First ever post - tuning/saddle problem

Hi Everybody,

This is my first post and i'm hoping someone can help me out a little. I've been playing guitar for 6 years and I got a Fender Nashville Telecaster about 9 months ago.

When I tune my guitar up, I use the White boss effects pedal tuner and down by the nut the guitar tunes up fine. Its probably always been the case but after purchase of the tuner i've noticed that when i play 12th fret on the e string, more often than not it isn't a perfect e registering on the tuner but if i play an open e it is perfect.

So in other words the higher i go up the neck, the note it's meant to be isn't quite perfect on the tuner i.e. there's no green light, it's slightly off.

It's not just the e stringeither its all of them although some are out more than others.

Also the 2 screws which go down onto the bridge through each saddle sometimes become loose and this forces the saddle to not sit squarely on the bridge.

I think the solution is to fiddle around with the saddles? on the bridge, I can move them forwards and backwards with a screwdriver, this does seem to help a bit but wondering is there anything else that might be wrong?

I use a set of ernie ball 9's and have always struggled to put strings on as my first guitar was a strat copy and my tele has a vintage bridge so you have to poke the strings in the top of the pegs instead of through the pegs like on my old guitar.

Anyway hi to all, hope someone may be able to give me advice.

Paul.

I would strongly suggest going to fender.com and downloading their excellent set-up guide....that should answer ALL your questions.

The problem you're having with the guitar being out of tune as you go up the neck is clearly an intonation problem. Tune an open string to pitch. Play the 12th fret note. If the note is sharp ...... the distance between the 12th fret and the saddle is too short .......... move the saddle back. If the fretted note is flat .......... move the saddle toward the neck. Do this for each string.

If you use the Fender set-up guide, skip that crap about roughing it out...............go directly to the bottom of the page for the fine tuning part.

Cheers guys, I will go to fenders site now and get downloading! I knew someone could help me out.