Strange intonation problem

[KEVL]

I've got a problem with my setup. I think "I" am the cause because I've seen this on a previous bass as well. Please someone help me fix it! The Bongo sounds so wonderful.. but not when it's not in tune.

I can set the intonation up so that an open string and a string fretted at the 12th fret are in tune with it's self. The problem is, as I fret closer to the Nut the notes get progressively sharper, and as I fret towards the Bridge the notes get progressively flatter.

While I know a fretted instrument will never be perfect, I'm sure it can be better than this is. Please does someone have a hint to what I might be doing wrong?

The string height is good, if a tad high. The relief *looks* good, however I have not measured it. It's a Bongo 5 String HH.

Thanks for any help you all can offer. I'm lost on this.

Kev

 

[bovinehost]

Kev:

Try setting the intonation using the 19th fret (versus 12th) as your reference and tell me if things get better.

One of the guys who helped design the Bongo says this about the compensated nut and intonation:

"Compensating the nut takes care of the intonation toward the nut end of the instrument, and intonating the bridge takes care of the bridge end. I did a pretty thorough study, and found that intonation gets pretty screwy, the closer to the bridge that you get.

If you use the 19th fret, you should get better intonation on the high notes. Using the 19th fret has a lot more to do with the fact that it's a 24-fret instrument, than that it has a compensated nut. If you intonate using the 12th fret, you get pretty bad intonation at the 24th.

Without getting really tricky with the fretwork, it's impossible to intonate the entire instrument perfectly (and I'm not entirely sure that you'd want to). Since most people will probably be playing chords up high on the neck, it makes sense for the bass to be intonated there."

See if it's really true!

Jack

 

[kn38ms]

Kev:

Try setting the intonation using the 19th fret (versus 12th) as your reference and tell me if things get better.

One of the guys who helped design the Bongo says this about the compensated nut and intonation:

"Compensating the nut takes care of the intonation toward the nut end of the instrument, and intonating the bridge takes care of the bridge end. I did a pretty thorough study, and found that intonation gets pretty screwy, the closer to the bridge that you get.

If you use the 19th fret, you should get better intonation on the high notes. Using the 19th fret has a lot more to do with the fact that it's a 24-fret instrument, than that it has a compensated nut. If you intonate using the 12th fret, you get pretty bad intonation at the 24th.

Without getting really tricky with the fretwork, it's impossible to intonate the entire instrument perfectly (and I'm not entirely sure that you'd want to). Since most people will probably be playing chords up high on the neck, it makes sense for the bass to be intonated there."

See if it's really true!

Jack

Would the 19th fret method apply to SR's & Sterlings or is it Bongers only?

 

[KEVL]

rgr I'm on it. TY B.

 

[KEVL]

Results

OK bovine I intonated it using the 19th fret. Results are - above the 12th fret it's bang on (or as close as it can be) which is GREAT for the project I'm working on right now. (laying a line on some tracks from an accoustic session in 1974) but the notes are still a bit too sharp closer to the nut.

I honestly think it's because the strings are too big for the nut at this point. Becasue the rest of the guitar is now in. I had the thing 'setup' by the store I bought it from at purchase time. It was a freebie and I got what I paid for. Can't be too upset about it because it was free after all. I've been playing with the set up ever since.

I'm going to grab a new set of Slinky strings on Monday and hopefully that will fix the issue. They did give me a new set of strings on the set up, but I think they went a size larger.

Thanks so very much for the help! I'm pretty sure the problem is solved now, but I'll let you know ofcourse.

Kev

 

[KEVL]

OK I have the proper gauge strings on now. The whole bass is now "in phase" in that it's sharp everywhere or flat everywhere depending on how it's adjusted. This is a nice change. I've got it adjusted close. I'm going to wait on really putting time in on the adjustments until the strings are broken in.

Thanks for the help!
Kev

 

[bovinehost]

Glad to help.