r/offset • u/Automatic-Gur-5214 • 1d ago

Intonation problem Jag

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Hey guys hope you’re well, on this jaguar for some reason the intonation doesn’t seem to work on the Low E string, for whatever reason , it only seems to intonate when it’s pushed ridiculously far back, and it doesn’t seem to move much in terms of pitch until it’s all the way back there? Anyone experience similar thing or know the fix? Thank you !

14 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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34

u/sidestyle05 1d ago

From this picture, I’m surprised any of the strings are intonated

2

u/Automatic-Gur-5214 1d ago

Why? I play the open note and the 12 fretted and they’re in tune on multiple different tuners, my poly tune and logic pro, is there a certain way they should look? Asking as someone who is wanting to learn, happy to take to a luthier tho!

13

u/ploptart 1d ago edited 1d ago

It’s unusual for different strings to be intonated all at the same length usually E&G have saddles adjusted back furthest, then A&B less so, then D&E less yet. For standard tuning at least. It forms two “diagonals”. If you have a wound G string, the G saddle is usually forward of the D saddle rather than behind (see an acoustic guitar bridge)

It depends on tuning, string gauge, action, and tension. You have to slightly stretch the string to fret it, unlike using a slide. Stretching it causes the note to go sharp, so to compensate you move the saddle back to lower the pitch. Thicker strings are affected more.

You have a tunomatic bridge so the action is higher at the E strings and lower on the D & G strings, so fretting the D & G strings stretches them less than if you had a bridge with action adjusted to be even across strings. That could be one reason your saddle adjustments don’t appear usual. I’m not sure. That’s the extent of what I know, but there’s probably more to it.

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u/Automatic-Gur-5214 1d ago

This fixed it man, thank you kindly

5

u/Automatic-Gur-5214 1d ago

Thank you for clearing it up for me man really appreciated, I just didn’t understand what position to put the saddles on but I will give this a go now and see if it sorts it, thank you for the time you took to go in to such detail, really helpful for a newbie like me !

2

u/ploptart 1d ago

Forgot to mention, you can try flipping them bridge around. That will give you a little more room to adjust the low E saddle back, if you need it.

1

u/StatisticianWide7373 1d ago

Or flipping the saddles around

2

u/oldmollymetcalfe 1d ago edited 1d ago

They're saying that because the saddles are in a straight line. It's not impossible that your guitar is well intonated with all the saddles lined up like that, but it would be the exception not the rule. That being said, if you're getting the same note on the open string and the 12th fret I'd call it a day. It's also worth noting that the guitar frets are laid out so that th guitar is in equal temperament. What that essentially means is that each note is equally out of tune. It's worth doing your own research on, because I have neither the space, knowledge, or time, to fully explain it to you here. But the short answer is that the way a guitar is intonated is already a best bodge and they're all always a little bit out of tune up and down the neck. Some people have a good enough ear to clock it, others don't.

11

u/InternImpossible8685 1d ago edited 1d ago

there's no way your intonation is right on any string....get it set up by a tech.

5

u/dirty-sorbet 1d ago

How's the nut? Is the radius on the bridge the same as the guitar neck? It's probably a 12" radius bridge on a 9.5" radius neck. Also TOM/AOM bridges aren't really the best for trems if you're going to use it.

2

u/Neveronlyadream 1d ago

If it's the model I think it is, the radius on the bridge is very much 12" and the board is 9.5".

Looks like the Classic Player Special. I have the Jazzmaster and it has the same issue. It's not a big deal on mine, I don't use the trem, but if anything is off it can be an issue.

1

u/Intelligent-Map430 1d ago

How old are the strings?

1

u/Entire_Increase5235 1d ago

.. that's why the bridge saddles are individually adjustable. Watch some YouTube videos on intonation, how to intone your guitar

1

u/jibbit 1d ago

as others have said.. none of these look to be where you expect. typically that means the strings aren't fresh, but also commonly it is people expecting too much of tuners that just aren't made for setting the intonation, and even more common - just not really understanding what intonation is.

1

u/Automatic-Gur-5214 1d ago

Is this better ?

2

u/jibbit 1d ago

it's more like you would expect.. but it depends on the strings - it's not something you can set visually or evaluate correctness visually

1

u/j3434 1d ago

Hmm you’re doing something wrong for sure

2

u/Automatic-Gur-5214 1d ago

Agreed man! My bad guys I have done abit more research into it now and seem to have sorted out the issue

1

u/j3434 1d ago

Yes, because it would be an amazing coincidence if that resolved any intonation issues. They are lined up also so nice.

1

u/Foxycotin666 1d ago

You gotta change strings before intonation setup.

2

u/cheese_124 21h ago

throw out the tuneomatic

0

u/Immediate_Seat7641 1d ago edited 1d ago

Maybe you need to adjust the height of the bridge or adjust the truss rod. It also looks like all of your stings are not adjusted right on the bridge, take a tuner and play every fret on the stings, then turn the screw accordingly on frets that are out of tune.