Members barneyc4 Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 What tool to use for guitar intonation? and what tools do you use for your basic guitar setup? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members barneyc4 Posted January 24, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members barneyc4 Posted January 24, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CreamTele2 Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 A tuner and a philips screwdriver? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Zen Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 Screwdriver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashasha Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 I just use a semi decent tuner for intonation. Heck right now I just use the one in Guitar Rig to do it. You should have a very precise one to do it right, but I figure that by the time you account for issues with nuts, variances in fretboards, my fat fingers pushing a string down; well as long as I am pretty close that is good enough. The guitar is a pretty imperfect instrument when it comes down to it and as long as you are as close as reasonably possible you should be fine. Now as for actually adjusting the bridges, that really depends on the type. Usually just a few screwdrivers or hex drivers, whatever fits and a lot of patience. Oh yeah, I always do it with an old set of strings on it to make sure that they are good and stretched out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members barneyc4 Posted January 24, 2007 Author Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 Don't I need a ruler? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cincy_cosmo Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 Don't I need a ruler? NO. And you put the hammer and impact wrench away too! A quick search of the internet shows http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/intonate.htm has good instructions. There are lots of other places too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cousin itt Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 You could get pretty close with just using your ears. You have to be in a quiet room. Late at night works best because it's quieter then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BadgerMolester Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 Tools? Depending on the bridge a screwdriver or a mini allen wrench (Floyd Rose). A tuner. The ability to play 12 fret natural harmonics. My ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RaVenCAD Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 One important trick I've not seen mentioned in your threads is to check the adjustment with the guitar held in playing position. However you normally play, check it that way. Reason being, if you check it lying down, the pressure on the headstock will screw it up and give you a false reading on the tuner. For tools, it varies. On my Charvel, I need allen wrenches. On my strat, a phillips screwdriver, on my LP, a flat screwdriver, on my SZ, a phillips screwdriver. What kind of guitar are you adjusting? Specifically, what kind of bridge does it have? A pic would be helpful.. You also need a tuner. The human ear can almost perfectly match 2 tones playing simultaneously, but you don't play the notes together when setting intonation. You play one (the fretted 12th) then you play the next (12th fret harmonic).. You won't be able to hear the few cents worth of difference in the notes. You NEED a tuner. You don't, however, need some super expensive strobe tuner. A $20 tuner is sufficient. I use the one built into my POD. It comes up on my puter screen and is as precise as I've ever needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members double rocker Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 NO. And you put the hammer and impact wrench away too! A quick search of the internet shows http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/intonate.htm has good instructions. There are lots of other places too. aren't you supposed to check the fretted 12th against the harmonic? that article says to check it against the open tuning. or does he mean check the harmonic against the open tuning? it's a bit poorly written and ambiguous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Prages Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 aren't you supposed to check the fretted 12th against the harmonic? that article says to check it against the open tuning. or does he mean check the harmonic against the open tuning? it's a bit poorly written and ambiguous. By nature, the 12th fret harmonic will always be the same note as the open string, only one octave higher. You can check the fretted note to either the open string or the 12th fret harmonic, but never try to set intonation by comparing the 12th fret harmonic to the open string, because physics says that should always be exactly the same, since the harmonic is just exactly 1/2 the length of the string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members walt0915 Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 aren't you supposed to check the fretted 12th against the harmonic? that article says to check it against the open tuning. or does he mean check the harmonic against the open tuning? it's a bit poorly written and ambiguous. When using a tuner, use the open string. When doing it by ear - use the harmonic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members book_of_lies777 Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 A tuner and a philips screwdriver? yep - it's not as hard as it seems, providing there's no structural issues with the guitar itself... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pgcorky Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 One of my favorite tools is the book "How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great" by Dan Erlewine. The section on intonation is pretty good - step by step with good descriptions. http://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Electric-Guitar-Great/dp/0879306017/sr=8-2/qid=1169653338/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-3719474-0699250?ie=UTF8&s=books Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tupelo Son Posted January 24, 2007 Members Share Posted January 24, 2007 One important trick I've not seen mentioned in your threads is to check the adjustment with the guitar held in playing position. However you normally play, check it that way. Reason being, if you check it lying down, the pressure on the headstock will screw it up and give you a false reading on the tuner. For tools, it varies. On my Charvel, I need allen wrenches. On my strat, a phillips screwdriver, on my LP, a flat screwdriver, on my SZ, a phillips screwdriver. What kind of guitar are you adjusting? Specifically, what kind of bridge does it have? A pic would be helpful.. You also need a tuner. The human ear can almost perfectly match 2 tones playing simultaneously, but you don't play the notes together when setting intonation. You play one (the fretted 12th) then you play the next (12th fret harmonic).. You won't be able to hear the few cents worth of difference in the notes. You NEED a tuner. You don't, however, need some super expensive strobe tuner. A $20 tuner is sufficient. I use the one built into my POD. It comes up on my puter screen and is as precise as I've ever needed. :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Frudua Posted April 3, 2011 Members Share Posted April 3, 2011 For intonation tools and procedure on how to prepare the instrument for intonation which is the most important thing to perform a correct intonation procedure, I reccomend you link to my Fruduatv channel on youtube (just type it, I don't think I can post the link here). There you will find a "step by step" free video on intonating your guitar the best way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jelloman Posted April 3, 2011 Members Share Posted April 3, 2011 *sniff* ...kinda smells like SPAM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members McCain Posted April 3, 2011 Members Share Posted April 3, 2011 Get a strobe tuner and then forget everything everyone has ever told you about intonation. Do not use the open/12th fret method but instead take the nut out of the equation and use a more precise 3rd/15th reading. Or not. http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keywords=D%27Addario%20PW-CT-04&tag=opera-20&index=blended&link_code=qs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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