pjmuck
25th March 2009, 9.08 pm
Hello everyone. Newbie here and first time poster ready to take the plunge into the wonderful world of tapping.
I just recently acquired a Warr Artist 10. I've been a bassist/guitarist for over 20 years, and have always been curious about these instruments, so I thought I'd give it a go. I've always done my own instrument setups and intonation, but since I'm new to the Warr it does pose a few questions. I've done a search here and I don't really see too much adviced with regard to proper setup, so I thought I would pose the following:
1. How are the rest of you intonating your instruments? I'm normally accustomed to the open string/12 fret method for my guitars and basses using my Peterson Strobe tuner, but I'm not sure that's the way to go with a tap-style instrument utilizing a damper at the first fret, since open strings are muted. The Strobostomp does seem to get confused when identifying pitch with the Warr too, as it will flutter and never truly lock in. Since I got the instrument used, I discovered that the 12th fret was pretty much flat to the open (though muted) strings across the whole neck, yet on some strings the 24th frets were sharp to the 12th frets (???). So are most of you foregoing the open strings and intonating to the 12th frets, then checking against the 24th frets? I have to believe that even a slight damper under the strings could make strings go a bit sharper closer to the nut.
2. The instrument is stereo with 2 output jacks (one side treble, one side bass). How are most of you who own stereo instruments generally setting up your live rigs to accomodate both, and specifically how are you checking your tuning on both sides of the instrument? Are you using two tuners?
3. Regarding action, how high/low are you setting it up? Should all fret buzz or fret out be eliminated completely when unplugged regardless of whether or not it's amplified when plugged in?
4. Different tunings: I read a lot about different tunings. How are most of you managing to experiment with different tunings or string arrangements without resulting in major setup revisions (i.e. new nuts, swapping pickups, etc). Obviously some arrangements would be easier to accomplish than others (tuning in 4ths from 5ths or visa versa vs. non inverted tunings), but being new to this I really don't know what will ultimately work for me yet and I certainly don't want to go the trouble of new nut/pickup expenses only to find it's not what I ultimately want. Right now, the instrument's set up in a standard 5+5 with inverted bass 5ths. I retuned the bass side to inverted 4ths instead, but strings are a bit too flabby now. So have some of you compensated when doing such a revision by going with different string gauges to achieve the proper feel/tension you need, or did you just raise the saddles? (Not my idea of a perfect solution).
5. Speaking of strings, where are you getting yours? Are any of you simply using guitar and bass string sets, or using "true" tapping instrument strings? What kind of lifespan can I expect to get out of them, and when would I know I need new strings?
Okay, that's enough for now. Thanks in advance and I would like to reiterate that I'm glad to be here!
I just recently acquired a Warr Artist 10. I've been a bassist/guitarist for over 20 years, and have always been curious about these instruments, so I thought I'd give it a go. I've always done my own instrument setups and intonation, but since I'm new to the Warr it does pose a few questions. I've done a search here and I don't really see too much adviced with regard to proper setup, so I thought I would pose the following:
1. How are the rest of you intonating your instruments? I'm normally accustomed to the open string/12 fret method for my guitars and basses using my Peterson Strobe tuner, but I'm not sure that's the way to go with a tap-style instrument utilizing a damper at the first fret, since open strings are muted. The Strobostomp does seem to get confused when identifying pitch with the Warr too, as it will flutter and never truly lock in. Since I got the instrument used, I discovered that the 12th fret was pretty much flat to the open (though muted) strings across the whole neck, yet on some strings the 24th frets were sharp to the 12th frets (???). So are most of you foregoing the open strings and intonating to the 12th frets, then checking against the 24th frets? I have to believe that even a slight damper under the strings could make strings go a bit sharper closer to the nut.
2. The instrument is stereo with 2 output jacks (one side treble, one side bass). How are most of you who own stereo instruments generally setting up your live rigs to accomodate both, and specifically how are you checking your tuning on both sides of the instrument? Are you using two tuners?
3. Regarding action, how high/low are you setting it up? Should all fret buzz or fret out be eliminated completely when unplugged regardless of whether or not it's amplified when plugged in?
4. Different tunings: I read a lot about different tunings. How are most of you managing to experiment with different tunings or string arrangements without resulting in major setup revisions (i.e. new nuts, swapping pickups, etc). Obviously some arrangements would be easier to accomplish than others (tuning in 4ths from 5ths or visa versa vs. non inverted tunings), but being new to this I really don't know what will ultimately work for me yet and I certainly don't want to go the trouble of new nut/pickup expenses only to find it's not what I ultimately want. Right now, the instrument's set up in a standard 5+5 with inverted bass 5ths. I retuned the bass side to inverted 4ths instead, but strings are a bit too flabby now. So have some of you compensated when doing such a revision by going with different string gauges to achieve the proper feel/tension you need, or did you just raise the saddles? (Not my idea of a perfect solution).
5. Speaking of strings, where are you getting yours? Are any of you simply using guitar and bass string sets, or using "true" tapping instrument strings? What kind of lifespan can I expect to get out of them, and when would I know I need new strings?
Okay, that's enough for now. Thanks in advance and I would like to reiterate that I'm glad to be here!