Intonation confusion

darthplagis · #1 12-06-2006, 08:36 AM

hi i have just got a bass (its only a cheapo but a nice cheapo) from ebay you may of seen the thread in bass forum.

what im confu8sed about is bo matter what i do to the intonation (forward or back) it has no effect, to add insult to injury its on ALL strings AND it seems like i have 13 frets per string octave??

its a semi les paul style with a fender style bridge (its straight from distributor so still in packaging ie not a display model) could it be that the scale is wrong? like the brige set too far forward?

any help would be MOST appreciated

RareBear · #2 12-06-2006, 08:52 AM

Are you using an electronic tuner to see if the notes are sharp or flat at the 12th fret? If you're doing it only by ear, your ear might not be as trustworthy as you think perhaps. No offense but a legit question.

floopy · #3 12-06-2006, 08:55 AM

Get out the measuring tape and check the distance from the nut to the 12th fret - double that distance will give the intended scale of the bass.

Then check the distance from the nut to the bridge saddles. It's very unlikely the bridge is in the wrong place especially given it's a new bass.

Blueszilla · #4 12-06-2006, 08:59 AM

If the bridge is too far forward, the 12th fret notes would all be sharp. If you move the saddles as far back as possible, and the 12th fret notes are all still sharp, that could be true.

darthplagis · #5 12-06-2006, 09:07 AM

yep im using the tuner on my zoom G9.2tt (and my bass pod for camparison) its around the 5 or 6th fret all the notes repeat.

when i move the saddles NOTHING happens, nothing at all i have NEVER seen this on a guitar before (its not saddle height either as i raised them too so the string break point was ok)

im lookin for my tape now hehe will let you know

16" nut to 12th. 17 1/2" 12th to saddles. measures 34" nut to saddles
damn cheap guitars/basses

floopy · #6 12-06-2006, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darthplagis

16" nut to 12th. 17 1/2" 12th to saddles. measures 34" nut to saddles
damn cheap guitars/basses

Crazy - you have a 32" scale bass with the bridge set for a 34"

Money back time . . .

I just looked at the pic you posted in the other thread, and what do you know, the bridge is in the wrong position in the pic too - those guys must have the worst quality control on the planet

What a bummer, hope you get a refund OK.

darthplagis · #7 12-06-2006, 09:44 AM

i should do but i REALLY LIKE the bass, i could just get the bridge moved up a few inches couldnt i?

in the ebay ad it says its a 34" so i was thinking great its not short or medium scale, as its a semi i cant really tell (ive tried tapping but i'll try again later) if there is wood enough under for a 32" mod.

when i put the flatwounds on it sounds lush deep and wide but the scale is totally wrong!

floopy · #8 12-06-2006, 09:57 AM

I've never had a hollow body bass so I don't know how much wood is required to keep a bridge secure.

You might be lucky . . . thing is, when they can't get the neck to match the body, what else are you gonna find? And if you mess with it, no refund . . . good luck either way.

darthplagis · #9 12-06-2006, 10:11 AM

well i just tapped the body and stuck my finger inside the F hole, its only the bass side that is routed and the treble is chambered too (like a florentine les paul or a thinline tele).

so the bridge move is possible just its gonna cost (prob the same as i payed for the bass £111). i thought it was too good to be true when i saw it, just a bit narced that i'll have 4 holes in the top of the body when its such a nice maple top.

i havent found ANYTHING wrong bar the bridge and im a stickler for defects (ok there is a few tiny splashes, more a few little particles of dark paint in the light of the burst but you have to look hard to see) other than generous routs for pickups, i would be re potting soon any way so the pots aint a prob. the pickups are nice and clear with very strong output for passsive. all screws are nice and tight and the beck joint is sweet too.

overall im impressed but the damn bridge

ok i'm waiting to hear back from shop, gonna try to get half back (say £50) due to repair costs, then just move bridge up an inch and a bit so the saddles are in the 32" sweet spot. then get a plain jazz ashtray cover to pop over the bridge and cover up the mess (its really to hide the screw holes and keep a good lookin bass lookin good) if that fails i'll get a townshend style sticker (6) made to go over the screw holes, or get my dremmel out and do a zemaitis style inlay over the holes hehe

darthplagis · #10 12-07-2006, 06:09 AM

sorry for double post, just thought i would keep anyvody that was interested updated

ok so i measured up got out hand drill and moved the bridge up 2 inches....... TADA it worked like a charm.

bottom end is great, open but controlled, bridge pickup is like a jazz on steroids with loads of grunt (sorta like flea on new chillis album, but flats could be doing that).

intonation popped straight in with only minor twaeking needed.

the only bad thing is the 4 holes are visable (not from afar) and the earth wire is obvious as its black on a tobacco burst 2" long