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Post by basementrocker on Feb 15, 2010 16:17:01 GMT -5
got a new chromatic tuner and was trying it on my guitars and was amazed to learn that after i had set the intination and was perfectly in tune, there were several frets that were out of key.like on the low E string on the first fret the F note was sharp,on the third fret the G note was sharp, but as i moved up the neck once i got to the 7th fret( b note) it was in tune. The worst was the G string second fret which should be the A note, this was horribly sharp- almost a full A sharp.I then went to guitar center and tried several guitars there and found all but one were the same way.the only one that passed this test was a re-issue 59 les paul(ok no surprise there), but do i really have to spend $5,500.00 to get a guitar where all the frets are in tune?
has anyone come across this and is there a fix for this or should i just live with a guitar some of the frets are out of tune?
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wully
Full Member
Posts: 119
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Post by wully on Feb 15, 2010 16:44:01 GMT -5
Can you hear it without the tuner?
Then why worry.... ;D
I sometimes think my 'G' string sounds flat, sometimes sharp.
Mostly I think the low 'E' is flat until I try to tune it by ear so it sounds good to me, then the tuner and the rest of the strings tell me it's off tune...so I tune it to the tuner.
Then I play a chord and it all sounds good.
Funny old thing, noise..........and our ears.
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Post by basementrocker on Feb 15, 2010 16:47:28 GMT -5
thanks for that intelligent answer
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wully
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Post by wully on Feb 15, 2010 16:49:58 GMT -5
thanks for that intelligent answer I have NEVER been accused of that before... |
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Post by WhiskeyHotel on Feb 15, 2010 20:14:41 GMT -5
LOL! I was trying to decide if that was sarcasm or not.
My recommendation - try a new set of strings. They maybe your culprit. I have seen old strings mess with fret to fret intonation.
Fret height and wear will also effect intonation. To see for yourself what effect your fretting technique has on the instrument's tune watch the pitch of the note on your tuner when fretting with different pressure and location. Yes, you can be the culprit! Some players may actually have a tendency to bend a string sharp when fretting (me).
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Post by basementrocker on Feb 15, 2010 20:53:00 GMT -5
yeah i realized that if you have a heavy hand you can make the notes sharper with too much pressure. Just realy asking why a brand new gibson les paul would be imposible to tune once the intination was set up, and if this an easy fix or that's just the way it's made and you have to live with it. Can't stand to play a guitar that was just tuned and a bunch of frets are out of key. and yes i can hear it without the tuner telling me so-that's why i checked this in the first place!!!! Thanks guys
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Post by Happy Jack on Feb 16, 2010 3:18:54 GMT -5
yeah i realized that if you have a heavy hand you can make the notes sharper with too much pressure. Just realy asking why a brand new gibson les paul would be imposible to tune once the intination was set up, and if this an easy fix or that's just the way it's made and you have to live with it. Can't stand to play a guitar that was just tuned and a bunch of frets are out of key. and yes i can hear it without the tuner telling me so-that's why i checked this in the first place!!!! Thanks guys In agrrement with Whisky Hotel Strings are a good place to to start. I find with my Godin which has jumbo frets if I press to hard my notes can go sharp so it is a case of trying to have a lighter style of play. |
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Post by basementrocker on Feb 16, 2010 9:34:21 GMT -5
ok maybe it's the way I'm asking the question. I found when i was at guitar center trying out BRAND NEW les pauls with NEW STRINGS on them that many frets were out of key-no matter if i pressed as lightly as possible. I'd like to know if you guys could go up the neck on your guitars and let me know if you find frets out of tune also. I guess thats why famous guitarists search for thier prized guitars, maybe to find one where all the frets are in tune.
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Post by Happy Jack on Feb 16, 2010 9:58:17 GMT -5
I get your point about the new guitars All my guitars are in tune at every fret if played without putting undue pressure on the strings. When I say in tune they may be very slightly out by the tuner but not to the ear. The only guitar I did have this problem with was a Schecter PT which was awful out of the box but after a full set up (including a fret dress) it was fine Maybe the guitars at guitar centre have not been set up and intonated properly - dunno  |
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Post by basementrocker on Feb 16, 2010 10:42:05 GMT -5
ok thanks for the help. the problem is that i have a gibson goldtop traditional pro on order. am very worried that i will have that problem when it arrives. guess i will find out in 60 days when it comes in.
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Post by pwfirst on Feb 16, 2010 10:44:04 GMT -5
The answer to your problem is easy, go fretless. I agree with everyone else, Strings- possible, pressure on the strings- very likely, not centering your strings when pushed down- very likely. and the action may be set a little too high. I had a guitar with similar problems ( open cords were off some) and my lutheir adjusted the nut and that fixed my problems. But with basses you probably can't hear the difference. Phil
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