Setting intonation

[RocknDrTom]

Here's a question posed to anyone that's done it - when you set your intonation, do you do it prior to adding the 1st fret damper, or with the damper in place?

Seems to me, it would be more logical to set it up first without it. Any reasoning that I'd want it in place to set string/pickup height and bridge saddle adjustments?

[rjgoos]

I usually set intonation after the damper is in place, using the indications of a digital tuner when the instrument is tapped at fret 2 and (12 or 14).

I also use the "sustain" part of the pitch, to set intonation, as the actual pitch does vary some during the tap-sustain cycle.

But, I am by no means an expert.

[traktor]

I agree with RJ.

There is often a distortion of tuning that occurs at the nut -- for many reasons, but one of them is that it is usually higher than other frets, so the geometry of playing a fretted note and the geometry of playing an open note are different. (To imagine this, think that when you fret a note you must *stretch* and thus tighten the string to bring it down to the fret; but if you play open string at a nut, you do not stretch a string.)

There are other factors, and other ways of looking at it, and some instruments use a zero fret rather than a nut, and some instruments have adjustable height at the nut, which means tuning error may be different string to string.

However, it would seem that the safest thing to do would be to put your damper in place -- as it may stretch the string some -- and then just do your intonation at fret one and thirteen. However, it's slightly easier to do your intonation at fret two and fourteen.

This would then give you the best intonation over the entire fretboard where you'll be playing with your touchstyle technique. To improve the nut's tuning problem, or to improve the overall intonation string to string, you'd need to investigate Earvana's compensated nut, or Buzz Feiten's offsets at the nut and saddles.

I don't know anybody who has tried Earvana's nut, but any number of Feiten-trained shops who can install his system on guitars or basses.

[BrendaEM]

It shouldn't make any great difference. The intonation only sets the length from the bridge to the frets, which a dampener shouldn't change. You can just use the first fretted note to test the intonation as your fingering pressure is consistent.

There is a difference between using an open string and the first fretted note because the nut will probably not be the same height as the frets. If you do play with a dampener, I would set the intonation by using all fretting notes.

When setting the intonation it's good that the instrument be held consistently. If the neck flexes, the pitch of the string changes. Wearing the instrument vertically as you play it, rather than laying it down might give more accurate results because the neck is supported by its thicker axis/way. It's consistent tuning, you're after.

Adding or removing the dampener probably will affect the tuning.

For me I set the intonation like this:

I like to use fairly newish strings but perhaps not brand new, because they are difficult to keep in tune until the stretch. If you have to move the saddle/bridgepiece, loosening the string may make it easier, and have less chances of breaking a string.

Tune at first fretable note with steady pressure.
Check tuning fretting at 1 and 2 octaves.
If the notes get sharp, move the saddle away from the frets.
If the notes get flat, move the saddle closer to the frets.
Now the string is probably out of tune, so we need to retune it and retest it.
Now for the rest of the stings.

It makes sense to always buy the same kind of strings, changes in string diameter--especially how they are wrapped at the bridge may change intonation.

[Steve H]

Do you use a strobe tuner or a software based tuner for setting intonation?

Steve

[RocknDrTom]

For ease of use, I've been using an electronic tuner, but I could get out the old "tube driven" Peterson Strobe tuner if I needed to be more precise. I generally have good results though with just using the electronic tuner.

[rjgoos]

What is the limit of discrimination of the (average) human ear with regards to pitch? How many "cents" or fractions of a cent?