Intonation- Saddle goes no further

[Zolbol]

O great fountain o knowledge help please..

Ibanez Roadgear 5'er..

Just installed some Chromes and wonderful strings just got an intonation issue.

I get all strings to intonate fine all except the B string and the B saddle cant go any further back - the string is too thick?? and anyway i am pretty close to bottoming out..

Am i going mad or have i done something wrong..

Anybody else have a similar issue - what can i do to sort this out.

Many thanks bassers!!

[T-Bird]

Hi.

You haven't gone mad, probably .


Three options I can think of:

1# Fiddle with the relief and string height to reach a passable compromise.

2# Switch to a taper winding or exposed core B.

3# Move the bridge 5-10mm back.

Regards
Sam

[Zolbol]

Lol probably

Thanks T-bird - I've fiddled with the relief a bit but hasn't helped much...

Exposed core??

Moving the bridge woudl entail?? Loosening it and then is it like on a slot?? Hmm must have a look - that would be the answer...

Thanks Tbird gonna check it out now

[Tusec]

Exposed core strings:



Anybody try these? Any noticeable benefit them other than maybe solving intonation problems like the OP's?

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bass-plac...ook-right.html

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Originally Posted by Zolbol

Lol probably

Thanks T-bird - I've fiddled with the relief a bit but hasn't helped much...

Exposed core??

Moving the bridge woudl entail?? Loosening it and then is it like on a slot?? Hmm must have a look - that would be the answer...

Thanks Tbird gonna check it out now

You're welcome Zolbol.

Well Tusec covered the exposed core string pic, thanks.

As for moving the bridge, that unfortunately means screwing the entire bridge off and relocating it further back. That will give more ajustment, but also it means drilling a few pilot holes, possibly leaving a few holes exposed on the front edge of the bridge, etc. When I strung an old Ibanez SR something BEAD, I had to do just that.
Just make sure that You have enough saddle travel on the G string if you decide to relocate the bridge.


Exposed cores or tapered windings on saddle end help on the saddle/string contact, witness point and break angle. On the 6er I strung F#BEADG the difference was only about 1.5mm on the B string, so barely noticeable but it's there. The cheapo monorails that bass has, made the intonating a breeze as they can be used either toploaded or through body (which was the original way).

Edit:Taperwound/exposed core also make filing of the saddle slots usually unnecessary when going for heavier gauge strings.

Regards
Sam

[Zooberwerx]

Originally Posted by Tusec

Exposed core strings:



Anybody try these? Any noticeable benefit them other than maybe solving intonation problems like the OP's?

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/bass-plac...ook-right.html

Conventional wisdom: intonation of tapered strings ('specially the B) require thes string saddles to be jacked forward a bit. May solve the problem.

I had a similar situation with an E on a Warwick Streamer whereas the spring bottomed-out before intonation was spot-on. I just removed the spring, snipped it in half, and replaced it. Allowed the saddle some addt'l travel which did the trick. Word of caution: make sure you've eliminated all the other variables (set your witness points, etc.) before attempting surgery.

Riis

[202dy]

The problem is not the bridge, nor is it the saddle. Look first to the string. Then to the nut.

Check the string. Does it curve gently, almost gracefully, over the saddle and through the nut? If so, press down on the string at those places to remove the curve. This is called establishing a witness point.

If this procedure is not necessary or does not bring the intonation into line then the problem resides at the nut. The string should be stop at the bridge end of the nut. If top dead center is in the middle or at the headstock end of the nut the scale is lengthened and there will not be enough travel in the adjustment screw to allow for proper intonation. The slot must be adjusted so the break point is at the leading edge. Typically, a nut file is employed to create a small slope toward the tuning peg in the bottom of the slot.

The procedure is simple enough. However, care must be taken not to lower the leading edge of the slot. If the nut height is low and easy to play it only takes a few strokes with the file to destroy the nut.

[Zolbol]

Unreal - this site never ceases to blow my mind...202dy you are spot on dude... Witness points eh - thank you very much.. never heard about them before but just established "witness points" on all the strings and wouldn't ya know it.. Moved the saddle on the B forward a bit beforehand and tweak tweak - got her intonation spot on sweet man..

Jeez thanks again.. Was starting to fret about pulling out the drill and making some new pilot holes and all that... Bonus!!!

Just another quick one - anyone know why exposed core strings intonate easier?? I mean whats the diffs if the cores exposed or not??

Talkbass for the WIN!!!

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by Zolbol

Just another quick one - anyone know why exposed core strings intonate easier?? I mean whats the diffs if the cores exposed or not??

A fully wound string is stiffer where it crosses the bridge than the thinner exposed-core types. Because of that the string doesn't vibrate as freely close to the bridge or nut, making the effective length of the string shorter than it's measured length. Shorter means higher pitched. Thus you need to move the saddles further from the nut to get proper intonation.

Hope that's clear to all.

[Zolbol]

Thanks Turnaround - makes sense - many thanks...

And thanks to all you guys - i am super chuffed that my intonation issue that i was seriously gettin despondent about was sorted in literally 3 minutes...

Now got brand new set o chromes on my axe - intonation is hundreds - and a brand new Hyrdrive 115 - Some earth is gonna move.. Woo hoo

Thanks ppl.