Notes Sharp Up Neck

[MrSexy]

I've been away from playing for a while, and I'm trying to get back into it now. I picked up my bass today, tuned up, and noticed that on my E string, if I tune it correctly, all the notes on the neck are sharp. 5th fret plays A#, 7th plays B# etc. What could be causing this, and how can I fix it? Thanks!

[Downlowd]

It sounds like you need to set the intonation at the bridge. Check this thread for a complete tutorial on how to setup your bass

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

[bassbrock]

Originally Posted by Downlowd

It sounds like you need to set the intonation at the bridge. Check this thread for a complete tutorial on how to setup your bass

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

+1

Basically your bridge saddles are either too long or too short, changing the length of the string causing to be sharp or flat when fretted.

[electracoyote]

How high is your action? In addition to an intonation check, if your action is way up there, fretted notes will go sharp, and it will be more pronounced as you go up the neck.

[MrSexy]

I don't know what's going on. I tried adjusting both the intonation and the action, and nothing did any difference. I was loosening the screw on the E string until it was almost out, and there was no difference whatsoever in the notes.

[Fishheadjoe]

How old are the strings? A new set might help?
Fishheadjoe

[Rickett Customs]

By chance was this bass new? Was It built from parts? Details man, Details.....

[billoetjen]

Curious, I'm going to watch this thread and hear what's up.

PS - I never tune to open strings. Because intonation is always slightly off, and because tuning changes with playing, and because I *almost* never play an open note, I always tune to the fifth fret position.

[XephonXIII]

Originally Posted by Fishheadjoe

How old are the strings? A new set might help?
Fishheadjoe

+1

My old Fender flatwounds went out of intonation after a few months. I'm sure the same can happen to rounds after a while too.

[MrSexy]

Strings are maybe 2 months or so old, set of D'addario mediums. Bass is a Samick Artist Series bass I bought for 200 or so off of Ebay last year. It's never really given me problems until now.

[JTE]

Originally Posted by MrSexy

I don't know what's going on. I tried adjusting both the intonation and the action, and nothing did any difference. I was loosening the screw on the E string until it was almost out, and there was no difference whatsoever in the notes.

... loosening the screw on the E string until it was almost out". Was the SADDLE moving? If the saddle moved, the intonation had to change. If the screw was moving, but the saddle wasn't (i.e. the screw just backed out of the bridge) then nothing would change.

Is that what's going on here?

John

[MrSexy]

Originally Posted by JTE

... loosening the screw on the E string until it was almost out". Was the SADDLE moving? If the saddle moved, the intonation had to change. If the screw was moving, but the saddle wasn't (i.e. the screw just backed out of the bridge) then nothing would change.

Is that what's going on here?

John

Yes. I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I have no idea about setting my bass up. What can I do to fix that?

[billoetjen]

Originally Posted by JTE

... loosening the screw on the E string until it was almost out". Was the SADDLE moving? If the saddle moved, the intonation had to change. If the screw was moving, but the saddle wasn't (i.e. the screw just backed out of the bridge) then nothing would change.

Is that what's going on here?

John

Yeah, you gotta put some slack in the string or it just holds the saddle in place.... I think. Somebody correct me here.

[bassbrock]

Originally Posted by MrSexy

Yes. I'm kind of ashamed to admit that I have no idea about setting my bass up. What can I do to fix that?

Downlowd's first reply is your best bet for a tutorial on how to setup your bass:

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

[lug]

Fret the 12th fret and compare it to "ringing" the string above the 12th fret. If the fretted note is sharp, the saddle needs to be moved back toward the back of the bridge and vice-versa. To do this, you need to loosen the string a bit, adjust, then re-tune and do it over again. When the ringing string and the fretted 12th are the same, you are there as far as saddle position. Extreme string height will throw this off a bit. For that, see the setup guide.

[BigOldHarry]

Originally Posted by Downlowd

It sounds like you need to set the intonation at the bridge. Check this thread for a complete tutorial on how to setup your bass

ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

Yup.

If you're not comfortable doing this, take it to a tech- it's a pretty normal thing.

[MrSexy]

Originally Posted by BigOldHarry

Yup.

If you're not comfortable doing this, take it to a tech- it's a pretty normal thing.

I wish I could. College student. Broke as hell while looking for a job.

Anywho, I finally got the saddle to move, and got that fixed, but now I'm having a different (unrelated) problem. I went through and set the intonation on all the string, but now my G string won't stay in the nut. It keeps popping out and off to the side of the fretboard.

[dmusic148]

Rewind the string so it sits lower on the peghead. This makes it push down harder at the nut.

[MrSexy]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

Rewind the string so it sits lower on the peghead. This makes it push down harder at the nut.

I just tried that about 3 or 4 times, and every time it happens. I can hold it in the nut and tune it, but once I try to play it it slips off the nut again

[BassikLee]

Do you have it on the correct side of the tuner post???