How do you have your intonation set? WHere you put finger?

Demon · #1 06-10-2006, 02:37 PM

How do you guys set the intonation on a fretless? Where do you put the finger to play the note? Inbetween fretmarks or on them?

Jazzin' · #2 06-10-2006, 02:43 PM

For a fretted bass, you should put your finger between the frets, but closer to the fret whish is closer to the bridge.

For a fretless, you should put your finger pretty much directly on the line, or where ever you get the best intonation for that note.

Demon · #3 06-10-2006, 02:49 PM

But i thot you set the intonation for where to put the finger? and im talking fretless=)

Jazzin' · #4 06-10-2006, 02:52 PM

You should set it so that putting your finger directly on a line (actually, it's a little bit to the left. It's so the string starts to vibrate from the line) will get you the exact note.

Demon · #5 06-10-2006, 02:56 PM

Oh, so it should be on the line^^? What about an unlined then lol=P how do you know how to set it?

smidgley · #6 06-10-2006, 03:59 PM

Actually, it changes depending where on the neck you're playing. See http://www.garywillis.com/pages/bass...tonation4.html

pkr2 · #7 06-11-2006, 07:21 AM

Trying to set the "intonation" on a fretless is pretty useless.
With a fretted bass the frets are the witness points for each note. For intonation to be of any use , the witness point has to be exactly the same each time a note is played.

On a fretless, the witness point is hidden under the finger tip. Also, when the noting pressure is increased or decreased the witness point changes even when the finger tip is in the exact same position because the finger tip pad changes in size.

Notice that on an URB, cello or violin that there is no means of intonation adjustment.

Just make sure that the string length is exactly right by measuring from the nut to the 12th fret line and doubling that measurement.

Hullaballoo · #8 06-11-2006, 09:38 AM

Play the harmonic at the 12th fret, then push your finger down without changing the position on the string. That gives you a reference - ie if the note at the 12th fret is sharp compared to the harmonic, then the string length is too short and the saddle needs to moved further from the nut, and vice versa. You'll find that you can play the harmonic over a small range of the string above the 12th fret - you can try playing the harmonic and then the note with something thin, like a credit card, or just play the harmonic in the middle of the area where it will ring out, then play the note at 12th wihout changing the finger's position on the string. As stated above, it doesn't have to be super-crtical, but it is nice to get it as close as you can. If you've got a lined fretless, the what it says on the Gary Willis site applies ie as you go up and down the neck you;ll have to place your finger either closer to or further from the lines as necessary to get the correct note.