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vintage es-330 intonation problems

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10/21/2005 12:28 AM

vintage es-330 intonation problems

I have recently acquired a Gibson ES-330, from about 65'. It was given to me from a family member. In the past, I've set up all my own guitars, however I've run into a problem with this one. When setting the intonation, the octave is still sharp of the open note even when the saddle has been moved all the way back. This occurs especially on the lower strings. The current gauge is 52-10. What can be done to aleviate my problem?

10/21/2005 2:34 PM
Earl	I assume you have a trapeze tail piece and tuneomatic bridge. Is the bridge installed so that you get the longest travel on the adjustments? You have p-90 pickups. Check to make sure someone did not put a spacer under one or both. (too close to the strings makes problems) also check pole piece hieght. Go to a heavier gauge string...you might need a wound 3rd.

10/21/2005 7:19 PM

electric.magic said:

When setting the intonation, the octave is still sharp of the open note even when the saddle has been moved all the way back. This occurs especially on the lower strings.

Epiphone guitars usually come with the bottom 3 saddles "backwards", with the tapered end towards the neck. You might be able to take apart the tunomatic bridge and reverse the 3 lower saddles.

HTH

Steve Ahola

10/21/2005 10:39 PM
electric.magic	Already done that, no luck.... and this is a Gibson, not an epiphone, dunno if I made it clear

10/22/2005 2:20 AM

electric.magic said:

Already done that, no luck.... and this is a Gibson, not an epiphone, dunno if I made it clear

So the 3 lower saddles have the flat side facing the tailpiece (which is not the way that Gibson usually ships their guitars). I mentioned the Epiphone trick because it sometimes helps with intonation problems on Gibson guitars.

If you can't intonate your guitar properly with the stock bridge, a replacement bridge might have more travel. There are different size threads and diameters for T-O-M bridge posts so they are not all interchangeable. Be sure to save the original parts in case you decide to sell the guitar later. (If this wasn't a vintage guitar I'd suggest pulling the threaded bushings, filling the holes with dowels and then drilling out new holes to position the bridge properly.)

--Good luck!

Steve Ahola

10/22/2005 3:56 AM
Sweetfinger	Is the action really high? That could make it difficult to compensate for. Also, try a new set of strings. I set up at least 10 guitars a week, and occasionally, I DO get a funky string right out of the pack that just won't intonate. A different brand may also help, but the 330 should certainly take 10-52 without problems.

10/22/2005 11:27 AM

Link to page on 1965 ES-330TD

That is one nice looking guitar! It looks like all 6 of the bridge saddles are "backwards" (slant side towards neck) so maybe there is some intonation problem with that year's model:

http://www.archtop.com/ac_65ES_330.html

It just occurred to me that for the wound strings a round core might intonate differently than a hex core. Or not...

Steve Ahola

P.S. The ES-330TD is a thinline full hollow-bodied, but I believe that there would have to be support posts under the bridge. That might limit the possible bridge locations to a small area.

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