fretless intonation problem

ddsjjlannom · #1 08-19-2008, 03:54 PM

my jazz bass is great, but i can`t get the intonation to line up with the middle of the fret. the bass originaly had a fretted neck but was later swithed to fretless. i adjusted the saddles thinking it would be an easy fix, but the saddles were not long enough to correct the problem. i just ordered a new leo quan 3 bridge hoping that would be the solution, being that it has the longest saddles. do you guys think this will work? thanks!

cmewhinney · #2 08-19-2008, 04:05 PM

I might be misunderstanding you, but it sounds like you are trying to finger the fretless bass in exactly the same way as you would finger a fretted bass. On a fretless, your finger is actually replacing the fret as the point where the string stops vibrating, so in order to play in tune, it has to be in exactly the same place as the fret would have been.

Sorry if I misunderstood you! If I didn't, don't feel bad- I did exactly the same thing the first time I picked up a fretless!

ddsjjlannom · #3 08-19-2008, 04:47 PM

so i should set the intonation on the sharp end of the fret line and play directly on the fret? that is how i have the intonation set at this time.

hey · #4 08-19-2008, 05:01 PM

Yes, on a lined fretless bass, you place your fingers on the fretlines, NOT between them.

Bofee · #5 08-19-2008, 05:16 PM

On it, or just behind it, or just ahead of it, where ever yields the pitch you want.

ddsjjlannom · #6 08-19-2008, 05:44 PM

thanks guys! i have been reading other post regarding this issue and i`ve found that this has been a common problem. i was expecting to be able to play in tune right in the middle of the fret. but dah! your finger is the fret! i`m sorry it took me this long to figure it out. but i am glad that i had it set up right (even if i thought it was wrong)with the fret line. thanks again!