Guitar intonation setup generally only becomes an issue when a player starts to play chords or notes closer to the bridge of the instrument. A well tuned instrument will generally play fine within the first 5 frets of the nut at the tuning peg end of the neck. Most intermediate or advanced players however will want to move out of this fret range and so correct intonation for the instrument is essential.
When the intonation is not correct those notes or chords played up the neck will sound off pitch or out of tune. The same note will sound either flat or sharp played further up the fret compared with the same note played lower on the neck close to the nut. A good test for this pitch is to play each string in the open position and then compare this with the octave note played on the same string at the twelfth fret. This will identify which strings require attention.
This pitch is able to be altered by varying the string distance between the nut at the end of the neck and the bridge fixed to the body of the guitar, the two pivot points of the string. The modern electric instrument has an adjustable bridge which can easily be altered if the correct Allen key or screw driver is employed. The more traditional acoustic instrument however usually has a fixed bridge which needs to be replaced or reshaped by a professional or skilled amateur.
Electric players are diverse and varied lot. They might be playing smooth jazz chords or manically shredding notes at breakneck speed at ear splitting volume and everything in between. There are a number of devices on the instrument so that it can be easily set up to enable these different styles to be played. The electric guitar being a more modern instrument also doesn't have the styling restrictions of the more traditional acoustic equivalents.
Altering the string length can result in some string height adjustment. Consequently there are usually string height adjustment screws at the bridge to compensate for this. Major string height adjustment for playing style or string ping (where pressing down on a fret may cause the string to catch on another fret) may only be achieved by altering the tension of the neck.
The classical acoustic player usually has a standard string height set up and so adjustment is generally small and restricted to alterations at the bridge or nut. Steel string acoustic and electric guitars often have some form of neck tension mechanism which allows for greater string height adjustment. Electrics usually have additional string height adjustment screws at the bridge.
A well made instrument should be able to be setup to the owners satisfaction with respect to string height and intonation. This may not be so easy to achieve on a cheaper instrument. Consequently some compromise may need to be reached between the instruments playability and its pitch.
Simple guitar intonation setup should be able to be carried out on an electric guitar by the player if they have the correct tools. However if the user also wants to substantially alter the string height this could further complicate the process. Simple neck adjustments can be made by the owner for an acoustic steel string instrument but intonation adjustment to these and classical acoustic instruments would be best left to an expert technician.
When the intonation is not correct those notes or chords played up the neck will sound off pitch or out of tune. The same note will sound either flat or sharp played further up the fret compared with the same note played lower on the neck close to the nut. A good test for this pitch is to play each string in the open position and then compare this with the octave note played on the same string at the twelfth fret. This will identify which strings require attention.
This pitch is able to be altered by varying the string distance between the nut at the end of the neck and the bridge fixed to the body of the guitar, the two pivot points of the string. The modern electric instrument has an adjustable bridge which can easily be altered if the correct Allen key or screw driver is employed. The more traditional acoustic instrument however usually has a fixed bridge which needs to be replaced or reshaped by a professional or skilled amateur.
Electric players are diverse and varied lot. They might be playing smooth jazz chords or manically shredding notes at breakneck speed at ear splitting volume and everything in between. There are a number of devices on the instrument so that it can be easily set up to enable these different styles to be played. The electric guitar being a more modern instrument also doesn't have the styling restrictions of the more traditional acoustic equivalents.
Altering the string length can result in some string height adjustment. Consequently there are usually string height adjustment screws at the bridge to compensate for this. Major string height adjustment for playing style or string ping (where pressing down on a fret may cause the string to catch on another fret) may only be achieved by altering the tension of the neck.
The classical acoustic player usually has a standard string height set up and so adjustment is generally small and restricted to alterations at the bridge or nut. Steel string acoustic and electric guitars often have some form of neck tension mechanism which allows for greater string height adjustment. Electrics usually have additional string height adjustment screws at the bridge.
A well made instrument should be able to be setup to the owners satisfaction with respect to string height and intonation. This may not be so easy to achieve on a cheaper instrument. Consequently some compromise may need to be reached between the instruments playability and its pitch.
Simple guitar intonation setup should be able to be carried out on an electric guitar by the player if they have the correct tools. However if the user also wants to substantially alter the string height this could further complicate the process. Simple neck adjustments can be made by the owner for an acoustic steel string instrument but intonation adjustment to these and classical acoustic instruments would be best left to an expert technician.
