Intonation lightness of touch

[IVsakeN]

I just got my strobostomp back and was goign to take a stab at doing my intonation myself. I have read a few places when checking the 12th fret to fret like you would normally play the note. I think I might press to hard as it is and the lower fretts seem fine but going to the higher ones it all outta wack (WAYYYY SHARP). Should I try touching it lighter to get it to settle?>

 

[MN246]

I've always checked the tuning open (no fretting required), and with the natural harmonic at the 12th fret. This eliminates in change in pitch due to fretting the string.

If you fret the string there would be no way of knowing if any tuning change was due to the intonation being off or the fretting of the string.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

I've always checked the tuning open (no fretting required), and with the natural harmonic at the 12th fret. This eliminates in change in pitch due to fretting the string.

If you fret the string there would be no way of knowing if any tuning change was due to the intonation being off or the fretting of the string.

But then if you fret the string while playing and it sounds out of tune, you have your intonation method or fretting technique to blame.

I generally tune open, and intonate by fretting the 17th. I've found this gives me the best results.
(The lower the action the better this method works, because there is less tension while fretting the string)

 

[Rage]

I've always set up my intonation by fretting the 12th and comparing that directly to the harmonic at the 12th. This always works for me.

 

[candid_x]

Using heavier strings also helps with not pressing strings sharp, especially with the wound strings. It's great to tune using harmonics, but like Pete said, what happens when you have to actually fret those notes? brraaanng, sharp. Course it also helps to not use a death grip, something I have to occasionally remind myself .

 

[candid_x]

I've always set up my intonation by fretting the 12th and comparing that directly to the harmonic at the 12th. This always works for me.

Same here.

 

[MN246]

But then if you fret the string while playing and it sounds out of tune, you have your intonation method or fretting technique to blame.

If your guitar is in tune open and the 12th fret harmonic is in tune, your intonation is good. Once it is setup this way, if the guitar sounds out of tune while you're playing, your technique needs work.

 

[J_Alexander]

correct me if i'm wrong but if the open string and the 12th fret harmonice soudn the same its not cause of the intonation being right. no matter what the string is at the harmonic is gonna match at the 12th fret cause you not fretting a note. its only sounding a harmonic from the pitch the string is already at. hince why you need to fret the note because now you have actually shortened the string lentgh and factored in the frets.

 

[MN246]

correct me if i'm wrong but if the open string and the 12th fret harmonice soudn the same its not cause of the intonation being right. no matter what the string is at the harmonic is gonna match at the 12th fret cause you not fretting a note. its only sounding a harmonic from the pitch the string is already at. hince why you need to fret the note because now you have actually shortened the string lentgh and factored in the frets.

That does make perfect sense as to why the harmonic would always be in tune with the open string. I must have been doing it wrong. I will say that changing the string length will change the harmonic tuning at the 12th fret. I'm going to have to check all my guitars now.

 

[Mick]

You can´t really trust any tuner exept your ear or a peterson strobe tuner!
Measuring on more than one spot on the fretboard is the way to go since the fretted instrument can´t be well tempered.

Well on the other hand Carlos S. made a fortune soloing flat above the 12th fret
Can be a trademark

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I've always set up my intonation by fretting the 12th and comparing that directly to the harmonic at the 12th. This always works for me.

Me too.