Hey guys! This stumps me! I have a beautiful '73 Fender Jazz. In attempting to set the intonation I have a problem......the saddle screw on the G string is screwed out to the point that the saddle is almost to fall off, but the intonation is still flat! I have no more adjustment left! What's up? What can I do? I have loosened and re-tightened the neck making sure it is aligned.......the strings are near new.......any help? Bud
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Fender intonation question!........
- Thread starter BigBud
- Start date
Usually, on a Fender style bass, there's plenty of room both ways on the bridge for proper intonation. This assumes, of course, that the bridge is properly installed. Most manufacturers get that right.
I'll assume you are using a good quality tuner to intonate, and using the standard methods to intonate strings at the bridge. If the other strings besides the G intonate properly, then the G string you have on the bass is probably faulty - this can happen from time to time. If you take off the G string giving you a problem and find that another one that you put on does intonate within what the bridge normally allows for, then the problem was the string. Rarely happens, but can and does on occasion. Some string companies will replace a newly purchased but flawed string if you ask.
Worn out frets and nuts can also affect the intonation to some degree as well.
I'll assume you are using a good quality tuner to intonate, and using the standard methods to intonate strings at the bridge. If the other strings besides the G intonate properly, then the G string you have on the bass is probably faulty - this can happen from time to time. If you take off the G string giving you a problem and find that another one that you put on does intonate within what the bridge normally allows for, then the problem was the string. Rarely happens, but can and does on occasion. Some string companies will replace a newly purchased but flawed string if you ask.
Worn out frets and nuts can also affect the intonation to some degree as well.
Of course you could buy a screw of the same size that has greater length and replace the existing one in the bridge and put it a bit further out (2-4mm) and determine IF it IS helping. That would be one course of action, another would be to measure your frets with a straight-edge and see if you have a substantially higher fret at the measured position. If that's the case a fret dressing may help.
The last thing is odd but is something that can occur. IF the action is substantially high, the distance from the fret when depressed can make for a problem in intonation. If this is occurring when measuring a harmonic, it's possible that the specific string might be in some way unique (crushed, dirty, whatever) or you may have made a slight error is ringing it during measurement.
The last thing is odd but is something that can occur. IF the action is substantially high, the distance from the fret when depressed can make for a problem in intonation. If this is occurring when measuring a harmonic, it's possible that the specific string might be in some way unique (crushed, dirty, whatever) or you may have made a slight error is ringing it during measurement.
Strings can affect intonation. Is there anything unusual about
your string? (e.g. thicker or thinner than most). Can you
try another string?
your string? (e.g. thicker or thinner than most). Can you
try another string?
x2 to the strings comment. Some time ago I was setting up my guitar, and the High e string was just impossible. After examining it, I noticed that it had a fold, that with tension was almost invisible, but pretty noticeable when loosing the string. 2 bucks on a new string, and end of the story 
oh wait, i just thought of another thing that happened to me with a bass.
It was also doing that, and it turned out the neck was from one bass, and the body was another and they didnt match.
It was also doing that, and it turned out the neck was from one bass, and the body was another and they didnt match.
In early '70s Fender set the bridge back about 3/8-1/2" which required a longer G saddle intonation screw so they put one on. My '73 P has it. I'd just get a longer screw and call it a day.
Here's a picture of one with the longer G screw I found on Gbase:
Link Removed
Here's a picture of one with the longer G screw I found on Gbase:
Link Removed
- Aug 14, 2008
- 698
- 12
- Disclosures
- Owner and Operator, Xylem Handmade Basses and Guitars
Could we get a picture of the bridge with the saddles intonated as close as you can get them to "right"? That would definitely help.
How long have you had the bass? Did it intonate before? Have you recently changed string gauges?
How many cents flat is the G string?
How high is your action at the 12th fret?
Is the G-string flat on nearly all the frets, or have you just checked the 12th? Have you changed batteries in your tuner recently?
It is possible that the manufacturer didn't quite put the bridge in the right spot. Bridge misplacement happens more often than you would think.
How long have you had the bass? Did it intonate before? Have you recently changed string gauges?
How many cents flat is the G string?
How high is your action at the 12th fret?
Is the G-string flat on nearly all the frets, or have you just checked the 12th? Have you changed batteries in your tuner recently?
It is possible that the manufacturer didn't quite put the bridge in the right spot. Bridge misplacement happens more often than you would think.
I'm guessing this. Often if you have the saddle really forward combined with a low action, it is hard to get the a clean break over the saddle.
We used to get Fender in the shop I worked in years ago with the G saddle "floating." The owner had it so far forward and the saddle poles screwed out so far the the saddle poles weren't even touching the bridge plate. The G string would always play flat.
Is the head of the bass touching anything when you are working on it? Find a way to position the bass so only the body touches the bench. The weight of the bass supported by the head will add relief to the neck, making the string shorter at pitch. Intonating a too short string would do what you describe.
Turnaround
Commercial User
Bridge misplacement actually happens a lot less frequently than is suggested on TB.
agreed, it's pretty rare, almost unheard-of on better instruments.
if the other strings sit normally with plenty of adjustment room and just this one is not cooperating, then +1 more to it likely being a bad string.
- Aug 14, 2008
- 698
- 12
- Disclosures
- Owner and Operator, Xylem Handmade Basses and Guitars
I know that Hipshot makes a few lengths of intonation screws, including a longer one. They will probably be the right thread for the Fender saddles too. Call them and explain what you need, they should be able to help. Hipshot is usually very helpful!
Yes, where can I buy that longer intonation screws ??
I have a Fender Jazz '73 and I need loooonger screws, all four, it has to be up to the front edge of the bridge. About 1 5/8" or 1 3/4" long.
Can't find them on internet.
okcrum
in your chest
Especially on Fender and other production line brands...
They use steel jigs to drill screw holes fer cryin out loud! Wanna explain how a worker can stretch steel?
Oy vey.
This. It should have a longer screw for the G for that year of Fender. I've always thought that was one of the dumbest things Fender ever did. "Oops. We put the bridge on too far back. Instead of moving it forward, let's just put a longer intonation screw on there for the G!"
