Hi all, hope someone can help with this:
I have a variax acoustic with a fixed bridge block and a separate bridge piece which fits in a slot in the block. The intonation is very slightly out so that the 12th fret is a couple of cents sharper than the harmonic. So I need to move the bridge piece back a little. I figure this probably means routing out a bit more of the slot and filling it at the front with veneer. But I wanted to ask the experienced luthiers out there if there's a better way. If not, does anyone have a formula to figure out exactly how much to move it?
Comments
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Is the Variax bridge saddle dead straight with an evenly shaped top edge all the way across or is it intentionally shaved to provide some intonation compensation?
@ICBM - I guess that might do it, I'll investigate
@funkfingers - they're all sharp to the same degree. I'll post photos of the bridge later
@bensiramos - good point, the strings are not brand new
Thanks to all for your input! I'll post photos (if I can get the photo-posting dialogue to be a good doggie)
(BTW the pic works on my phone but not on my computer - well at least the link to the dropbox pic worked)
It's also worth checking the set-up overall - if the action is too high, that will cause the intonation to be sharp.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Adding a shim in the Variax saddle slot might correct for excessive lean. The screws on either end of the piezo module may permit some height adjustment.
I do not know whether the guitar body is hollow, like a regular acoustic, or chambered solid, like a Gibson Chet Atkins CE. If the guitar has a flexible soundboard, high string tension can deform it. Lighter strings might reduce that deformation.
Seems as if somebody had been attempting to achieve a playing action similar to an electric guitar.
Newtone Strings do custom winds - and they are not exorbitant.
But do put a new set on anyway. On an acoustic, I once measured an intonation 6mm out!!!! Put a new set of strings on, intonation was instantly perfect!
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein