Kiko Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Hello everyone just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Hector and I am a first time Epiphone owner. I have been playing guitar for the better part of a year and am very happy i took the next step in my guitar journey by purchasing my epiphone dot casino. However i have been noticing a problem with tuning. I dont know if someone here might have a solution but i am apreciative to all comments. When i tune my guitar with my electric tuner (Korg TM-40) the guitar still sounds out of tune even though my tuner is indicating that all strings are indeed in tune. It is especially noticable when i play open chords. Chords like my open D, A and G all sound out of tune but when i play barr chords higher on the neck the guitar sounds great. I've even tried tuning the g sting flat which has helped with some chords but other now sound out of tune. Is this a problem with my strings or the guitar. I've replaced the strings twice now and both times i've had this problem. Thank you and hope you all have a great day Best, Hector Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantana Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Take it to a guitar tech for a pro set-up! oh and welcome to the forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Hi Hector, welcome to the forum. Your description sounds like an intonation problem. Intonation is the relationship of the length of each string to each fret, all the way up and down the neck. If intonation is not set correctly, you can tune your guitar perfectly with open strings on a tuner, but it will sound (and be) out of tune when playing chords, usually getting worse as you move higher up the neck (toward the bridge). Intonation problems can be exacerbated by the nut, if it is cut too high. This means that the strings, when pressed down to touch the frets, are going more sharp than necessary (there will always be a little bit of difference between a fretted note frequency and the perfect "theoretical" frequency of the string when playing any fretted instrument. The solution is to have the guitar set up professionally - have the nut evaluated and recut if necessary and the bridge reintonanted. That will make the guitar easier to play, as well as ound much better, a win/win. If you have the discretionary cash, you could also have the frets leveled and re-crowned, which will allow the action to be set even lower, which will speed up the learning process considerably because you'll be expending less effort to hold notes down, and therefore be more able to play challenging scales and chord structures. If you're looking for a $0 answer, you could also attempt to do an intonation yourself, using a tutorial like this: [YOUTUBE] [/YOUTUBE] PS: Kiko - an Epiphone Dot and Epiphone Casino are fairly different guitars. Which one do you have? Can you post some pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsmith3 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 What you're experiencing is the limits of tempered tuning and, at the same time, your ear has been developing as you have been playing more. Whenever you tune a guitar, it is always a compromise. It will not sound "in tune" in every key, or at every note at every fret on the guitar. Here is an explanation of why: Tuning the Guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiko Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 wow guys thank you all so much! very useful information. to be honest this is the first time i've ever heard of intonation and it seems like thats the case. I watched the video and tested my rig out and my g string is not "in tune with itself" P.S. will you look at that lol i've had the guitar for about a month and got in the habit of calling it a casino (very fond of The Beatles) . the correct model is an Epiphone Dot-Ch. Again thank you all for your fast and helpful responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonesomeagle1 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Nothing beats a good set-up. Changing strings is only part of the process. Evaluating neck relief, string height, intonation, check all screws and nuts, lemon oil fretboard,overall cleaning should be part of the routine every time you change strings. Are you anywhere near the NYC area. There is a guy in NJ that gives great clinics on set-ups for about the price of a simple setup pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReneBoedker Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Tuning the Guitar Is it okay to use this method?: Image courtesy of www.fretbase.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TP Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 For sure have the nut checked if your out of tune with open "Cowboy" type chords in the first few frets. You mention Barre Chords sound great... that tells me the likely culprit is the nut slots as when you Barre the chord with your finger, it is taking the nut out of the equation. What you want to do is pick a string gauge that you like and have a good tech do the first set up including checking the nut and saddle heights. After the first "Pro" setup, by all means learn how to do your own... it is very rewarding but I know I don't have the know how or more importantly (probabaly lucky for me) the tools to properly shape the nut slots but in the hands of a good tech (with the proper tools), it is a very quick and low cost fix. Enjoy your Dot! As a recent convert to Epi's, (I got a great Peerless built 1996 Casino in a trade recently and it is for sure a keeper!) I know how you feel!!! I have mine in with my local "Guitar Doctor" today having a new wiring harness, new pots, switch and jack installed to make it "Perfect". (I am not touching the stock P90's in it... I LOVE THEM!!!) One more little tip..... try having the tech string up your Dot with a set of D'Adderio Nickle 11 gauge strings that also have a "Wound" G string........ it was amazing to me the difference just having the wound G string made on my Casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianh Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 I really prefer using this method, assuming the bridge has been propely intonated to start: http://www.get-tuned.com/harmonics.php It leaves the frets out of it, and produces a better overall tempered tuning to my ears. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
disaster Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Part of the problem is that the electronic tuner is only so good. It gets you very close to in-tune but it's not always exact. So its good to use the tuner but you still have to trust your ear to get each string dead on. Another part of the problem may be the intonation setup of the guitar. The Casino should have a Tune-O-matic bridge. This bridge has adjustable saddles that move forward & backwards to adjust the length of each string. When setting the intonation you tune each open string & then check the tuning at the 12th fret (using the harmonic or the fretted note). If the notes match the intonation is correct. If they don't you need to move the bridge saddle forward or backward to compensate (forward to shorten the string sharpening the note, backward to lengthen the string flattening the note). This should address your tuning concerns for now. In time your ear will improve and you should find that tuning becomes 2nd nature. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiko Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 thank you all for your responses. So i went ahead and intonated my guitar and regardless on how much i adjust the G and B strings it is always sharp. i'm going to head on over to my local guitar shop and try out the D'Adderio Nickle 11 gauge wound strings since i've heard a boat load of people recommending them. again thank you all for the help/advice and suggestions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.