Strange Intonation Issues

[Goat Lord]

Hello

Any help here would be greatly appreciated. I have searched the forums and found nothing that really answered my queries.

So I am in the studio recording. After we finish tracking all of the bass (and are extremely happy with the tone) We start on guitar. We start to notice that 'some' notes are out of tune.

After pulling out most of my hair, here is the issue.

34' scale 4 string bass with all Hipshot hardware. tuned to C-G-C-F with GHS Boomers (115 - 55)

on the low C and the G the open and 12th fret intonate perfectly. BUT, the first 8 frets are a painful 1/4 step sharp!!!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this may be occurring?

Needless to say, I cannot continue to track with the bass like this.

side note: my 79' Music Man has very similar issues, and is the same scale/tuning/gauge.

PLEASE HELP!!!

[JLS]

A too-high nut, possibly. Also, those gauges look pretty floppy, for tuning that low.

[251]

Originally Posted by Goat Lord

Hello

Any help here would be greatly appreciated. I have searched the forums and found nothing that really answered my queries.

So I am in the studio recording. After we finish tracking all of the bass (and are extremely happy with the tone) We start on guitar. We start to notice that 'some' notes are out of tune.

After pulling out most of my hair, here is the issue.

34' scale 4 string bass with all Hipshot hardware. tuned to C-G-C-F with GHS Boomers (115 - 55)

on the low C and the G the open and 12th fret intonate perfectly. BUT, the first 8 frets are a painful 1/4 step sharp!!!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to why this may be occurring?

Needless to say, I cannot continue to track with the bass like this.

side note: my 79' Music Man has very similar issues, and is the same scale/tuning/gauge.

PLEASE HELP!!!

This question about string tension for drop C tuning;
Help me find strings with these tension requirements(specific)

was answered in this archived post;
READ THIS FIRST: Drop Tunings

Today. The info should interest you.

[Goat Lord]

Originally Posted by 251

This question about string tension for drop C tuning;
Help me find strings with these tension requirements(specific)

was answered in this archived post;
READ THIS FIRST: Drop Tunings

Today. The info should interest you.

Oh man, finally the answer!!! thanks for finding that post!

[251]

8-)

[dystopiate]

Are you heavy (plucking) handed? When I first played in Drop C I used 45, 65, 85, 125 without any intonation issues, so my gut tells me that the G shouldn't be sharp, and the C wouldn't be if your touch is light.

Did you perform the setup yourself? Is this a bass that's recently been put in drop C? When using the 12th fret harmonic vs. 12th fretted, are you plucking with the same intensity that you play with?

[Benjamin Strange]

I've been tuning CGDA for years, and I use gauges 136,105,75,45. Never a problem with floppy strings.