Intonation ??????

[bluesquidd]

I've been setting up my own basses and intonating them for years, so I have a pretty good idea about settup.
Two things: 1. I just bought an EB MM Stingray 5 that came with the new offset nut that's supposed to help intonate better. On the EB website, he says to intonate, check the harmonic to the 12th Fret. That's how I've been doing it all along. Then, he says that if you play much past the 12 fret, check the intonation at the 19th fret. Well, it's in tune at the 12th fret but a little sharp at the 19th. The neck is set. There is no back bow. But it sounds in tune when I play 5ths up the neck on the D and G string or when I play chords or 10th like an open D and the F# on the 11th Fret of the G string. So I don't think I'm going to mess with it.
2. On my Ken Smith BSR-M 5 string, same thing: the neck is set to their measurements , holding the 1st and last fret and use a business card or feeler gauge at the 8th fret. My problen is: when I play a G 10th (3rd fret of the E string and the 4th on the G string), or a F 10th, it sounds out of tune and I have to bend the E string sharp for it to be in tune. It's not majorly out, but still. This only happens on the notes from the 3rd fret down. Is this something the Buzz Feiten system comes in handy?
Also, I talked to someone who said the check every note on the fretboard to set if it's in tune when intonated. Is their any other tips for checking the intonation besides matching the harmonic to the 12th and the note.

[Foamy]

I don't think that you can intonate where the note is perfect at every fret unless the frets are perfect. As far as I consider it, setting intonation is somewhat of a compromise somewhere, right?
Maybe I'll get flamed for that, but to me, it seems that setting the intonation is trying to compromise for string stretching (while fretting a note) that causes geometry changes, and the frets not being "perfect".
I think what EB was trying to say was that if you play higher, then check your intonation higher because that's where it needs to be most accurate. (Maybe) most of us play a lot lower on the fingerboard, and don't need it any more accurate beeyond 12?
OK, I'm ready to be flamed - so be it.
:-)

[bluesquidd]

I Agree, I think that there is a compromise in the intonation process. I've read an article on Alex Lifeson where he said that you can't perfectly intonate a guitar. Like I mentioned in the previous thread, Is the Buzz Feiton supposed to be the remody for that?
True though, about 75% of the time I play below the 12th fret in a band context, but... I'm in an instrumental Jazz/Rock Trio and I do alot of chordal and soloing so that's why I've been curious about this subject.

[PilbaraBass]

Originally Posted by bluesquidd

I Agree, I think that there is a compromise in the intonation process. I've read an article on Alex Lifeson where he said that you can't perfectly intonate a guitar. Like I mentioned in the previous thread, Is the Buzz Feiton supposed to be the remody for that?
True though, about 75% of the time I play below the 12th fret in a band context, but... I'm in an instrumental Jazz/Rock Trio and I do allot of chordal and soloing so that's why I've been curious about this subject.

Buzz Feiton is about equal temperment tuning...not EXACT tuning...

the offset nut helps on the open notes, but once you put your fingers down on the first fret...guess what?...yep, that's right!....it's the same as any other bass...

set your instrument up for the 12th fret using the tuner...and then using your EAR, tweak it a tad flat (slide bridge back) if you need more on the higher frets...use the tuner first, but then trust your ear...

too many bassists out there these days relying on lights and gizmos and not training their own senses...

after all, it's not whether it really IS in tune, is it? it's whether it sounds good...that's what equal temperament is all about!

[jeffhigh]

Actually, where the offset nut helps is on the first few fretted notes which tend to be a bit sharp.
By reducing the distance from nut to fret slightly from the formula distance, this sharpness is eliminated.