Intonation

[BluesHonky]

Sup Cats, I was a guitar player until the past 12 months and due to a surplus of guitar players and shortage of Bass players in my area and age group, I converted. I bought a used but mint G&L ASAT bass and noticed the bridge had been moved forward. I sent it to G&L and ask why would someone do that to a brand new bass ? their reply was they didn't know. They were nice enough to put the bridge back in the correct location ,dress the frets, new strings and shipped her back @ no charge to me. These days Im thumpin for a southern rock band and got me a Korg dtr 2000 for my rack. I Play a G&L JB-2 for giggin love it. I decided to dial in the intonation with my new tuner and found out there is not enough forward travel in the E string to intonate properly. when I get it dialed in open and @ the 12th the adjusting screw is over 1/4 inch short and totally disengaged from the saddle. All the other strings dialed in with no problem. Also I decided to check out my Takamine acoustic which has a fixed bridge and it also is sharp at the 12th. After realizin this I know why the other cat moved the bridge forward on the ASAT Bass. Am I lacking basic knoweledge of the Bass guitar and missin something very key here ? This is my 1st posting here and I'm very glad to have found this site thanks to google. Thanks in advance for any help

[slyjoe]

Welcome to talkbass - it's better over here . That's pretty cool of G&L by the way.

I don't think you're lacking basic knowledge of the bass - the only thing I can think of right off is how the strings need to be secured on a bass.

This sounds rather odd, especially with the other strings intonating properly. One thing for sure to check is the "break angle" of the E string over the nut. The string should be as low on the post as possible, with the wraps above it holding it down.

[dmusic148]

That's odd, usually the E saddle is the furthest back, not forward. Hmm. Pics?

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by slyjoe

One thing for sure to check is the "break angle" of the E string over the nut. The string should be as low on the post as possible, with the wraps above it holding it down.

+1. Good idea. If it's not real tight in the nut it could be freely vibrating all the way to the tuning peg, effectively lengthening the scale of the E string, and you are attempting to compensate for it at the bridge.EDIT: On second thought, no. That would make it go sharp at the 12th-your bass is flat. Hmm.

[202dy]

The reason G&L didn't know why someone moved the bridge is because they put the bridge in the right place when they built the guitar. Think about it. The bodies are shaped and bored on computer controlled machines. CNC doesn't often make mistakes.

The problem could be caused by a lack of down angle on the string behind the nut. There is an alternative diagnosis. It is possible that the nut may have a hump in the slot. It is critical that the string stop at the front (bridge) side of the nut. When filing the nut it is important to to keep the file flat and the slot angled back slightly toward the headstock. Sometimes, if the tech is distracted or tired, they may file in a slightly circular pattern causing a high point somewhere in the groove. The string is now stopped at that point. The remedy is to file the nut slot correctly.

1. Detune the string enough to move it out of the slot.
2. Rub a pencil in the slot.
3. Retune the string to pitch.
4. Detune the string a half step or so.
5. Repeat a few times.
6. Repeat step one.
7. If there is a hump in the slot it should be easy to see.
8. Angling the file toward the headstock, correct seat.

This problem is easily corrected. It is also responsible for more bridges being incorrectly moved forward than anything else.

[BluesHonky]

here are the links for the pictures
http://www.box.net/shared/x0yrfjo9cd
http://www.box.net/shared/qcav528jhc
Just have to add 1 more file 4 U guy's here is a tune I recently did I played all tracks except the kick and snare is an Alesis HR16 The tune is an old Son House Tune called Grinnin N Yo Face Im a Jack of all Ace of none here the link I hope U like it Thanks in advance song link : http://www.box.net/shared/jr48t9ecf0

[warnergt]

This is a really odd problem. Maybe there is something funky with that string (e.g. made for a short scale bass, manufacturing defect, etc.).

I think I would try installing new strings.

[60bass]

Originally Posted by warnergt

This is a really odd problem. Maybe there is something funky with that string (e.g. made for a short scale bass, manufacturing defect, etc.).

I think I would try installing new strings.

+1 on strings. Always suspect the string if all other things are equal.

Just for S&G, did you try "NOT" letting the E string go down sharp off of the nut? I had a P bass once that I had to run the string straight off the nut to get it to intonate properly.

The fact that somebody moved the whole bridge forward puzzles me though. If there was anything wrong with the bass, G&L would have picked up on it when you sent it back to them and let you know. About the only thing I can think of other than a string, would be that the fret spacing on the neck is off, but that's highly unlikely. Why not get a good local Luthier to have a look and see what they say.

I can't see it affecting the tone so bad that the bass would be unplayable. Hell, if you're up at the 12th fret on the E string, you're too high anyway But that's just my opinion.

Keep Low

[BluesHonky]

I have 2 G&L basses The ASAT which I sent back to the factory someone had moved the bridge forward on a basically new instrument everyone was completely puzzled. G&L put it back to factory spec for free on an 8 year old instrument for the 2nd owner. U got to call that goin above and beyond. Just now I bought me a Korg DTR2000 tuner and was playin with it and decided to intonate my G&L Jazz JB 2 which is pictured and found that it intonates opposite to what U would think. Like the ASAT if the bridge was moved forward the adjustment screw would still be connected to the saddle. To solve my problem Im gonna get a new screw which is longer to secure the saddle and call it done. At it's present forward position it is dead on E open and @ 12 I never checked the factory repair of the ASAT bass to see if it intonated correctly after they repaired it. Strange Huh ?