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Final setup - intonation
http://www-.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=47507
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Author:  bcombs510 [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:39 am ]
Post subject:  Final setup - intonation

Hello,

I'm dangerously close to finishing my first build (queue Handel's Messiah). I'm following the Robert O'Brien videos and I'm on the video where he covers intonation and setting the right angle on the back edge of the saddle. I followed the steps he outlines using a small piece of string cutoff and moved it around until the intonation was correct and marked it. Pretty much the angle brings it right up to the front edge of the saddle. This all worked well for the low E - B strings. On the high E I have something strange going on. When I play the open high E the tuner (a basic Snark) shows E right on the money. However, the 12th fret harmonic bounces between E (just slightly flat) and A. Also, when I fret the 12th the tuner bounces between E and A.

The other strings play just flat or dead on when on the harmonic and fretted 12th, and are showing the correct E, A, D, G, B.

I don't have any experience with this so I'm guessing.... is there some type of overtone or maybe a vibration or ....? that would be causing the tuner to read A?

Thanks!
Brad

Author:  Chris Pile [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

You need something better than a Snark to set intonation. They are fine for general tuning (I have 2), but they just don't have the range for the job of intonation.

Author:  WilliamS [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Use the fretted 12th, not the harmonic for setting intonation.

Author:  Tom West [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 8:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Are you muting the other 5 strings.........?
Tom

Author:  bcombs510 [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Chris Pile wrote:
You need something better than a Snark to set intonation. They are fine for general tuning (I have 2), but they just don't have the range for the job of intonation.


Thanks, Chris. Do you have a recommendation? Something like this?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Korg/Wi-Tun ... c-Tuner.gc

Thanks!
Brad

Author:  bcombs510 [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 9:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Tom West wrote:
Are you muting the other 5 strings.........?
Tom


Thanks, Tom. Well now I'm embarrassed. Yes, if I mute the other strings lightly the issue goes away. Thanks for the tip!

Author:  Bill Higgs [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 12:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Brad,
Download the iStroboSoft app on your phone. It is excellent and only $10.

Author:  kencierp [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 12:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Quote:
Brad,
Download the iStroboSoft app on your phone. It is excellent and only $10.


I agree -- they have one for Android too at Google Play.

I am one of those that paid $100 plus for this (very similar) just a few years back.

Author:  bcombs510 [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 1:56 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Thanks for the feedback, Bill and Ken. I grabbed the app for my phone and I can use that 90 bucks to buy some tonewood!

Author:  tysam [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 2:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Not to dwell on it but in case you missed it on the previous post above...use a fretted 12th fret not the harmonic when intonating.

Author:  bcombs510 [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 3:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

tysam wrote:
Not to dwell on it but in case you missed it on the previous post above...use a fretted 12th fret not the harmonic when intonating.


Thanks!

In the Robert O'Brien video he does all three, the open, fretted at the 12th and the harmonic and tries to dial them in to be as close as possible. Bad idea?

Author:  Jeff Highland [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 4:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

Harmonic is a useless and unnecessary complication, It will always be near the octave regardless of saddle break point.

Author:  dpetrzelka [ Wed Mar 23, 2016 5:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Final setup - intonation

I use iStroboSoft app as well - tough to beat for $10.

Bill Higgs wrote:
Brad,
Download the iStroboSoft app on your phone. It is excellent and only $10.

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