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Low E and G string intonation


ics1974

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ics1974, is this the SG with the 1.5, 2mm action ? What gauge strings are you using ? What can sometimes happen is that when pressing the string at the 12th fret, you press too hard and raise the pitch above normal. Try again, with a lighter touch and see what happens. This is more likely to occur with high frets or scalloped fretboards.

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A trick I have seen done is simply turn the saddle around the opposite way so you can get the string a little flatter. I dunno if I would necessarily recommend doing it, but I have seen it done on more than one guitar. Then again I don't think it would really hurt anything just use a pencil to put some graphite on the saddle where the string makes contact. I used to have a Washburn that had the Low E and G saddles reversed and it never caused me any problems.

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ics1974' date=' is this the SG with the 1.5, 2mm action ? What gauge strings are you using ? What can sometimes happen is that when pressing the string at the 12th fret, you press too hard and raise the pitch above normal. Try again, with a lighter touch and see what happens. This is more likely to occur with high frets or scalloped fretboards.[/quote']

 

I use .10 strings

 

If I use a lighter touch it is correct at the 12th fret but I never fret that light when playing.

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A trick I have seen done is simply turn the saddle around the opposite way so you can get the string a little flatter. I dunno if I would necessarily recommend doing it' date=' but I have seen it done on more than one guitar. Then again I don't think it would really hurt anything just use a pencil to put some graphite on the saddle where the string makes contact. I used to have a Washburn that had the Low E and G saddles reversed and it never caused me any problems.[/quote']

 

How do you turn the saddles around?

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Each saddle is retained by a clip that is fiddly to remove and can spring off never to be seen again. The screw is turned and the saddle is then free. There is a potential loss of tone when turning the saddle because the notches are filed at a slight angle. With the saddle reversed, the string no longer has a clean 'break point'. The notch can be filed, but then it is slightly lower than the rest...

 

The easiest solution might be to fractionally lower the action, which reduces the amount of compensation necessary.

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There is a potential loss of tone when turning the saddle because the notches are filed at a slight angle.

 

Are you sure? I know that may be a dumb question. But I never noticed that on my Gibsons. Neither a loss of tone, nor a slight angle. Although I do believe that it should be filed like you wrote.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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Kurt - The cleaner the break point, the better the tone and sustain. The actual effect on the vibration (hence tone) will depend on the angle. If the angle is shallow, it can introduce an unusual character. I always knew this, but never mentioned it before when people were discussing turning saddles around. I recently read that Dan Erlewine also gives this advice - so I feel I am on safe ground to say this !

 

The wound strings also deform the notch slightly on the zinc saddles after a while. The effect of angle and wear need to be taken into consideration if a saddle is reversed.

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Thanks for the answer 80LPC. I believe you are right. What I don´t believe is that the folks at Gibson are really taking care of that. But maybe the notches on all my guitars are deformed by the strings already. Nevertheless it´s a valid information for me, since I didn´t swap the bridge on my A.Y. yet. Maybe you remember that I decided to swap the ABR1 for a Nashville, but didn´t do it yet since the ABR is doing it´s job at the moment.

 

Greetings

Kurt

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ics1974' date=' is this the SG with the 1.5, 2mm action ? What gauge strings are you using ? What can sometimes happen is that when pressing the string at the 12th fret, you press too hard and raise the pitch above normal. Try again, with a lighter touch and see what happens. This is more likely to occur with high frets or scalloped fretboards.[/quote']

 

Happens to my guitarist on the other side of the stage ALL THE TIME. He's got a heavy hand, and no matter what he does can't really play in tune ... hahahahahhaa.

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I am finding that my 61 reissue is intonating sharp on the B and G strings even with the saddles pulled all the way back. The nut looks to be cut pretty shallow, but how can I tell if that is the problem? Is there a standard nut height that I can check mine against?

 

I have also noticed that the bridge has a little wiggle to it. With the guitar tuned to pitch, I can slide the bridge noticeably backward and forwards on the treble side. Is that normal for the tune-o-matic bridge?

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