Help: Intonation

Subject: Intonation
From: tandrink
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 03:23 PM

Can anyone give a detailed description of intonation - specifically intonation on a acoustic guitar. And how does one go about checking for proper intonation.

I already tried doing a thread search and these questions don't seem to have been answered (or maybe they were and I'm just completely lost).

Thanks for the help

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 03:32 PM

One quick wy to check a guitars intonation (how 'in tune' it stays from fret to fret) is to ring the 12th fret harmonic on one string, then play that string fretted at the 12th fret...

If yer lucky, those 2 notes will ring exactly the same note...

More than likely one will be slightly (and we're hopefully only talking a few cents here) sharper than the other...

If you think it's out, when it doubt, ask a trained professional...

Oh Riiiiiiiiiick???

;-)

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 04:37 PM

Hi. I spent twenty years developing an almost infallible ear....but now I'm so lazy it's revolting! Use an electronic tuner, and do what Clinton has suggested. You'll be surprised to find that it's probably out a hair at several frets. The guitar is an imperfect instrument, but if it's more than a couple of cents out you may wanna get your nut or saddle re-cut. If it's out by more than that (like on most older Martins) you may want to do what I've done on at least 5 good guitars and that is have the saddle moved (or split). I'm a fanatic about being in tune.

Rick

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Grab
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 05:06 PM

Try the intonation at various frets. A good way of doing this is to tune it accurately (a shop should have a tuner, or tune it however you usually do). And then try playing EADGB on each string and see how they match the open strings.

On the 'compensating for it' front, where you're living with a guitar with a known problem, try playing stuff with the capo in different positions. The intonation inaccuracies may show up more with certain chords in certain capo positions, so you can learn to avoid those situations when you play. I rarely capo at the 3rd fret on my main guitar - it's not miles out or anything, but it just sounds a bit icky to my ear, especially on C chords.

Graham.

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: 53
Date: 06 Feb 02 - 09:58 PM

Make sure that you have new strings when you check for intonation.

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Kaleea
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 02:27 AM

I also,recommend a good electronic tuner. If you buy one from a local music store, they should be able to show you how to use it. Some people can hear pitch well, and others cannot. I used to teach my guitar students how to tune to their piano, a guitar pitch pipe--I never found one less than a quarter of a tone off, or tune the guitar to itself. Only in recent years have most folks gone out for the electronic tuner, as they were made small & practible for easy use by ameteurs. Get one, and tune the strings beginning with the lowest: EADGBE

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Justa Picker
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 07:54 AM

You might also find this article of interest.

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: tandrink
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 10:29 AM

Thanks for all the tips folks. I checked the intonation last night using my electronic tuner and the 12th fret harmonic method that Clinton and Rick recommended. Very happy to report that everything was either spot on or just very slightly off.

Graham, I'll try your method of checking EADGBE at different frets and see if I'm still in tune.

Amazing that my acoustic is a two hundred dollar used "beater" holds tune and has a lot less buzzing than my electric (I know that is a poison word here) Gretsch Nashville which cost me a small fortune. Maybe it's time to send the Gretsch in for a professional set up.

Thanks again for all your help.

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 12:26 PM

JP, Frank Ford's article is fine as far as it goes, but it rather assumes that all the frets have been installed in the correct positions.

Errors in this respect are far more common (particularly in older instruments) than one might suppose, even among the most hallowed "Big Names".

If the frets haven't been installed exactly according to the mathematical formula, all the tinkering in the world won't get it to play in tune.

Murray

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 01:50 PM

Action can also affect intonation as can string gauge. So get those right first.

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: 53
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 10:42 PM

George Harrison made millions using a Gretsch, ever think about that?

Subject: RE: Help: Intonation
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 08:32 AM

"George Harrison made millions using a Gretsch"

And your point being ..............??????????

Murray