A thought regarding intonation

Shredder87 · #1 12-03-2007, 02:45 PM

Hey folks,

Just a little thought concerning intonation - I'd like advice please if you have any.

The intonation on the high E on my two-year-old 2550 is a little out. The only other guitar I've ever adjusted intonation on is my Strat, which is a 22-fretter. The method I use is typical fayre; compare 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note etc. etc. etc. However, the RG is a 24-fretter, and I have never adjusted it before - I guess that says a lot for the set up at the factory!

My thought is this: I heard somewhere (possibly just an Old Wives' Tale, but I'm not sure) that it's better to measure intonation on a 24-fret neck guitar by comparing the harmonic/fretted note at the 24th fret instead of the 12th. Obviously it's the same note an octave up but will I get any better results intonating at the 24th rather than the 12th?

Like I say, just a thought!

'87

Codyyy · #2 12-03-2007, 05:40 PM

I've heard that using the 24th fret is better because intonation becomes farther off the farther you go away from the nut... so I think that would be more accurate. But I'm not that sure.

jemplayer55 · #3 12-03-2007, 05:45 PM

^^^^ Ugh..... wouldn't the twelfth fret be closer to the nut than the 24th fret?

Plus, isn't the twelfth fret roughly halfway between the nut and bridge? Hmmm....

Codyyy · #4 12-03-2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jemplayer55

^^^^ Ugh..... wouldn't the twelfth fret be closer to the nut than the 24th fret?

Yes.... which would make the 24th fret farther away from the nut, correct?

jemplayer55 · #5 12-03-2007, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Codyyy

I've heard that using the 24th fret is better because intonation becomes farther off the farther you go away from the nut... so I think that would be more accurate. But I'm not that sure.

Read your own post again....

Do you know where the nut is? Not the bridge..... Besides, the best point to check intonation is at the center of the string length! I mean isn't that a critical measurement in guitar construction?!

Hmmm....

Rich · #6 12-03-2007, 06:49 PM

The most accurate place to set intonation is at the last fret, unless you never play over half scale......

Davey · #7 12-03-2007, 06:54 PM

So last would be 24th yes?

And of course the 12th fret is closer to the nut than the 24th

jemplayer55 · #8 12-03-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

The most accurate place to set intonation is at the last fret, unless you never play over half scale......

Actually I thought setting it at the twelfth fret helped with chord voicing as opposed to setting it at the 24th fret. Especially since most playing is done below the twelfth fret. I'll agree it does help with upper register soloing but not much chording going on up there....

Rich · #9 12-03-2007, 07:24 PM

Maybe the way you play, Steve and Joe have to restrictions on where they "chord". You could definitely benefit from a read through a Peterson strobe manual where it will tell you that open and 12th is not an accurate way to intonate in the least, even with a strobe......

Using the last fret makes the whole board intonation better, it's not just a second scale benefit.

CosmicDebris · #10 12-03-2007, 07:50 PM

I have noticed since intonation the way it is described on riches site that I got better tone and sustain.

Jeremiah · #11 12-03-2007, 11:48 PM

...wow...that makes since...i will forever intonate differently! lol

jemplayer55 · #12 12-03-2007, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

Maybe the way you play, Steve and Joe have to restrictions on where they "chord". You could definitely benefit from a read through a Peterson strobe manual where it will tell you that open and 12th is not an accurate way to intonate in the least, even with a strobe......

Using the last fret makes the whole board intonation better, it's not just a second scale benefit.

I'll have to give it a try..... oh, and my strobe tuner is a old Conn! So old it's got tubes!

It's a old model ST-8. But it still does a great job for setup. Hey, will this technique will work on a 22 fret guitar also? Or just on my JEM and RG and other 24 fret guitars?

Jeez.... guess I'm just old school and behind the times!

But I've never had intonation problems. It was explained to me that soloing in the upper register wasn't as much of an issue since most guitars were 22 fret. And since the frets were closer, finger placement directly behind the fret was not as critical to hit a note without sounding like it was out a couple of cents.

But your right.... I mostly use my Strats and rarely go beyond the 20th fret unless I'm playing slide.

BTW, Rich..... are you suggesting I use too many "pu$$y" chords?

Jeremiah · #13 12-04-2007, 01:46 AM

sounds like if you have a 22 fret you would just make sure your first string is tuned accurately to E and that the last fret is tuned accurately to D...i don't know why no one ever told me this method before lol

Rich · #14 12-04-2007, 04:31 AM

I'm just suggesting there's always a better mousetrap, somewhere.

jemplayer55 · #15 12-04-2007, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rich

I'm just suggesting there's always a better mousetrap, somewhere.

Rich..... So can you tell there is a marked difference using that method on a 24 fret guitar? I mean is this something you can actually hear or see on a strobe or digital tuner?

Damn, now I want to change strings and do a fresh setup just to find out!