Tuning Problem - Imprecise Notes on Higher Frets

[anarchipur]

Hi,

after tuning my Yamaha BB424 bass I noticed that on the E string the notes on the frets around the 12th fret have a shift about a quarter of a tone higher than the note should be.

How should I adjust the bridge to get the right notes on the higher frets without distorting the overal tuning?

[georgestrings]

Sounds like an intonation issue - if a note that's fretted at the 12th is sharper(higher) than the open note on the same string, that saddle needs to be moved away from the nut - effectively making the distance from the nut to the bridge longer(scale length)... I'm not familiar with your particular bridge, but there should be a way to move each saddle forward or backwards...


- georgestrings

[1958Bassman]

Originally Posted by anarchipur

Hi,

after tuning my Yamaha BB424 bass I noticed that on the E string the notes on the frets around the 12th fret have a shift about a quarter of a tone higher than the note should be.

How should I adjust the bridge to get the right notes on the higher frets without distorting the overal tuning?

"Overall tuning", as in, affecting other strings? Changing the saddle on one string will do nothing to the others unless the bridge is one piece with no adjustment (it only slides forward and back).

If the bridge saddle is as far from the bridge pickup as possible and the spring over the screw is compressed between the saddle and the end of the bridge where the screw head is, it's possible that the saddle was installed backward and the break point for the string isn't able to move to the correct position. Can you post a link to a photo of your model, with the same bridge?

[anarchipur]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Sounds like an intonation issue - if a note that's fretted at the 12th is sharper(higher) than the open note on the same string, that saddle needs to be moved away from the nut - effectively making the distance from the nut to the bridge longer(scale length)... I'm not familiar with your particular bridge, but there should be a way to move each saddle forward or backwards...


- georgestrings

Thank you, I think this is the solution. I will try to move the saddle on the bridge for this particular string away from the nut.
Thanks!

[WoodyG3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIzV9462xeE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4MdWzN_100

These are the best videos I've found on bass set up, and the second one deals with intonation. I'd watch both, though. Great information for all bass players.

[cchorney]

As I understand it the problem is that the formula for fret spacing varies with string diameter and the spacing used on multi-stringed instruments are thus a compromise.

You could get one of these:
http://www.truetemperament.com/site/...php?go=1&sgo=4

Or you could get your intonation set up on your regular bass as good as possible.

(or go fretless and manage the intonation problems the old fashioned way!)

[M.R. Ogle]

Originally Posted by georgestrings

Sounds like an intonation issue - if a note that's fretted at the 12th is sharper(higher) than the open note on the same string, that saddle needs to be moved away from the nut - effectively making the distance from the nut to the bridge longer(scale length)... I'm not familiar with your particular bridge, but there should be a way to move each saddle forward or backwards...

That's the answer you're looking for!

[mtsens1]

Make sure to check / adjust the truss rod first.