SETUP: Basics of Intonation

[Ed Seith]

So my guess is to loosen the screw to make it longer and tighten to make it shorter? I noticed some of my stuff is a little off. I also changed tunings a lot as well. Will have to do each one to see where they all land.

That's a great guess, and it would make TOTAL SENSE, but it's actually the opposite. Tightening the screw brings the saddle further back, lengthening the string.

I should also say the adjustments are *usually* going to be fairly small - quarter and half turns - unless it's in bad shape or you've made drastic string or tuning changes.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

Yeah I wasnt sure.. I debated to myself which way would be ideal. Gonna go over the guitars slowly I suppose.

Sounds like truss rod adjustments. Little bit at a time.

 

[Ed Seith]

Yeah I wasnt sure.. I debated to myself which way would be ideal. Gonna go over the guitars slowly I suppose.

Sounds like truss rod adjustments. Little bit at a time.

Yes, except you don't need to let it "settle in" for a day before making additional adjustments, like you do with a truss rod.

The cool thing is, Calvin, you can literally watch the saddle move when you turn the screw, so the mechanics of it will totally click for you once you try it!

 

[JetFixxxer]

You can have the mind set of Joe Bonamassa..

Joe also talks about string action, as well as tuning the guitar, suggesting not to worry too much about intonation: “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it. There’s no such thing as a perfectly intonating guitar.”

 

[Ed Seith]

You can have the mind set of Joe Bonamassa..

I'm sure Joe's tech saw that, smiled, and said to himself, "sure thing, Joe."

 

[Calvin Phillips]

Yes, except you don't need to let it "settle in" for a day before making additional adjustments, like you do with a truss rod.

The cool thing is, Calvin, you can literally watch the saddle move when you turn the screw, so the mechanics of it will totally click for you once you try it!

I knew the other adjustments but thats one I didn't know. May be why people say some of my guitars are off tune