Denis57 Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Hi all, For quite some times now, I just can't seem to properly tune my HBird and I'm wondering why. I just can't get it to sound as good as it used to . I found a good luthier in my area and he installed an Earvana and it worked actually good for a while, but my Bird was not sounding as it used to and guitars should sound better as they aged... Don't know what to do here. I tried new tuners, new batteries, changing pics even returned to my Peterson strobo clip instead of my faithful Snark but something is still not right to my ears...Am I hearing something I never heard before? Not sure. I especially have problems with my A and D chords which always seem too sharp. Maybe I should find someone to show me fine tuning or get a second advice from a different luthier ? Last time I was there ( late sept. ) he adjusted the neck a bit. Has anyone experience that too ? What would you good folks suggest ? Thanks and I whish you all a very good, healthy, happy and musical new year 2013. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarrr Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Good vid by James Taylor: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stein Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 One thing to check, the nut. Obviously, you cant change the intonation easily on a flat-top, but a common mistake we ALL do is to treat the nut as the "reference" when tuning, when in reality, it is the most "out of tune" place on the guitar. When tuning or checking ultimate tuning, one should take note of what the tuning is on ALL the frets, and get a better idea of a center. At it's best, tuning is NEVER perfect on a guitar obviously, but close enough or close as possible makes it SEEM perfect. As an example, if the nut is cut to high, you will notice the notes on the frets getting progessively sharper toward the nut, as a result of the string being stretched from the extra tension. Or, if the nut is cut too far back, most frets will be consistant and more "in tune", but the nut a little flatter than the rest. So, basically this: use the tuner and check ALL the notes and frets, and see where you are. And sometimes, just tuning to a fret rather then the nut will result in better overall tuning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted December 31, 2012 Share Posted December 31, 2012 Agreed on the nut. I am thinking the slots are too high? Sharp A chord? Did you change gauge of strings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telemaster03 Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Have you check the neck and is the guitar properly humidified? I really have to watch this time of year to keep the humidity levels right, dry air can cause all sorts of trouble with the neck and that affects the guitar's playability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Relative humidity has been in the 70s and 80s in your piece of the planet, shouldn't be too dry, unless you've changed something else in the environment. Tune your D string, then fret the 2nd string on the 3rd fret D note, and make sure these 2 are in tune. Now check the intonation with the harmonic at the 12th fret on these two strings, if its off by much, I vote you look at the saddle, have you moved it at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merseybeat1963 Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Earvana..! A compensated nut? Im guessing you also have a compensated saddle? I wonder if this has amounted to the intonation you are after. Too many questions that could be answered by looking at it for 2 minutes. If your near NY..go to Alex Music 48th Street 2nd fl and ask for Pasqual,he will look at it and tell you what he see's. The guy is ancient..honest..not after money & from the same lot that produced D'Angelico Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duluthdan Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 I found a good luthier in my area and he installed an Earvana Maybe I should find someone to show me fine tuning or get a second advice from a different luthier ? ah-haa. The nut has been changed. I've no experience with these - wonder what prompted the change in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modoc_333 Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Have you checked the frets? if you have fret wear in the places you most commonly play then it will ultimately make a flat spot. the string is no longer leaving the fret at the spot it used to. this can cause intonation issues. most people can't hear it until it gets really bad, but you may be more sensitive to it. (or staring at the tuner too much!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dchristo Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 Hi all, For quite some times now, I just can't seem to properly tune my HBird and I'm wondering why. also check the nut slots for proper width, if not wide enough, the strings will be pinched and not slide through properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 1, 2013 Share Posted January 1, 2013 It appears the Earvana will/should be the first to go.... I gave a good wrap for my luthier the other day, but since he went on holidays the guitar he set up is having tuning problem with the 'B' string either catching at the nut or near there! When I'm tuning it I can't get it to go to tune smoothly on the electronic tuner and then whoops, it goes over (sharp). It is getting caught I suppose and I will give the nut slot a little file tomorrow..... He gave me Martin SP strings which I don't really like anymore - they went from bright to nasally really quickly and now dead, so the sooner I change to some of my much loved Masterbuilt 12s, the happier I will be....Shop didn't have any and everyone is on holidays.... BluesKIng777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis57 Posted January 2, 2013 Author Share Posted January 2, 2013 Thanks guys! Wow many of you are much more knowledgeable than I am . I think I'll adress the problem to my luthier or check with another one. Actually I had the problem before and that is why my luthier installed that Earvana ( nut and saddle ). Once again, thank you all for your words and tips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted January 2, 2013 Share Posted January 2, 2013 Mine appears to be fixed by a quick saw with a file and a drop of guitar lube on nut and saddle..... Yours by the sound of it needs a bit more help - I am not any kind of help in tech matters so will keep out of it, but good luck. BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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