dimanche 2 septembre 2012

The Intricacies Of Guitar Intonation Setup

By Casandra Cotton


Guitar intonation setup is not an easy task to do, especially for beginners. There are so many things to consider and, believe it or not, it can also be dangerous. You could end up breaking a string which can cause a whiplash. It takes a lot of practice to master so be very careful as you could also cause more damage than fixing. Here are a few things to consider as you start.

The higher the action is, the longer it gets when you strum it. As the strings are extended, the chords played produce a sharper sound. The trouble happens when it gets too long, you are sure to create sound that is out of sync. For this particular setback, you have to set up your guitar and make sure the length of your string is just right.

Next thing to consider is the guitars neck arch or relief. If you tighten the strings too much, it will produce more arch and in effect, cut down the distance from the saddle to the nut. This also increases the height of the string from the fret. You will find it more difficult to press and if you do not put more finger pressure, you create an errant sound. You need to correct the truss rod to achieve the right relief.

Looking at the saddle, you will know if it is good once it is just placed on the guitars bridge. If it is appearing to be bending forward, it only means it is loose. This will make for a shorter string producing a sharper than usual sound. If you have this problem, it is very unfortunate but you have to change the entire thing to have the right measurement.

The saddle crown is up after that. The usual troubles here are profound indentations. What this creates is an alteration in the measurement lengthwise of the cord making it virtually unworkable to get the right tune. This situation leaves you with only two options. You either re-surface it or total overhaul of the saddle.

One of the most common problems is fret wear. It also directly affects the strings' length throwing off the intonation as a result. Some worn out frets can actually be leveled to do away with the grooves. Do not forget you also have to re-crown it. Some severe situations, however, will require you to replace the whole thing.

Fret height was mentioned earlier as a result of some issues. String quality and gauge is a very important aspect when it comes to guitars. Always go for well known brands as they have been tested and proven. Cheap ones may save you some money but they have been an on-going issue when it comes to intonation.

Now you should have a basic idea of the ins and outs of guitar intonation setup. Doing it by your self is not a feat without a solution. It will however require a lot of patience to learn all the concepts and principles first. Do not hesitate to seek assistance from professionals because they are the best people to get advice from.




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