Intonation question.

chasegriff · #1 02-27-2009, 12:28 AM

Question for someone with a quick answer.

I play in two bands, one tunes standard, and one tunes to C#. Is there a happy medium I can intonate my Jazz bass to? Or do I have to just pick one or the other? I wish I had two basses for each, but I don't.

Thanks in advance.

fivestringgecko · #2 02-27-2009, 12:31 AM

Quick answer: 5-string

(assuming you're talking about tuning down a 4-string)

5sg.

chasegriff · #3 02-27-2009, 12:33 AM

Haha, yes it's a 4-string jazz bass.

fivestringgecko · #4 02-27-2009, 12:35 AM

Wait a second... are you talking intonation or tuning? Because those are two very different things.

I'll assume you're talking tuning.

Another easy answer would be a Hipshot detuner... you could tune down a string (or all four if you put one on each string) with a flip of a switch.

5sg.

chasegriff · #5 02-27-2009, 12:36 AM

No, i'm talking about intonation.

Fred19137 · #6 02-27-2009, 12:37 AM

well tuning down should not be too big of a problem as long as u retune to e after your done. I would efinately invest in a 5 string.

chasegriff · #7 02-27-2009, 12:41 AM

How about if I intonated it to C# and tuned up to E occasionally? The band that tunes to C# is my primary band. But about once or twice a week I practice/gig with my other band that tunes to E.

Fred19137 · #8 02-27-2009, 12:46 AM

yeah this repetition of intonation is freaking me out. let's look up the definition of intonation....the manner of producing musical tones, specifically the relation in pitch of tones to their key or harmony curtesy of dictionary.com. Well i would say the best thing if you dont want to be changing your tuning so much is to invest in a 5 string.

fivestringgecko · #9 02-27-2009, 12:49 AM

I'm pretty sure you're talking about changing tuning.

Intonation refers to how accurate pitch is along the length of the fretboard, tuning refers to the note a string is tuned to. Changing intonation refers to changing the physical length of the string (moving the bridge saddles forward or backward) while changing the tuning refers to changing the standard tuning to C# (with the tuners at the headstock).

This leads to the point I'm going to make in answer to your question: if you change your standard tuning to C#, it will change the tension on your strings, which could affect your neck. If you're only changing the tuning on one string, you probably won't have too much trouble, but it could require a slight adjustment of the truss rod and action if you leave it tuned down for an extended period.

Really, if you don't want to hassle with retuning, a 5-string really would be your easiest answer. You wouldn't have to mess with it at all.

5sg.

mccak287 · #10 02-27-2009, 01:00 AM

Shoot me if I'm wrong but it seems like he's talking about setting the intonation on the bass for the different tunings. If you play more in the C# I'd say set it for that but I've found that in the bands that I've played in lowered tunings (as far down as C across) that having precise intonation settings didn't really matter cause the tension on the strings were so low that the pitch fluctuated slightly anyway. I hope that helped a little bit

chasegriff · #11 02-27-2009, 01:00 AM

Thanks for the useful information. I'm really not a 5-string guy, unfortunately. So it sounds like I either get it set up for E and tune down, or buy another bass, correct?

fivestringgecko · #12 02-27-2009, 01:05 AM

Hmm, good point, mccak. In that case, I would personally set up the intonation for whichever tuning you're going to use more (in this case C#) and go with that if you're going to stick with one bass.

If you were to buy a second 4-string, that would definitely solve your question as well... one bass for E, one for C#.

5sg.

chasegriff · #13 02-27-2009, 01:12 AM

I think he might be saying it doesnt matter what I intonate it to, because the tuning is so low. If I read right.

fivestringgecko · #14 02-27-2009, 01:13 AM

He's probably right, but I wouldn't know for sure... I've never had to tune down to C# since I play 5+ strings.

5sg.

deaf pea · #15 02-27-2009, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasegriff

Question for someone with a quick answer.

I play in two bands, one tunes standard, and one tunes to C#. Is there a happy medium I can intonate my Jazz bass to? Or do I have to just pick one or the other?...

No, there isn't a "happy medium", sorry . . . to get your Jbass to work good for the down-tuned band you probably should use heavier-than-normal strings, with the truss rod and intonation set to suit YOU and your playing. But THAT instument with THOSE strings and THAT set-up wouldn't work at all good tuned to EADG!

Quote:

Originally Posted by chasegriff

...I wish I had two basses for each, but I don't...

But you WILL need at least one other bass adjusted to work good FOR YOU tuned EADG . . .

chasegriff · #16 02-27-2009, 01:20 AM

What are the consequences for intonation to E and tuning down to C#?

MooseLumps · #17 02-27-2009, 01:44 AM

with standard gauge strings, your fretted notes will be slightly off all along the board. With heavier gauge strings you wont pull as sharp fretting and you will retain a very slight advantage. I will be devil's advocate and say that if you are going to use one bass and tune between the two, intone halfway between. You will be closer all along the board in either tuning, but perfect in neither.
Ideally you would have two basses with completely different setups for this kind of gig. If you like jazzes and have 150 bucks to spend, get an Essex (SX).

Also, with a large difference in tuning, your neck relief will be effected. have fun with fret buzz.

hope this helps