Intonation

  • Thread starter Thread starter GoldFalcon
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GoldFalcon

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I have a Takamine EF381 6 String which is a pretty good stage guitar for me.

I have found it horribly lacking in the studio.

What's worse it has developed some horrible intonation problems just in the last few days. It started out as a bit of a tuning compromise a few days ago, but after restringing it yesterday (when it played pretty good) I have found today that if I tune to where an E Major sounds right then C Major sounds like two cats dying in a dryer.

WTF is going on? What would cause intonation problems so drastic and so fast?
 
Did you change the gauge of your strings? That'll do it.

Remember that acoustics don't have an adjustible bridge, which means that they can't be intonated for each set of strings. This is another way of saying that every acoustic guitar (or any instrument with a fixed bridge) will only be intonated for a single gauge of strings. All others will be intonated incorrectly.

Sounds like this is what's going on.
 
Any other noticeable changes? Higher action, unusual buzzing or the like? Did you have any sudden temperature or humidity changes? Did it get dropped or knocked over? Lets eliminate the possible causes untill we find the cure.
 
How old are your strings? Just like a rubber band that get stretched too much, old strings can get a little flunky and they really screw with your intonation.
 
legionserial said:
How old are your strings? Just like a rubber band that get stretched too much, old strings can get a little flunky and they really
screw with your intonation.
Click to expand...

he said he restrung it yesterday so it must be new.....

see if the bridge saddles are seated correctly, nut is ok, and the bow of the neck.
 
GoldFalcon said:
I have a Takamine EF381 6 String which is a pretty good stage guitar for me.

I have found it horribly lacking in the studio.

What's worse it has developed some horrible intonation problems just in the last few days. It started out as a bit of a tuning compromise a few days ago, but after restringing it yesterday (when it played pretty good) I have found today that if I tune to where an E Major sounds right then C Major sounds like two cats dying in a dryer.

WTF is going on? What would cause intonation problems so drastic and so fast?
Click to expand...


You either changed the gauge of your strings or (and this is my guess) you got a bum set of strings. It happens. Go out and get a new set of strings, put them on, and see if it helps. If it does, there you go. If not, then take it to a good repair shop and see what they have to say. It may or may not be worth doing anything about, but at least you will know.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
I just want to know how you know what two cats dying in a dryer sound like :eek:

uhm yeh,string gauge is my guess ,maybe you need a different guage "cat gut" :D
 
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