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Setup for Great ActionStep 6: Intonation Adjustment Proper Intonation Adjustement is critical for your guitar to be in-tune at all parts of the neck. You can setup your intonation with a digital tuner and patience. I highy recommend Ibanez' or Stuart MacDonalds intonation tools for the JEMs as the locking tremolos make is more difficult to setup than with a fixed bridge. The fretboard should be in-tune with itself at all parts of the neck. Play some open chords then play them an octave up the neck. Both chords should be in tune. 2. Stuart Macdonald's Guitar Shop - part# "3095 | Step By Step: Intonation Adjustment | | Picture | | | Tools Needed | - Intonation tools:
- Ibanez "EDGEADJUST1" for original Edge (unavailable from Ibanez but available from Stu Macs set listed below.
- Ibanez "EDGEADJUST3" for Lo-Pro Edge. Available from Ibanez directly for $20 + S/H. Phone 215-638-8670.
- Stuart Macdonald's Guitar Shop - part# "3095 - The Key" $49.95. Phone 800-848-2273. Set of three intonation tools for Edge, Lo-Pro Edge and Original Floyd rose.
- 2.0 mm Allen wrench - for the intonation lock screw
- 3.0 mm Allen wrench - for locking nut
| | Procedure | - Tune the guitar and unlock the nut
- Check the intonation of each string starting with the low-E
- 12th fret open harmonic on the low-E and ensure it is tuned to pitch.
- Fret the 12th fret (on the low-E string) with normal finger pressure and compare the tuning.
- If the notes of the open note vs the natural harmonic are different you need to adjust the saddle position
- Adjust the saddle position as necessary.
- Install the intonation tool on the low-E string
- Pay attention to the approximate position of the saddle. If you don't have the intonation screw you might want to mark the position with a pencil and loosen the string a few winds at the headstock before loosening the screw
- Loosen the saddle intonation lock screw after the saddle has been secured by the intonatin tool. Since the pull on the saddle is tremendous loosening the screw will pull the saddle forward unless the intonation tool holds the counterpressure from the string
- Move the saddle toward the correct direction
- If the fretted note is SHARP, move the saddle AWAY from the neck
- If the fretted note is FLAT, move the saddle TOWARDS from the neck
- You might have to move the saddle quite a bit to realize changes. You can get it really far back, past the bolt's head or washer in fact.
- There are two bolt positions for adjustments so if there is not enough adjustment in the saddle move saddle further and use the next hole for the intonation lock down screw
- Tighten the intonation lock screw firmly taking care not to strip the screw
- Retune the string and retest fret-12 fretted to the fret-12 natural harmonic
- Repeat the saddle adjustment as necessary. It is trial and error so it may take a few tries
- Repeat for all strings
| | Reference | - The notes at the 12th fret open note vs 12 fret natural harmonic should be in tune with themselves
| The intonator tool available from Ibanez or Stuart Macdonalds pays dividends. It maintains string counter pressure, then you can dial it in the saddle adjustment with a thumbscrew, check tuning, readjust, then tighten the saddle intonation lock screw. On some of my JEM/UVs the saddle is far back, to the point where the front of the saddle is at the bolt or partially behind the washer. Ensure that the saddle is not sliding forward when you play. It is a good idea to have a few replacement saddle intonation screws in case you strip one of these by overtightening or if your allen wrench is worn. I had to replace several of these bolts on a used JEM cause they wouldn't tighten and the saddles slid forward little by little. Summary - Step 6
Ensure that your guitar is intonated correctly. This will allow the guitar to be "in-tune" at all positions of the fretboard. If in doubt let a competant tech setup the intonation.
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