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Weird Flatwound Intonation?

Zach77

Zach77

Z-Dub
Mar 13, 2018
119
177
Virginia
www.lowlowchariot.com
#1
Just purchased a new Fender Pro ii Jazz. La Bella Low Tension Flats were installed from Sweetwater. I'm have a difficult time getting the A string to intonate. I've done all I know to remedy the solution, and this pic is what has come the closest to good intonation.

Does the A-string look off to any of you?

Is it possible the A-string is somehow defective or that installing bridge-through, somehow messed-up the winding?

Thanks for any input. Long-time TB reader!!
 

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#2
You can have issues with flats and through body bridges if the strings are removed and the bend that occurred when they were installed and tensioned is not lined up the way it was bent when you put them back on. That can definitely kill a string.

Could also just be a bad string.

Intonation aside does it sound different from the others?
 
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#3
I would email La Bella, include a scan of your receipt, and tell them what's going on. They will probably send you another string. I had a set of LTF's on a Fender-style bass for awhile some years ago and its intonation lined up as expected: the progressive offset from G string to E string.
 
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#4
iiipopes said:
I would email La Bella, include a scan of your receipt, and tell them what's going on. They will probably send you another string. I had a set of LTF's on a Fender-style bass for awhile some years ago and its intonation lined up as expected: the progressive offset from G string to E string.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much! I think I'll try a new set and also top-load them this time. Never had an issue like this before.
 
#5
Try fully loose the A string , straight both witness point . Rewinding it slowly and check the ball end direction especially when the ball end inside the ferrule hole.

If problem still there, the string inner core are twist.
 
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#6
In a perfect world we'd all like things to look like this
IMG20230426063438.jpg
instead of this
IMG20230623124829.jpg
Both pics are the same bass, with same strings but with different bridges. It sounds fine. If yours sounds intonated at the 12th and in tune around the rest of the board, regardless of saddle positions, than it's all good and enjoy it
 
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#8
Prodigus Filius said:
In a perfect world we'd all like things to look like thisView attachment 5136051instead of this View attachment 5136062 Both pics are the same bass, with same strings but with different bridges. It sounds fine. If yours sounds intonated at the 12th and in tune around the rest of the board, regardless of saddle positions, than it's all good and enjoy it
Click to expand...
I agree! In my case, I believe it's a string defect…. Thanks for the pics! My OCD loves the first pic!!
 
#11
Zach77 said:
Just purchased a new Fender Pro ii Jazz. La Bella Low Tension Flats were installed from Sweetwater. I'm have a difficult time getting the A string to intonate. I've done all I know to remedy the solution, and this pic is what has come the closest to good intonation.

Does the A-string look off to any of you?

Is it possible the A-string is somehow defective or that installing bridge-through, somehow messed-up the winding?

Thanks for any input. Long-time TB reader!!
Click to expand...

It's likely an issue how the string is breaking over the nut, it could be registering intonation on the tuning peg side of the nut, as opposed to the fretboard side. This can be common with the A string because on Fenders the break angle is not as acute as the other strings.
 

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