Misplaced frets maybe?

[GianGian]

Hey
I have a cheap bass that sounds fine until I try to play high on the neck on the E string. It won't get proper intonation. I have done everything. Changed strings, tried to adjust the saddles.
I am thinking about making it a fretless. Does anybody has any idea of another reason that could be causing this problem? I am blaming the frets, that's why I want to take them away.

[SMILEYSIXX]

You're not intonating properly. I highly doubt it's a misplaced fret.

[michaeln]

I agree it's probably not set up for proper intonation. Cheap / worn out strings can also show poor intonation, as can very high action.

[SMILEYSIXX]

Take it to a shop and see what they say. I think the problem's with the craftsman, not the tool. Change the strings, adjust the action, adjust the trussrod, whatever it is, I doubt it's a misplaced fret.

[walterw]

high action, especially at the nut, can throw off intonation.

also, make a point of pressing the strings down on both sides of the nut and the saddle contact points, so that you get a perfectly straight string along its vibrating length. otherwise, the curve at each end will also throw off intonation.

[ehque]

Many things can cause bad intonation.

A misplaced (gap between nut and fretboard) nut
Nut cut too high (very common on cheap instruments)
Miscut nut (flat instead of angled to a sharp witness point)
Bad witness points (press behind and in front of the nut and bridge to fix)
Excessive neck relief
Excessively high bridge saddles

The above are far more common than badly placed frets on cheap instruments, IMHO.

[GeoffByrne]

Check that the nut>12th fret distance is the same as the 12th>bridge (on the G string).

I worked on something like this & in the end it turned out it was a 19 fret neck on a body intended for 20 frets.

Low down everything was fine, but it was well out by the time you got above the 9th fret & there was nothing that would change that - except change the neck or move the bridge.

If someone previous has slapped any old neck on to fix a bow, then this could be the result.

[GianGian]

Thanks people. I will try harder to get the intonation right. I will also check the distances.