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.
If notes or chords played on the instrument sound out of pitch, sharp or flat, when played up the neck then the intonation probably needs seeing to. One way to test this is to play an open string then play the same note an octave higher on the same string at the twelfth fret. If the two notes are off pitch then this string will need adjustment. This method is then applied to all the strings.
This adjustment is most commonly achieved by altering the length of the string between its two pivot points. These are the nut and the bridge with the bridge being most commonly the point that is altered by moving it toward or away from the nut. This is not easy on an acoustic instrument as the bridge is usually fixed so that it may need to be reshaped or replaced completely and so is normally a job for an expert. Most electric guitars however have adjustable bridges and can be altered by using a screwdriver or Allen key.
The playability of an instrument will largely depend on the players musical style and preference. A traditional classical guitar will generally have little adjustment as the style of music played is dictated by the type of instrument. A steel stringed acoustic may have a wider range of adjustment but the style or method of playing it is restricted by its physical dimensions and construction.
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 electric instrument usually has a additional string height adjustment option at the bridge. The classical guitar being the more traditional acoustic normally has a fixed neck so that string height adjustment is made by adding or subtracting height at the nut or the bridge.Once this has been done a guitar intonation setup is usually required.
Sometimes it is not possible to achieve perfect string height and pitch. This is more the case on a cheaper instrument. In this situation the setup may need to be a compromise between intonation and the desired string height. A more expensive instrument should be able to be set up to the players satisfaction with near perfect pitch.
Modern electric instruments can have quite sophisticated bridge configurations. As a result it is possible for the guitar intonation setup to be carried out by an amateur with the correct tool kit and a little bit of knowledge. Acoustic instruments however because of the craftsmen like skill required to alter the fixed bridge might best be left to set up by a professional.
If notes or chords played on the instrument sound out of pitch, sharp or flat, when played up the neck then the intonation probably needs seeing to. One way to test this is to play an open string then play the same note an octave higher on the same string at the twelfth fret. If the two notes are off pitch then this string will need adjustment. This method is then applied to all the strings.
This adjustment is most commonly achieved by altering the length of the string between its two pivot points. These are the nut and the bridge with the bridge being most commonly the point that is altered by moving it toward or away from the nut. This is not easy on an acoustic instrument as the bridge is usually fixed so that it may need to be reshaped or replaced completely and so is normally a job for an expert. Most electric guitars however have adjustable bridges and can be altered by using a screwdriver or Allen key.
The playability of an instrument will largely depend on the players musical style and preference. A traditional classical guitar will generally have little adjustment as the style of music played is dictated by the type of instrument. A steel stringed acoustic may have a wider range of adjustment but the style or method of playing it is restricted by its physical dimensions and construction.
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 electric instrument usually has a additional string height adjustment option at the bridge. The classical guitar being the more traditional acoustic normally has a fixed neck so that string height adjustment is made by adding or subtracting height at the nut or the bridge.Once this has been done a guitar intonation setup is usually required.
Sometimes it is not possible to achieve perfect string height and pitch. This is more the case on a cheaper instrument. In this situation the setup may need to be a compromise between intonation and the desired string height. A more expensive instrument should be able to be set up to the players satisfaction with near perfect pitch.
Modern electric instruments can have quite sophisticated bridge configurations. As a result it is possible for the guitar intonation setup to be carried out by an amateur with the correct tool kit and a little bit of knowledge. Acoustic instruments however because of the craftsmen like skill required to alter the fixed bridge might best be left to set up by a professional.
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