Changing intonation problem

Timebutt · #1 09-13-2006, 10:05 AM

Recently I changed my strings and I suddenly noticed that when I started playing high up the neck, the notes would sound very sharp, very out of tune. So I decided to check the internet and see if I could change the intonation on my bass myself (I could also bring it into the guitar shop and have them set it up correctly, but I want to learn to do that sort of things myself, and it's cheaper too

).

I went through some tutorials and they all said I have to move the saddles of my bridge away from the pickups. But when I used a screwdriver to move the saddles away, the saddles staid in place and the screw was moving out of the saddles!
Now it got me confused, the question is: am I trying to move the saddles the wrong way and am I using the wrong technique, or am I doing something else wrong? I added some pictures of my bridge, perhaps somebody could tell me just what screws I have to use to move the saddles on my bridge? All help will really be appreciated.

Thank you,
Timebutt

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Timebutt · #2 09-13-2006, 01:01 PM

Thanks for the reply, I have loosened the string, but the problem is: I can't actually move the saddles, all that seems to happen is the screw moving out of the saddle. The intonation has improved however, but on my tuner it is still 2dots off (= very audible difference). I have added images to illustrate.
If I would further loosen the string, I would simply move the screw out of the saddle, which wouldn't be the best thing I guess.

I don't know what I can do to further improve the intonation?

Picture 1

Picture 2

Thank you

Timebutt · #3 09-13-2006, 01:16 PM

Maybe I misunderstood you previous time, by loosening the string, do you mean loosen the string by using the tuning knobs or by using the screw?
Perhaps you mean that I should loosen the string (= detune it) so that I have room to move the saddle?

Thanks for the help!

reddogbass · #4 09-13-2006, 02:48 PM

After loosening strings (de-tune) the saddles will slide back by turning the screws clock-wise. They are right hand thread. Just pretend the saddles are a nut (which is all they really are). "Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey."

Mo' bass · #5 09-13-2006, 03:15 PM

All good advice here. By the way, if the screw is coming out of the sadle it means that the saddles will move towards the pickups instead of away from them... So you need to tighten the screws instead of loosening them. Good luck!

Timebutt · #6 09-14-2006, 09:55 AM

Thank you very much for all the advice given here, I have tried it and everything worked out great! My bass is back in perfect tone, making it a dream to play with it.
One more thing I have learned, but there is always so much more about bass to be discovered

Thank you again.

kiwlm · #7 10-30-2009, 03:50 AM

I just tried my first shot at adjusting intonation at my bass. When the screw came out at the back like yours, I just pushed it back into the saddle and make the string shorter, I guess the spring should be doing that but my bass is 6 years old so I guess the spring is not working as it should! Isn't it wrong to have the screw sticking out of the saddle like in foto4 and foto5??

However, the fretted 12th still sounded (I used a tuner) flat compared to the harmonic even though I have shortened the string at the maximum! Will try again tonight, any other tips?

ehque · #8 10-30-2009, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwlm

I just tried my first shot at adjusting intonation at my bass. When the screw came out at the back like yours, I just pushed it back into the saddle and make the string shorter, I guess the spring should be doing that but my bass is 6 years old so I guess the spring is not working as it should! Isn't it wrong to have the screw sticking out of the saddle like in foto4 and foto5??

However, the fretted 12th still sounded (I used a tuner) flat compared to the harmonic even though I have shortened the string at the maximum! Will try again tonight, any other tips?

The screws should be flush against the plate. The springs will push the saddle into the correct position, but only if you have loosened your strings (and you shouldn't be adjusting your intonation without loosening them anyway)

If your intonation adjustment screw is maxed out, there are a few options available to you. Change the string, to see if its a problem with a bad string, raise your action, so fretting the bass stretches the string more, or replace the screw with a longer one. Just make sure your saddle's still on the baseplate and not on the finish when you are done.

kiwlm · #9 10-30-2009, 05:49 AM

bah, no wonder I am running out of screws in the E string, I interpreted it wrongly, from fender.com:

Quote:

Check each string at the 12th fret, harmonic to fretted note (make sure you are depressing the string evenly to the fret, not the fingerboard). If sharp, lengthen the string by adjusting the saddle back. If flat, shorten the string by moving the saddle forward.

I thought the sharp and flat reference is supposed to be for the "harmonic" since harmonic came first! Now I know it is for the fretted note. Nothing beats trial and error! Now my bass is properly intonated, thanks!