theory that it is what gives 12 strings that unique sound… |
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Location: New Hampshire, USA | I was going under the assumption that it's not just finger pressure that would cause a difference between the two strings when fretted. I was guessing that just the difference in gauge would play a part as well.
Could be a bad assumption though. :) |
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| In this case finger pressure was not the cause. I could fret a note below the 12th on the g and it was close if not in tune. fretting a note above the 12th would be out, and the other strings were in tune all over the fretboard. I believe I have an even technique no matter which note I'm fretting, and this wasn't just tested with chords but single notes as well with a tuner.
So if you bought an acoustic setup with heavy strings and a fixed bridge is it not possible to go to lighter strings without some major work on the bridge?(or the other way around) |
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Posts: 70
Location: kansas | links to "intonation" solutions:
http://www.earvana.com/
http://www.mimf.com/nutcomp/index.htm
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/saddles.htm
http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/Saddle/saddle...
later... |
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Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | Originally posted by scooterboy:
Interesting. If someone did want perfect intonation for each string within a string pair, has any guitar manufacturer ever made split saddles so that each string in a pair can be adjusted for intonation separately? Well, I just answered my own question!
I'm currently awaiting delivery of a Danelectro reissue DC-12 I just nabbed on ebay for $350 shipped:
(that's not the actual guitar I bought but it's the best pic I could find of the model/color it is)
Here's a nice pic of the bridge:
Note that each of the 12 strings can be individually intonated. :cool:
I would have loved to buy a Deacon 12 but it just wasn't in the budget. And I do have a Breadwinner, so it's nice to have a little variety too. :) |
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Location: New Hampshire, USA |
Note that each of the 12 strings can be individually intonated. :cool:
After doing some more research, I'm not sure whether this 12 saddle bridge is stock, or an option. If it arrives with just 6 saddles instead of 12, I can get the 12 saddle version for another $75. We shall see... |
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Location: Denmark | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
... If we are used to playing acoustics with heavier strings, then switch to a guitar with super lights, particularly those typically found on pure electrics, we have a tendancy to strangulate our chord fingering technique ... Generally agree, but in this case notes picked on the G-string are flat, not sharp. |
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April 2008
Posts: 288
Location: New Hampshire, USA | The sparkly blue Danelectro arrived today, and it does indeed have the 12 saddle bridge. Woohoo! The seller described it as "immaculate" and he wasn't lying. For a 10 year old guitar, it looks brand new.
I'll be restringing it tonight and adjusting the intonation as necessary.
Then a bunch of jingle jangle. :) |
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Location: Indiana | Good time to work on that Roger Mcguinn medley, scooterboy... |
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intonation help
