Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 I've mentioned a couple of times lately that one of my P-basses won't intonate well. Here's what I got: 2001 MIA P-bass Older (no slots for the saddle piece screws that set the height) bridge. Currently strung with SS flats. A, D, & G strings intonate perfectly. E string...not so much. Everything is sharp except my open E and the harmonic @ the 12th fret. It's worse the farther up the fretboard you get. First off, let me ask the question...am I doing it wrong? Everything being sharp, I understand that I should tighten the screw that adjusts the saddle position. In other words...move the saddle back towards the bridge away from the nut. Is this correct? I've got that thing cranked pretty far back and so far it's done nothing. Is this some sort of fret issue, perhaps? Helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 And...apparently, I need a spelling lesson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dDigitalPimp Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 you *MAY* need the neck shimmed. i had this problem with my first bass on the G string. no matter how i adjusted the saddle (up all the way to back all the way) it was still sharp at the 12th fret and very noticeable. it was quite annoying. took it to get looked at after kindness suggested so and the dude said the neck needed to be shimmed. $20 later it was spot on and ready to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 you *MAY* need the neck shimmed. i had this problem with my first bass on the G string. no matter how i adjusted the saddle (up all the way to back all the way) it was still sharp at the 12th fret and very noticeable. it was quite annoying. took it to get looked at after kindness suggested so and the dude said the neck needed to be shimmed. $20 later it was spot on and ready to go. That's exactly what's happening to my E-string...by the time you get to the 15th fret, it's +20. Ugly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted November 28, 2007 Moderators Share Posted November 28, 2007 IEverything is sharp except my open E and the harmonic @ the 12th fret. It's worse the farther up the fretboard you get.I should tighten the screw that adjusts the saddle position. In other words...move the saddle back towards the bridge away from the nut. Is this correct? You have answered your own question. If it it all the way back and you are still sharp, you need a different gauge string or you need to move the bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted November 28, 2007 CMS Author Share Posted November 28, 2007 What is the string height....fret top to bottom of string at 12th fret? I believe it should be no more than 3/16" on an MIA P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 What is the string height....fret top to bottom of string at 12th fret? I believe it should be no more than 3/16" on an MIA P. 1/8" I actually just lowered it a bit right before I tried this little project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 You have answered your own question. If it it all the way back and you are still sharp, you need a different gauge string or you need to move the bridge. There is still a little bit of room left to move it. Keep going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Kindness Posted November 28, 2007 Moderators Share Posted November 28, 2007 1/8" I actually just lowered it a bit right before I tried this little project. The higher it is the greater the tendency to pull sharp when fretted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 The 12th fret harmonic will of course be in tune if the open string is in tune. Why? Because it's a freely vibrating string for it's entire length, splitting the fundamental in 2, and the fundamental is the open string in tune. However, the 12th fret fretted, that's a different story. That's a truly fretted note, with the subsequent scale length between the fret and the bridge saddle, including intonation adjustment. Fretted and in-tune harmonic should be the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Ach!Youse guys are too fast for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Well, there is pretty much no more room to back it up, now. BUT...it's pretty darn close to being intonated! Less than +10...actually, less than +.05. I'll take it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members coyote-1 Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Certain things can be accomplished with a ruler. If the distance from the 0 fret (or nut) to the 12th is at all shorter than from the bridge saddle to the 12th fret, you do NOT need to either shim the neck or move the bridge. Beware of doing more to your instrument than need be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Bonus...less tension on the strings from all this. This thing is buttery. Thanks for the help, gang. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JacieFB Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 If it it all the way back and you are still sharp, you need a different gauge string... Wait a sec! Is this a ploy to get me to ditch the flats and put rounds back on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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