Intonation Question

  • Thread starter Thread starter ido1957
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ido1957

ido1957

9K Gold Member
Just got my guitar back from the shop where they put on a NOS neck.
Floyd Rose locking trem. Tried it out for a couple hours last night. Toward the latter part was playing in the upper registers and noticed the A string above the 12th was really sharp (say 1/2 tone maybe). Checked with the tuner and it was sharp all the way down. Never noticed it while playing in the lower registers. It was surprising how far off it was. It was almost like it had just suddenly gone out. I ended up having the push the saddle all the way back and it's still a bit sharp but tolerable.
1) Is there anything within the bridge (other than saddles) that will improve/affect intonation?
2) Pushing back the saddle seems to make it go flat-er whereas pushing it forward makes it sharp-er. Is that correct?
I love this guitar and used it for 25 years and hope to do the same again. The intonation is better but I'd like to get it closer but as the saddle is all the way back there's no further adjusting.

Advice?
 
ido1957 said:
Just got my guitar back from the shop where they put on a NOS neck.
Floyd Rose locking trem. Tried it out for a couple hours last night. Toward the latter part was playing in the upper registers and noticed the A string above the 12th was really sharp (say 1/2 tone maybe). Checked with the tuner and it was sharp all the way down. Never noticed it while playing in the lower registers. It was surprising how far off it was. It was almost like it had just suddenly gone out. I ended up having the push the saddle all the way back and it's still a bit sharp but tolerable.
1) Is there anything within the bridge (other than saddles) that will improve/affect intonation?
2) Pushing back the saddle seems to make it go flat-er whereas pushing it forward makes it sharp-er. Is that correct?
I love this guitar and used it for 25 years and hope to do the same again. The intonation is better but I'd like to get it closer but as the saddle is all the way back there's no further adjusting.

Advice?
Click to expand...

Yes, all the way back will flatten and towards the neck will sharpen. What kind of guitar and neck was put together? Was the original neck broken? It is possible the neck is not located properly. Maybe it is not the same scale length. I have a Strat with a Floyd and I can set intonation right on.
VP
 
Victory Pete said:
Yes, all the way back will flatten and towards the neck will sharpen. What kind of guitar and neck was put together? Was the original neck broken? It is possible the neck is not located properly. Maybe it is not the same scale length. I have a Strat with a Floyd and I can set intonation right on.
VP
Click to expand...

And all that would effect intonation on just one string how exactly?
 
It's a new old stock neck on a Kramer Pacer Imperial from the early 80's. The install was great overall, I'm just sort of curious why the intonation was so far out. The luthier at the shop is very experienced so I'm wondering if he set it and it was okay and then something slipped or moved. The nut looks fine and the floyd rose looks good (it's blocked btw.)
 
ido1957 said:
It's a new old stock neck on a Kramer Pacer Imperial from the early 80's. The install was great overall, I'm just sort of curious why the intonation was so far out. The luthier at the shop is very experienced so I'm wondering if he set it and it was okay and then something slipped or moved. The nut looks fine and the floyd rose looks good (it's blocked btw.)
Click to expand...

Take it back to him mate. It's probably just a quick tinker to get it right if five of the strings are ok. It's impossible to diagnose from the info you've provided and that isn't your fault. Little rouge problems can manifest even after the best of setups. I always tell people to get right back to me the moment they feel something isn't right even if it's just a small niggle. If he's any good he'll bump you to the top of the queue and send you home happy and in tune.;)

The first thing to check though is the string itself..;) After that give it back to him. Any decent shop takes pride in their work.
 
ido1957 said:
It's a new old stock neck on a Kramer Pacer Imperial from the early 80's. The install was great overall, I'm just sort of curious why the intonation was so far out. The luthier at the shop is very experienced so I'm wondering if he set it and it was okay and then something slipped or moved. The nut looks fine and the floyd rose looks good (it's blocked btw.)
Click to expand...

Is it just the A string? I assumed it was all of the strings.
VP
 
Victory Pete said:
Is it just the A string? I assumed it was all of the strings.
VP
Click to expand...


ido1957 said:
Toward the latter part was playing in the upper registers and noticed the A string above the 12th was really sharp (say 1/2 tone maybe). Checked with the tuner and it was sharp all the way down.
Click to expand...
VP, it would help everyone if you could familiarise yourself with the OP's questions before offering help or adding to any confusion.

"Assumptions" can often lead to poorly informed opinions and experiences.


Thanks for your help.
 
muttley600 said:
VP, it would help everyone if you could familiarise yourself with the OP's questions before offering help or adding to any confusion.

"Assumptions" can often lead to poorly informed opinions and experiences.


Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...

It isnt clarified yet as to if it was only the A string.
VP
 
ido1957 said:
Muttley had it correct - it was the A string only.....
Click to expand...

Okay, well now that is a mystery. I will check my Floyd and see if anything become obvious. You must have new strings on your guitar. Are they handmade strings? Are the ball ends cut off completely, with only the wraps around the main string? Is the tremelo level to the body?
VP
 
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