intonation problem on my Sadowsky

[peterpalmieri]

When I get in tune (with digital tuner or otherwise)
I'll check my open notes,
but the C note on my A string is a bit sharp when I fret the
3rd fret,and the problem is also slightly there on my E string's C note! not as bad,but not pefectly in tune.

bad news, alot of songs are in open tunings,C,G..etc
and require me to linger around the 3rd fret C note

I took her to sadowsky,and Lisa.my tech said it was okay,when I got home it was still the same.I guess I didn't really test it at the shop, they set me up for free and I was tired of complaining,and just left.I didn't want to be a pest.
It's NOT bad strings,the problem is always there.
everything else is on the money,but the notes in this area go sharp.(A string,3rd fret)

I know it's been said a number of different ways but a bass guitar is not perfect, dead on intonation with a harmonic and fretted 12th will result in some slightly sharp notes down low, that is the nature of how a bass guitar is designed.

If Lisa checked it out and didn't see any issues I'd tend to agree. But they are very good over there I'm sure if you want a better resolution just ask them!

 

[Bass Boy]

As I posted above, that being said, just digging into the strings when playing will result in your bass going 'out of tune' more than the slight variance in intonation across the neck after a good set-up and intonation. IMO and IME!

Exactly. Because I play alot of double bass (jazz) my tech used to intonate keeping my attack in mind. I've settled down considerably, but after a week of only double bass gigs I can hear my right hand attack messing with my tuning.

 

[quadrogong]

yeah, Lisa looked at it,said it was adjusted,and it seemed the same when i got it home.
She's always done amazingly precise work for me,but I did get the feeling that it wasn't addressed,and the problem remains.I need to show it to them again,yeah..possible she missed something else,I should get another tuner,new strings,see what happens,then bring her in again.I feel bad sometimes,they set me up for free,I almost feel obligated to buy some stuff each time,and usually get some strings,straps,etc..
but I have some important sessions,this stuff HAS to be right.

and..
No,i never tried another tuner,very good point,it's a cheap korg tuner.I should upgrade.
but it does indeed SOUND out as well,to me.so, can it be the tuner??
.like there's 2 correct tunings,I can tune the C's or tune the rest of the bass regularly.

but then again, I notice this only when i play those open tuning songs with my guitar player who never uses a tuner(aaughh!)which is an issue as well.

funny, the octaves sound in tune when i play 'em, but i sound out in those C songs..on the C notes or around them,on the E and A strings.
the B and c# are also a bit out,it tapers off as I leave that area.

 

[lefty007]

but then again, I notice this only when i play those open tuning songs with my guitar player who never uses a tuner(aaughh!)which is an issue as well

I mean, your tuner says it's okay, your tech says it's okay, but then you only have the problem when you play with a guitar player that doesn't use a tuner?

Where could the problem be?

 

[bass_fish]

but then again, I notice this only when i play those open tuning songs with my guitar player who never uses a tuner(aaughh!)which is an issue as well.

you're joking right?

so it doesn't sound weird when you play alone, the octaves don't sound out of tune, the only time when you really notice it, it when you play with a guitarist who doesn't use a tuner?

1+1=?

 

[nemo]

I mean, your tuner says it's okay, your tech says it's okay, but then you only have the problem when you play with a guitar player that doesn't use a tuner?

Where could the problem be?

Dead battery?

 

[Bard2dbone]

Tides?

 

[Eric Perry]

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Thor]

The node of electro-harmonic radiation changes slightly
between Queens and Manhattan. And let's face it, you
took the bass to Brooklyn, had it set up and expected it to
sound the same when you went over back the bridge? Pfft.
Never happen.

 

[Marlat]

but then again, I notice this only when i play those open tuning songs with my guitar player who never uses a tuner(aaughh!)which is an issue as well.

I just spoke with the Sadowsky shop, you need to replace the battery.

 

[fourstringdrums]

All this and we find out it's the guitards fault?

How does he tune? Do you get it tune first and then he tunes to you?

 

[Nino Valenti]

but then again, I notice this only when i play those open tuning songs with my guitar player who never uses a tuner(aaughh!)which is an issue as well.

 

[smperry]

ROFL!

 

[quadrogong]

you're joking right?

so it doesn't sound weird when you play alone, the octaves don't sound out of tune, the only time when you really notice it, it when you play with a guitarist who doesn't use a tuner?

1+1=?

no, It's not as obvious a problem as that...I wish.

The tuner does indeed say it's out of tune.wherever I play,or with whomever..

When I tune,the open strings are in tune,as well as the 12th fret harmonics.
as soon as I fret the 3rd fret,the A string is sharp.
That's the bass.

It's easy to see,and it can be heard...AND IS MOST DEFINITELY OUT..in one area mostly,on the A string.

When I try going to the other C,on my E string,it also reads out..only slightly,not nearly as bad,but it's also out.

My guitar player's habits suck,but take him out of the picture.the problem is still there.
there are specific areas on those two strings where the intonation is off.

I use the same tuner for 3 basses,and I play for 3 or four different artists...
When u play an instrument several times a week,if there are bum notes, you're aware of them all.

I did bring it in and noticed the problem in Sadowsky's sound room,
after bringing it in for a setup and mentioning the problem. I used their tuner..

I figured that if it came back to me the same way,that there was nothing that could be done,
I should have spoken up,but I didn't..I just didn't want to push it,I just figured it wasn't going away.
so I just bit the bullet for a while,but now my gigs are getting increasingly more important,It needs to be fixed.
I'll have them look at it again..

 

[props]

Gotta change the battery. Oh, wait, wrong thread.

My first guess would have been strings. Similar to what an earlier TBer said, I had a pair of LaBella flats on my G&L and there were slight intonation problems on the B, E and A strings between the 1st and 4th frets. Not dramatic enough for me to worry about too much and a string change did make a difference. I chalked it up to minor inconsistencies in the core and differences on how tightly the windings were compressed together on different lengths of the string. Intonation improved a bit as the strings stretched and aged. Other than that, I'm really not sure. Is there anything dramatic about the position of your A string's saddle in relation to the others?

 

[dragonbass]

I just spoke with the Sadowsky shop, you need to replace the battery.

Sounds to me like a bad pickup!

Rob

 

[dean82]

Your 3rd fret could be flatter than the rest making it sharp. Do you have nickle frets?

+1
Have you checked if the frets are level around the 3rd fret?

 

[Fran Diaz]

Sounds to me like a bad pickup!

Rob

If this is the case, the OP can try using one of these 'contact' tuners (the ones that you can attach to the peghead) that way the tuner picks the note from the wood and not through the electronics...IMO worth a try.