Things That Make You Go Aaaarrrrggggghhhhhh!!

MAGNETIC PULL

More talk on tuning......Yea more, so much can effect your tuning. Pick ups can make your guitar play sharp (higher note) or even cause vibrato (note shakes). Original style Stratocaster (Strat) pick ups have magnets for pole pieces. Six of them, one for each string. Other style of guitars may have the same.

When these magnets/pole pieces get too close to the metal string it pulls on the string. The strings with more mass or size, get pulled easier than the thin strings. If you use a tuner and you see the note fluctuating a couple cents higher and lower from the in tune mark, that means the magnets are pulling on the string. Usually it is a fast fluctuating. Than is when you can sometimes hear the note shaking like a vibrato sound.

The G or third string is thick enough to get magnetic pull. I haven't heard vibrato sounds form that string, but I have heard string rattle. I believe the magnet is making the string vibrate in a larger sweep, causing it to hit the fret tops on the upper end of the neck (15-21st fret and higher). That will create a nasty annoying buzzy rattle in the notes.

I came to this conclusion when I had to remove pick guards in order to adjust truss rods while doing a set up. The guitar played great with out the pick guard then buzzed when I put it back on. Lowering the pick ups made the buzz go away.

I had the customer come in and play it with out the pick guard then put it on and they would play it again. Then they experienced it for themselves.

When I have any metal tool next to the pick ups the tool gets pulled to the pick up. Unfortunately I am seeing more of those guitars than I want to.




HIGH ACTION

When the strings are too high the string actually gets stretched when it is pressed to the fret. That causes the string to play sharp (too high).

The neck should be more level or straight. Yes they do need some curve or forward bow, which enables the lower fretted notes to have room to vibrate.

First let me explain, the string vibrates like a sign wave, and it has it's largest sweep at half the distance of the string. The open string has it's largest sweep at the 12th fret. The first fret note is higher than the 12th, and as the notes go up the neck so does the largest sweep.

The curve in the neck is called relief. As we go up the neck the string gets shorter and tighter and the half distance sweep occurs off the neck relatively quickly. The proper relief usually occurs around frets 5-12. That is the area where the strings can get too high if there is too much relief, causing the strings can play sharp in that area.

The tension on the string also makes a difference. Larger gauge strings are harder to stretch, lighter gauge strings are easier to stretch.

All these factors must be taken into consideration when trying to determine what is causing the problem.


NUT IMPROVEMENTS

Under natural wear the front edge of the nut gets worn away. That is where the string vibrates and the vibration causes the material to wear away. Once the material has worn away the string is actually moving in there. The scale length (the length of the string) is actually longer than it is suppose to be. The open string is not relative to the fretted notes. That needs to be corrected.

I believe I may have discussed this earlier and mentioned how difficult it is to get the nut slot correct.


Intonation

Once everything is set up properly and the strings are new or cleaned up with no dirt on them to weigh them down, then you can set the intonation.

New strings play sharper than old strings. If you plan on keeping old strings you have to re-intonate if it sounds bad to your ear.

How to intonate is not difficult, it is all the other variables that make it difficult.

The open string or the harmonic at the 12th fret will show the same tuning. I like to use the harmonic, I find it fluctuates less than the open note.

The open pitch is compared to the fretted notes. If the fretted notes are higher (sharper) than the open, then the scale length must be made longer, by moving the saddle. The opposite is true, if the fretted notes are lower (flatter) than the open note, then the scale length must be made shorter.

Most people compare the open (or harmonic) to the 12th fret and set it there. I check that spot and I also check the 1st -5th frets and get a blend of intonation setting. I find the open chords sound better if that area is taken into consideration.

Now keep in mind that finger pressure really has a big effect on tuning. You squeeze too hard it will play sharp!!

Yea guitar can make you crazy. Just relax and play. You will find that every instrument plays differently. That is why I don't like to shop for an instrument on line, or through the mail. Sometimes we have no choice. I have customers who come in and say "I just bought this on line and can you make it play wonderful?" Sometimes you can, sometimes not. I do my very best to make them happy because I know there is nothing more wonderful than receiving a new instrument and wanting it to be the best instrument in the world!

Till next time, try not to go too deep into this info and certainly don't let it drive you crazy. Just have fun!