Intonation issue

[Kuroyume]

This is about my 'el-cheapo' Galveston 7-string. So, I remove the original strings (and tossed them without getting all the gages - definitely 0.009 E) to oil the fretboard, clean and put in new pickups.

 

The only 7-string string set that I could find at GC online was D'Addario Bright EXL120-7.

 

I checked the intonation and all of the strings but the A were almost perfect. I know how to intonate so I did the minor adjustments to the others and now they are perfect. The A, on the other hand, is still half-way between A and Ab on the 12th fret even with the bridge saddle almost totally unscrewed (towards the neck). Frustrating.

 

My question is this: should I go with a heavier gage string for the A to compensate for this? Will that work?

 

Thanks!

[dangordan]

What kind of bridge? Have you taken the saddle out and flipped it around?

[Kuroyume]

It's a fixed bridge like the Ibanez JS1600 (for instance).

 

No, I haven't flipped the saddle. I assume this means flipping top to bottom (?). The saddles look to only go one way here (top on top, back at back).

 

I'm figuring that this guitar may have used a heavier gage A string since the rest were so close. I know little about how it comes 'new' as it was purchased used.

[dangordan]

Was thinking tune-o-matic where flipping the saddle around shortens the string. You might want to look at other sets available.

 

http://www.juststrings.com/sevenstringguitar.html

[Kuroyume]

Must have been a heavier gage. I found a 0.036 to replace the 0.032 and it intonated nicely. From its original position, the string gage may have been 0.038 but I'll stick with 0.036. What sucks is that now I need to get 0.036 singles whenever I get a new set or go up to the EXL110-7 string sets.

[Kuroyume]

 

Was thinking tune-o-matic where flipping the saddle around shortens the string. You might want to look at other sets available. http://www.juststrings.com/sevenstringguitar.html

 

 

Yep. I like the EXL120-7s though. Very fast and 'bendy'. And I purchased three sets so I might just get three 0.036 singles and debate going for the EXL110-7s when the time comes.

 

Thanks!