The 3 vs 6 Debate Ended - Page 2

voided3 · February 25th, 2008, 02:39 AM

I just converted my Affinity tele's stock bridgeplate to a 3-saddle w/ basic steel saddles and it's acoustic volume DOUBLED and is way louder acoustically than my Strat w/ a vibrato. The only reason the intonation is off a bit is because the screws I bought for them are 1/4" too short; the bridge plates are longer on the 6-saddle top loaders than the good 'ol stamped 3-saddle bridges. I have a 3-saddle bridge on my MIM 50's Esquire as well and I get just about perfect intonation with the stock saddles so they are keepers (might try brass ones eventually for tonal variation, but idk how big of a difference it would be). Count me in as a 3-saddle fan!

drummerdarko · February 25th, 2008, 01:12 PM

alright. here goes. this is hard to ask, but....

but i have a question. at the risk of betraying my ignorance and stupidity, (no...at the certainty of it) can someone please explain to me exactly what intonation is? or at least point me in the right direction? i have a pretty good idea, at least from all the references to it. but after reading this thread, i realized that no one had ever described it to my satisfaction. i have been playing acoustic for 12 years, and suddenly i bounce over to electric and there is just so much more going on. I just bought a new tele and now I am thinking that maybe just having it set up isn't good enough. maybe i should know how to set it up myself since I am the one playing it. but how do I adjust the intonation when I don't know what that word means?

thanks and have a great week.

dd

voided3 · February 25th, 2008, 01:41 PM

To sum it up, intonation is making sure that the notes higher up the neck are in tune with notes lower on the neck. You check this by playing the 12th fret harmonic, then the fretted 12th fret note. If the fretted note is sharp, you move the saddle back and if it's flat, you move the saddle towards the neck. It's basically an adjustment of the string length and making that length shorter makes the fretted notes a bit sharper and vice versa.

Telemarkman · February 25th, 2008, 02:20 PM

voided3 said it plain and simple.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drummerdarko

maybe i should know how to set it up myself since I am the one playing it. but how do I adjust the intonation when I don't know what that word means?

Very good point, but now that voided3 has led you in the right direction, you really should learn how to do it, in addition to the other aspects of setting up the guitar to your own preferrence. Only you can tell what's right for you...

drummerdarko · February 25th, 2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by voided3

To sum it up, intonation is making sure that the notes higher up the neck are in tune with notes lower on the neck. You check this by playing the 12th fret harmonic, then the fretted 12th fret note. If the fretted note is sharp, you move the saddle back and if it's flat, you move the saddle towards the neck. It's basically an adjustment of the string length and making that length shorter makes the fretted notes a bit sharper and vice versa.

wow. that was way more simple than I thought. thanks for your explanation.

my main problem is that I am the best guitarist that I know. which is too bad considering I don't know too much... i was in a band briefly in college, but I played percussion. and then everyone got married or went off to gradschool before I could absorb much. this forum is a godsend. thanks guys.

February 25th, 2008, 01:12 PM	#42 (permalink)
drummerdarko Tele-Meister Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Miamisburg, OH Age: 26 Posts: 149	alright. here goes. this is hard to ask, but.... but i have a question. at the risk of betraying my ignorance and stupidity, (no...at the certainty of it) can someone please explain to me exactly what intonation is? or at least point me in the right direction? i have a pretty good idea, at least from all the references to it. but after reading this thread, i realized that no one had ever described it to my satisfaction. i have been playing acoustic for 12 years, and suddenly i bounce over to electric and there is just so much more going on. I just bought a new tele and now I am thinking that maybe just having it set up isn't good enough. maybe i should know how to set it up myself since I am the one playing it. but how do I adjust the intonation when I don't know what that word means? thanks and have a great week. dd __________________ It's been through three wives. To me a guitar is kind of like a woman. You don't know why you like 'em but you do. -- Waylon Jennings on his Telecaster

February 25th, 2008, 02:39 AM	#41 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 693	I just converted my Affinity tele's stock bridgeplate to a 3-saddle w/ basic steel saddles and it's acoustic volume DOUBLED and is way louder acoustically than my Strat w/ a vibrato. The only reason the intonation is off a bit is because the screws I bought for them are 1/4" too short; the bridge plates are longer on the 6-saddle top loaders than the good 'ol stamped 3-saddle bridges. I have a 3-saddle bridge on my MIM 50's Esquire as well and I get just about perfect intonation with the stock saddles so they are keepers (might try brass ones eventually for tonal variation, but idk how big of a difference it would be). Count me in as a 3-saddle fan!

February 25th, 2008, 01:41 PM	#43 (permalink)
voided3 Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 693	To sum it up, intonation is making sure that the notes higher up the neck are in tune with notes lower on the neck. You check this by playing the 12th fret harmonic, then the fretted 12th fret note. If the fretted note is sharp, you move the saddle back and if it's flat, you move the saddle towards the neck. It's basically an adjustment of the string length and making that length shorter makes the fretted notes a bit sharper and vice versa.