Please help, Strings constantly out of tune...

HalfwayToNowhere · Newbie Alert Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Hi, I'm new to this site and sadly not much of a bassist. I play acoustic guitar and piano, with some bass on the side, but haven't been able to do much with it for quite awhile due to tuning issues.

The problem is the tuning rises noticeably with each higher fret. The open string will play a perfect note, but even the first and second frets will be sharp or significantly off-tune. This goes for every string. If I tune it so that the frets play the right notes (Somewhat) then an open string will play a low flat. I've bought new strings and changed them multiple times, but each time the effect is the same, even when they're brand new.

I own a cheap 43" $90 Crescent, and have had it for almost a year now, so I understand why poor performance might be expected.

Does anyone know the cause of this problem or a possible way to fix it? I'm not really up for a big investment right now and would really hate to see a decent instrument go to waste.

Ankhanu · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:22 am Post subject:

That's an intonation problem. Your bridge should have adjustable saddles (the thing the string goes over, should move back and forth to change the length of the string) which will allow you to minorly adjust the length of the string.

The basic idea is to tune you string to pitch open, using a tuner for best results, then play it at the 12th fret. If the note is sharp, move the saddle back, retune and try again. If the note is flat, move the saddle forward to shorten the string, retune, and try again. Do this for each string until they're all properly set (or as close as possible).

WIth such a cheap bass, it may be that you can't get the instrument perfectly intonated, you'll just have to get it as close as possible.

Here's a link that will probably instruct better than I did ;)

Lefty Bass · Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:50 am Post subject:

Bad intonation.

HalfwayToNowhere · Newbie Alert Joined: 16 Jun 2008 Posts: 2

Thanks for your your help, the info, and the link. I tried what you suggested but the results are the same. Open string can playa solid E, but the 12th fret will play a sharp, or even an F. I guess I shouldn't have wasted my money... Well at least now I know the problem can't really be fixed. Someday when I'm wealthy I'll buy a new bass. Sad

Rd_Artist · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:43 am Post subject:

I would suggest picking up a squire bass, they are inexpensive and well made.
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Ankhanu · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 6:45 am Post subject:

What you can do as a temporary solution, is treat the instrument as a project. Move the entire bridge back a few millimeters (maybe 5mm) to increase the scale length, which will help flatten your scale.

This will require some tool work (ie screwdriver, dry erase marker or pencil, drill, ruler/measuring tape), but isn't difficult to do.

With your bridge still in place make a mark along the top and bottom edge and one either at the front or back of the bridge, these marks will be guides to help keep you aligned when your repositioning the bridge when you've unscrewed it. Unscrew the bridge and get out your ruler or measuring tape, measure back a couple mm from the mark you made at the front or back of the bridge, put a mark that distance back at the top and bottom edge of the line you made along the top/bottom of the bridge. Place the bridge down with its edge at your new mark, being careful to align the edges with the marks you made so that it stays perfectly aligned with its former position. It should be perfectly in line with where the bridge used to be, but a couple mm further back on the body.

Using your pencil, marker, or even the screwdriver, make a mark in the very center of each screw hole. Take away the bridge and you should see the places where your screws will go. Grab a drill bit ever so slightly thinner than the screws and drill pilot holes into the body where you made your marks, place the bridge over your new holes and screw it back down.

Restring your bass and go through the process of intonation again... you may just get it to work properly.

Little caveat: generally the instrument's ground wire is mounted underneath the bridge, if there's a wire sticking up when you take your bridge off, make sure it stays in contact with the bridge when you reposition it... otherwise your bass will buzz and you may get shocks.

I'll post an image later, when I get home, showing where I've done this with one of my own basses (except I moved it forward, rather than back)

Ankhanu · Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject:

As you can see in the picture, I highlighted the old holes from where the bridge was originally mounted with yellow circles... I basically had to move the bridge the entire length of the bridge when I replaced the neck (to maintain scale length).

Highlighted in red is the grounding wire... it had previously been completely covered by the bridge, but with the distance I had to move it, the wire was exposed and I had to pull it out a fair distance to maintain contact.

Pilgrim · Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 9:29 am Post subject:

Do an Internet search for "How to intonate a bass" or similar terms. You'll find there are a number of sites that offer directions.

I hope you don't have to relocate the bridge, and in most cases you will find it is not necessary. If you can get the intonation close, you also can keep in mind how often you play very far up the fretboard. I seldom play as high as the 12th fret myself, so the chance that a slight error in intonation would be audible is somewhat reduced.