intonationz...Professionalz

[MartyMcFly]

I saw some other thread before about intonation. I was wondering...

If I took all three of my guitars...My Acoustic...my electric...and my bass to a music store and told them to adjust them to be set up basically the same as they would for guitars that are sitting on the floor(which I assume would be good since they want you to play them and say wow man this guitar sounds great...I need it)...but you get my drift..and the MAIN THING is that I want the intonations to match on all three of the guitars...

Do you think this would help me over all if I am just basically using these instruments to record? Discuss...

 

[Even]

Intonation is simply "in tune". You want all three in tune together, tune all three to the same note (A440). I can't think of too many times I have played two guitars in any music store where they were in tune with one another. Every clown that picks one up decides to retune the damn thing. Always cracks me up listening to two fellows sitting face to face... both out of tune, but grinning.

 

[Kirk Slossar]

What is the problem to begin with? Knowing what your problem is would get you better replies to your questions.

From what you've already written, here's what I could come up with:

1. Don't ever ask a guitar shop to set up your guitar "like the ones on the floor." Especially if you're going to a place like GC or Scam Cash. Most of the time the instruments that are on the floor of a dealer have not been setup by anyone other than the manufacturer. Most manufacturers don't pay too much attention to setups, unless of course you are buying a custom instrument or a high dollar instrument. You may find some exceptions to this rule when dealing with a mom & pop store, because their volume is so low that they can pay attention to the details.

2. Yes, having a tech setup your instruments and having them all intonated will help you when you record. If the bass, acoustic or lead guitar are not properly intonated, the sound will be "off." Even though the strings may be in tune with one another, improper intonation will cause your guitars to sound like they're out of tune.

I don't know much about acoustic guitars, but having the intonation adjusted is a bit more involved and may cost you a lot more money - I think that the intonation of an acoustic guitar can only be adjust by changing the bridge (or saddles) - I may be wrong. Chances are that if you need to have your acoustic intonated, you'd probably be better off buying a new acoustic - assuming that you don't have an expensive or high quality acoustic gutar.

3. C7sus said to find a good tech, which is sound advice. Tell the tech that you would like to have your guitars intonated, and also tell him that you'd like to have the guitars "setup." A setup will improve the action of the guitars to your liking (strings' height high or low off the fretboard, neck bow, string gauge, etc.) The setup will make your guitars easier to play, according to how you play.

Hope I helped.

 

[simpleblue]

I had three of my electrics set up completely after spending a couple of high dollar studio hours trying to figure out why I wasn't in tune to the mix on my leads. It cost me a total of around $250 but that included fret milling on one and new machines on another. They all play better now than they ever have before. It is totally worth the money.