Intonation by harmonics?!

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Jouni

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Some time ago in a bar we were talking basses and I talked about getting a good tuner to set the intonation on my basses...

(I wank all the time between 0-12 frets, up and down, so its a kind of an issue)

..When this old-timer with a grey hair and beard said that I don't need a tuner, you can set the intonation right with harmonics, he'd gladly show me.
..then he continued with some other bassist on the topic of how the intonation should also respect the grip of the player in question..

Haven't got around to check the old guy out, but was left thinking those harmonics. Now:

Has anyone got a DEFINITIVE guide on how to do that, so that its close enough for rock'n roll, even metal??...


respected luthiers?.. Forum old-timers?.. Anyone?..



EDIT: this thing is related to a thing, that I've got a prob with my favorite bass, the low H string is 2/3 louder than the other 3... ??? :confused:

when I set the volume right on that string, the other strings remain inaudible at rehealsals. So, I've allready tilted mics to compensate, for no avail. Time to fuck up the bridge adjusting string heights... would be nice to keep the intonation in the ballpark.. and be finished for tomorrows rehealsals. :o
 
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Jouni said:
Some time ago in a bar we were talking basses and I talked about getting a good tuner to set the intonation on my basses...

(I wank all the time between 0-12 frets, up and down, so its a kind of an issue)

..When this old-timer with a grey hair and beard said that I don't need a tuner, you can set the intonation right with harmonics, he'd gladly show me.
..then he continued with some other bassist on the topic of how the intonation should also respect the grip of the player in question..

Haven't got around to check the old guy out, but was left thinking those harmonics. Now:

Has anyone got a DEFINITIVE guide on how to do that, so that its close enough for rock'n roll, even metal??...


respected luthiers?.. Forum old-timers?.. Anyone?..
Click to expand...

I have done it, though it's not very accurate. You just do the same thing that you would do if you had a tuner except that you just listen for sharpness or flatness of the fretted note relative to the chimed one - chime the octave, fret at the 12th, listen, adjust, repeat.
 
Yes, THAT I've done too... I kinda thought there'd be some sort of more accurate procedure involving harmonics above the 12th fret or something..
They have intonated and tuned to symphonies before tuners?..
 
I would highly recommend Peterson's StroboSoft tuner. I've done setups with a tuning fork and harmonics, with a needle tuner, with an LED tuner, and the next will be with the strobe. It's way more accurate than any other method.
 
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Hey APL

apl said:
I would highly recommend Peterson's StroboSoft tuner. I've done setups with a tuning fork and harmonics, with a needle tuner, with an LED tuner, and the next will be with the strobe. It's way more accurate than any other method.
Click to expand...


I get a dead link with that.
 
notCardio said:
I get a dead link with that.
Click to expand...

He left out a letter in the URL. In the URL that his link points to, change "strobsoft" to "strobosoft"; it will work then.
 
ggunn said:
He left out a letter in the URL. In the URL that his link points to, change "strobsoft" to "strobosoft"; it will work then.
Click to expand...

Your diagnosis is spot on.
 
Jouni said:
EDIT: this thing is related to a thing, that I've got a prob with my favorite bass, the low H string is 2/3 louder than the other 3... ??? :confused:
Click to expand...
I'd say you have a bigger problem than volume.
 
Don't expect to be in tune using harmonics. It's close enough if your good and drunk I suppose. :p

Check out Reatuner in Reaper and Aptuner
 
Jouni said:
EDIT: this thing is related to a thing, that I've got a prob with my favorite bass, the low H string is 2/3 louder than the other 3... ??? :confused:

when I set the volume right on that string, the other strings remain inaudible at rehealsals. So, I've allready tilted mics to compensate, for no avail. Time to fuck up the bridge adjusting string heights... would be nice to keep the intonation in the ballpark.. and be finished for tomorrows rehealsals. :o
Click to expand...

This sounds like more of a pickup adjustment. Try lowering the offending side a litlle. Sometimes having different kinds of strings on the same instrument will have that affect too. Hard to say without looking at it. Also you might try just buying a compressor to even things out.
 
Low H string? Is that a typo or am I missing somthing?
 
Krhm....

I'm using a 5-string set on a 4-string bass... And I'd guess the H is known to you as B... In Finland and maybe Germany a letter H is used... sorry about that..

But still.... I've raised pickups on high end and lowered at B.. as much as they give in, and lowered the thinner strings and raised the B..
A new set of strings I'd suppose next?..
...Id hate to use a compressor..
 
Jouni said:
Krhm....

I'm using a 5-string set on a 4-string bass... And I'd guess the H is known to you as B... In Finland and maybe Germany a letter H is used... sorry about that..

But still.... I've raised pickups on high end and lowered at B.. as much as they give in, and lowered the thinner strings and raised the B..
A new set of strings I'd suppose next?..
...Id hate to use a compressor..
Click to expand...


Well, you are using a 5 string set on a 4 string bass. The instrument was not built for using it the way that you are. You could be dealing with something which is inherent to the bass itself. One thing you might try is a thinner B string, though that is going to reduce the tension and make the B more "floppy". Conversely, you might try using thicker strings on the other three. Or both those approaches, if neither make enough difference.
 
Jouni said:
Krhm....

I'm using a 5-string set on a 4-string bass... And I'd guess the H is known to you as B... In Finland and maybe Germany a letter H is used... sorry about that..

But still.... I've raised pickups on high end and lowered at B.. as much as they give in, and lowered the thinner strings and raised the B..
A new set of strings I'd suppose next?..
...Id hate to use a compressor..
Click to expand...

I think you should pack up and move to the States..basses don't have that problem Here!! :eek: :D :D
 
...Yeah, a mixed set of strings might be the easiest solution.
I reduced the prob with EQ somewhat, but still not enough.
Thanks for the useful advice!..

"I'd say you have a bigger problem than volume." ...some were beyond me?.. :confused:
 
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