A + D sharp when fretted. Help?

[theoctavist]

It intonated fine, up towards bridge but for some reason , fretting , specifically around the nut.. 1-5th fret it's quite a bit sharp. Ideas? What is the nut action supposed to be for each string? How do y'all check it, and fix it if off? I'm worried about tackling the nut cause the other two strings are fine, but I will if I feel informed enough to. That's where y'all come in lol. Help. I'm dumb

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

It intonated fine, up towards bridge but for some reason , fretting , specifically around the nut.. 1-5th fret it's quite a bit sharp. Ideas? What is the nut action supposed to be for each string? How do y'all check it, and fix it if off? I'm worried about tackling the nut cause the other two strings are fine, but I will if I feel informed enough to. That's where y'all come in lol. Help. I'm dumb

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How do you normally intonate all 4 strings ?

 

[theoctavist]

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How do you normally intonate all 4 strings ?

tune to pitch, then the octave thing(at 12th fret or whatever it is) , adjusting the saddles depending on whether sharp/flat etc. Same way I Intonate my electric guitars

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Very odd it's only two strings.

Check List:

Fresh strings.
Retune your bass between each adjustment.
Tuner battery
Turn down your tone controls while intonating
Quality of tuner

PS Also make a good witness point over the string saddles.

 

[theoctavist]

Sorry @Rod Trussbroken , I've done everything but the witness point thing. Can you elaborate a bit? Sorry!

 

[loocnmad]

Have you recently changed to a higher gauge set? I've had issues on two guitars where the strings weren't seated in the nut causing them to sit a bit higher than normal. Same symptoms you describe with sharp notes in just the lower frets.

 

[theoctavist]

Have you recently changed to a higher gauge set? I've had issues on two guitars where the strings weren't seated in the nut causing them to sit a bit higher than normal. Same symptoms you describe with sharp notes in just the lower frets.

Unsure on gauge(bought it used, no strings) but I *do* use flats. (50- 105)

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Sorry @Rod Trussbroken , I've done everything but the witness point thing. Can you elaborate a bit? Sorry!

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Using your thumb press down on the string directly in front of the string saddle (on the pickup side). This makes sure the string has good contact with it rather than just curving over the top of the saddle.

Also do that also with the nut on both sides.

 

[loocnmad]

Oh, I may have misunderstood. I thought you meant it was fine before and just started going sharp. That definitely sounds like the nut slots could be a bit too high. When that happens it takes more pressure for the string to reach the fret causing it to go sharp. The break angle changes as you move up so it kind of goes away.

Some people slide a half pencil across the frets to trace the height. The slots should be just barely above the line. Filing slots is the one thing I don't trust myself to do. Any decent tech should be able to handle it if you're not comfortable yourself.

 

[theoctavist]

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Using your thumb press down on the string directly in front of the string saddle (on the pickup side). This makes sure the string has good contact with it rather than just curving over the top of the saddle.

Also do that also with the nut on both sides.

Yessir, will do! Thank you for the info!

 

[theoctavist]

Oh, I may have misunderstood. I thought you meant it was fine before and just started going sharp. That definitely sounds like the nut slots could be a bit too high. When that happens it takes more pressure for the string to reach the fret causing it to go sharp. The break angle changes as you move up so it kind of goes away.

Some people slide a half pencil across the frets to trace the height. The slots should be just barely above the line. Filing slots is the one thing I don't trust myself to do. Any decent tech should be able to handle it if you're not comfortable yourself.

Yessir, it was a combination of insanely high action (that was my fault, I cut my teeth (and still am) on bluegrass acoustic guitar, so I figured I'd get my bass action high so I can dig in. ), Bad witness points and the nut slot. Tech cut a new nut for me, like you, I don't trust myself enough for that just yet