Is it possible to be out of tune and fool two tuners?

[WH0EVER]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question so move as needed, but I'm very confused.
I'm still pretty new to the bass and my ear isn't very good, but it sounds like the A string on my bass is out of tune. For some reason when I use my tuners to try to tune it, they say it is fine. If I play things normally they sound wrong, but if I move down a fret they sound more correct. Is this possible or am I losing my marbles? Thanks.

[MoEllis]

the intonation may be off... you might wanna go get your bass set up

[Selta]

Originally Posted by WH0EVER

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question so move as needed, but I'm very confused.
I'm still pretty new to the bass and my ear isn't very good, but it sounds like the A string on my bass is out of tune. For some reason when I use my tuners to try to tune it, they say it is fine. If I play things normally they sound wrong, but if I move down a fret they sound more correct. Is this possible or am I losing my marbles? Thanks.

Could be an odd string with some odd harmonic possibly that's driving you nuts .
What happens when you hit the 7th fret harmonic on D and the 5th fret harmonic on A? That'll tell you if you're in tune perfectly - at least string to string.

[ldervish]

Check your intonation, affected by the length of the string from nut to bridge.

Properly intonated, the string will vibrate at the correct pitch on each fret all the way up. Otherwise it can be in tune at one place on the neck and out of tune at others. It is easy to set (done via adjusting screws on the bridge) and there is probably a sticky thread that tells how to do it, or many web sites can tell you.

EDIT: sorry, Mo- didn't see your post. I'm standing right beside you.

[rarisgod]

Also, make sure to check that the frequency on your tuner is 440 Hz. I don't know if your tuner has that setting or not, but I know it can be adjusted accidentally so make sure to check that as well.
If that's all correct, then I'd check the intonation, as stated above.

EDIT: Reread your post, and you say it's only your A string? Then I wouldn't doubt it's an intonation problem, unless that's the only string you're tuning with your tuner, though I don't think you'd do that...:S

[MyUsernameHere]

Are they two of the same model tuner? Sometimes tuners just aren't that accurate. I've run into something like this using my guitarist's Korg tuner. It always told me my A string was in tune, but it would be a little sharp.

[WH0EVER]

I've tried all the things you have suggested, and they all sound funny. The strange thing is that this seemed to happen while the bass was in my hand.

[WH0EVER]

It's two different kinds of tuners but same brand. A Boss TU-2 and a TU-80. I think I have a Korg one around here somewhere and I'll try that when find it. I think I might have a tuner addiction.

[Sufenta]

Check the A string against the 5th fret E string and check the harmonics at the 5th fret A and 7th fret D. Check your tuner on the A open vs the octave 12th fret A. Those two notes should register the same if the intonation is correct. Also the new bass sound may be fooling you a bit. My Ric sometimes sounds a little out of tune just because I'm used to the tone of my Ray, Jazz, P, etc when, in fact, its dead on tune.

[WarriorJoe7]

Nope guys. He has it tuned to A sharp or A falt and his tuner shows it as A but he is not seeing the flat or sharp (or the light for that is broken.)

You are half a step off a A# or Ab. Look for the # or b light. Make sure it's not on.

[SBassman]

Get fresh strings on that bass and get it set up by someone else.

[WH0EVER]

Tried fretting the 5th fret on the E string first thing because its one of those few things I do know. It doesn't match up with the open A. The harmonics on the D and A string is interesting though. I'll just have to take my bass in next week to get a setup. Thanks for all the help. I learned something today.

[steve4765630]

Originally Posted by WarriorJoe7

Nope guys. He has it tuned to A sharp or A falt and his tuner shows it as A but he is not seeing the flat or sharp (or the light for that is broken.)

You are half a step off a A# or Ab. Look for the # or b light. Make sure it's not on.

This is the correct answer to the riddle. I stinkin' hate the TU2 because of this. I can't tell you how many times I have guys tell me that their TU2 is broken because it's tuning their guitar a half step sharp. Make sure that the microscopic sharp (#) light is not on and you'll be fine. The way you can tell if it's A sharp is if there is a little red dot right next to the A. If ther is a dot detune the string to G and move up from there. When it registers A without the little dot you're in business.

[JustDavid]

Originally Posted by WH0EVER

Tried fretting the 5th fret on the E string first thing because its one of those few things I do know. It doesn't match up with the open A. The harmonics on the D and A string is interesting though. I'll just have to take my bass in next week to get a setup. Thanks for all the help. I learned something today.

After you see how in tune you are with the E's 6th, tune the A to the E's 5th.

[WH0EVER]

Unfortunately I won't be able to check this stuff out till Sunday at the earliest because I'm home for the holiday. I'll let you know how it works out when I get back.

[Rick Auricchio]

Originally Posted by steve4765630

I can't tell you how many times I have guys tell me that their TU2 is broken because it's tuning their guitar a half step sharp.

If a bass is consistently out by more than a half-step when you take it out to use it, then something is really wrong.

My basses are almost always in tune or very close, unless I whack a tuner when pulling it out of a gig bag.

Or do those players start wildly cranking tuners before first checking the tuning?

[WarriorJoe7]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

If a bass is consistently out by more than a half-step when you take it out to use it, then something is really wrong.

My basses are almost always in tune or very close, unless I whack a tuner when pulling it out of a gig bag.

Or do those players start wildly cranking tuners before first checking the tuning?

He is still "pretty new to bass" so anything goes. heck it might have never been in tune ever.

[WH0EVER]

Originally Posted by steve4765630

This is the correct answer to the riddle. I stinkin' hate the TU2 because of this. I can't tell you how many times I have guys tell me that their TU2 is broken because it's tuning their guitar a half step sharp. Make sure that the microscopic sharp (#) light is not on and you'll be fine. The way you can tell if it's A sharp is if there is a little red dot right next to the A. If ther is a dot detune the string to G and move up from there. When it registers A without the little dot you're in business.

this is exactly what was wrong. i didnt even notice the little dot before. thanks for the info. i kindve feel like an idiot now for not noticing and questioning that.

[Craig_S]

I set my TU-2 to BASS and to use string numbers instead of note names. I never even knew there was a sharp or flat light.

[slyjoe]

Originally Posted by WH0EVER

this is exactly what was wrong. i didnt even notice the little dot before. thanks for the info. i kindve feel like an idiot now for not noticing and questioning that.

Hey, at least you fessed up and didn't go slinking off into internet anonymity.

Good job