Did you guys already know this?

[ggunn]

I put a new set of strings on my Epic 5, and I couldn't get the intonation set on my B string. Even with the saddle all the way back (flat), the fretted note at the 12th fret was nearly a quarter tone sharp of the chimed octave. When I played up the neck on the B string it was very noticeably out of tune.

Some posting over on the Alembic forum sparked a discussion on the stiffness of strings, and from that I came up with the idea of bending the B string sharply over the bridge saddle. Problem solved. Apparently, some strings are so stiff that they resist the bend over the saddle to the point that the effective end of the string is significantly "nutward" of the saddle.

That's a new one on me.

[jtc_hunter]

Thanks, i will try that

[snyderz]

Old trick. Glad you learned it, and posted it.

My bass instructor taught me that- little known trick with professionals- he recommends doing it with every new set of strings. This way your bass won't go out of tune every couple tunes when you first put strings on.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I did that just last night, so I guess I did know that! It's a good little bit of information though.

[FunkMetalBass]

This was just in another thread this week.

I always do that and stretch my strings out in 3 or 4 different places to make sure they don't slip tunings.

[mongo2]

Originally Posted by ggunn

Some posting over on the Alembic forum sparked a discussion on the stiffness of strings, and from that I came up with the idea of bending the B string sharply over the bridge saddle. Problem solved.

It's and old practice called "setting the witness point."

I also do it at the nut.

[GregDunn]

Probably the thread I started. Yes, it worked surprisingly well in the exact situation you describe.

[chrisbass0013]

learn something new everyday

[Sam Hain]

I'm kind of confused and think I'm missing something. Could someone translate this from English into moron so I understand what's being talked about?

I undersstand the tuning is a 1/4 sharp but I am not getting as to the why and the fix.

[Smallmouth_Bass]

The string is stiff and doesn't quite sit properly over the bridge saddle causing the above mentioned problem. If you help it with a gentle bend at that point, it fixes the problem.

[Sam Hain]

Originally Posted by Smallmouth_Bass

The string is stiff and doesn't quite sit properly over the bridge saddle causing the above mentioned problem. If you help it with a gentle bend at that point, it fixes the problem.

Ahh...thanks!

[Coke Kane]

Wow, thanks! My 4th and 5th string saddle on one of my bass is always pulled back further than all the other saddles, looked ackward. Definitely an eye-opening observation. Thanks again.

[neptoon]

greg curbow told me that trick about 10 or 12 years ago...that was one of his big things...when tuning a new set of strings to pitch, i will press the string down over the saddle of it has had some time to stretch

[chicago_mike]

Odd, I thought this was everyday stuff. I learned this my first or second lesson. Not just the B but every string. and at the nut. you can see how high tension strings almost float or hover in the nut.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by chicago_mike

Odd, I thought this was everyday stuff. I learned this my first or second lesson. Not just the B but every string. and at the nut. you can see how high tension strings almost float or hover in the nut.

Well, see, that's the difference. You had lessons.

I did it to the rest of the strings, but it didn't make a diff in their intonation. Only the B.