Tuning Problems

[JRHellfire]

I've had my guitar set up for tapping quite some time now, and I've been enjoying my experiments with tapping. However I've run into an inconvenience in which the high E and the B string are actually a complete half step flat at the 13th fret.

My brother insists that it is because I've lowered my action that this is true, and that the only way it can be corrected is by raising the action to the original position. However it has not affected the other strings this way, only the E and B strings.

Anybody understand what's going on, and how to fix this problem without raising action and making it unable to tap?

[traktor]

While there might be other answers, I suspect that your brother is both right and wrong.

It is generally true that, when you change the action, you generally have to re-do the intonation. For example on many saddles the string moves over a rounded area. When you lower the action, the string is hitting somewhere slightly different on the string saddle.

That means you just changed the length of the string from nut to string-saddle, in the process of lowering the action.

The answer is to re-set your intonation (re-setting the positions of the string saddles).

It's easy to do. If you're not familiar with the process, download a copy of the Mobius Megatar Owner's Guide, where it gives details 'how to' instructions.

(Normally, Mobius Megatar instruments already have optimum action, and we've installed the special Buzz Feiten Intonation System, so this isn't something you normally want to do on a Megatar, but for them as wants to do so, losing the Buzz Feiten system in the process, the instructions are there.)

You can download the Mobius Megatar Owner's Guide here (http://www.megatar.com/documents/owners_guide/owners_guide.html).

[rpmartino]

Sounds like the bridge saddles on those strings need to be adjusted a bit closer towards the nut (shortening the string length a bit so the higher notes aren't flat).

[JRHellfire]

Thanks very much, your posts have been very helpful, I'm glad I can continue tapping, and be in tune.