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tuning method advice needed.

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10/2/1999 8:21 PM

tuning method advice needed.

I will start by saying I am not one of those rare cats with perfect pitch. Playing with other guitars doesn't drive me crazy but playing with other instruments does. I have a six saddle bridge on both my tele and my strat (of course). I have both intonated so that the 12th fret harmonic is the same as the 12th fret fretted and the open string. I still tune with open strings to a tunner. The problem is I hardly ever play open chords. Most of my chord work is centered around the 5th-10th frets. The lower I play the "flatter" my notes. The higher above 12th the sharper my notes. It is a shame I don't play only on the 12th fret or only open strings. I think it is time I tunned differently. I am gonna try the "equal temperment" method. If this doesn't work out what are my options? Will the tunning be a comprimise through out the board or can it be just about right?

catalinbread

10/3/1999 6:53 PM

I always tune "normally" first, ie with a tuner on open strings OR an A (440) tuning fork and then the fifth fret/fourth fret method. Then I adjust so that the 12th fret harmonic of each string is the same as an appropriate noted on another string in the first position (for more detail see:
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Pavilion/8154/archive1.html
For playing along with other instruments, especially keyboards, it'll help to tune the lower three strings a hair flat and the upper three a hair sharp. Particularly the low E should be flat and the B sharp, or they'll sound "out" with the keyboard.
Hi

10/4/1999 5:18 PM
Doc	Hi: When setting string intonation (bridge saddle position), I never use the 12th fret harmonic. I actually fret the string on the 12th fret, and check it against the open string tuning. The harmonic does not take into consideration the increase in tension, and pitch, that you get with the fretted string. I wonder what procedure nic followed to set the string intonation. Doc

10/4/1999 5:39 PM
Hi	Doc, I use all three notes. Which sometimes takes a while to get together;-0 But I'm just a fanatic, I guess. Hi

10/4/1999 5:44 PM

Both guitars are six saddle... I adjust the intonation by first making sure every string is in tune open. Then check the harmonic at 12 compared to fretted 12th... Then repeat for all strings. Then the whole procedure over again. I think it is the standard approach. I readjusted this weekend to find that it is a bit better.

I think I read too much hype about Jerry Donahue's method and the equal temperment. So much that I heard more of a problem than was there.

nic

10/7/1999 8:29 PM

If you're using a 10-46 set or lighter, you may find, as I have, that your finger pressure makes as great a difference as any other factor. I've found that I can play in-tune or out-of-tune on just about any well-set-up guitar, depending on how hard I press, and the angle of my left hand fingers. It's fun to purposely go sharp a little bit for certain solo passages - adds a little bite. So I say don't sweat the intonation too much...

10/5/1999 5:42 PM
Earl	It may sound simplistic but try tuning at the 7th or 8th fret. If you do the majority of your work from the 5th to the 10th, tuning half way thru it may work fine for you.

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