E and B intonation

[smoothpete1957]

Just acquired a Tele with a Wilkinson compensated three saddle bridge. Everything has intonated well except if the high E is spot on, the B is slightly flat so I’ve had to go ‘in between’ to get both sounding okay. Is this something I have to live with or are there any tricks to help?

 

[Killing Floor]

You can make sure the saddle is correct side up.

 

[badscrew_projects]

Just acquired a Tele with a Wilkinson compensated three saddle bridge. Everything has intonated well except if the high E is spot on, the B is slightly flat so I’ve had to go ‘in between’ to get both sounding okay. Is this something I have to live with or are there any tricks to help?

I have the same experience with these: they overcompensate (the « step » between two strings is too big)

 

[pbenn]

"Going between" is what it is all about, imo, what makes the difference between vintage Tele sound and modern Amer Std rock Tele sound.
Of course I'm imagining this. At the extreme end of this reasoning is probably just accepting uncomp saddles.

 

[bigbreak]

Put the B in and let the E go sharp. Sharp is easier on the ears.

 

[Boreas]

Some people bend the intonation screw to twist the saddle a little. Most people just shoot for "good enuf". If you bend the screw, you may need to bend it again with a string gauge change.

 

[schmee]

Put the B in and let the E go sharp. Sharp is easier on the ears.

I say the opposite! Up high you are probably stretching the string a tad anyway when you play fast...

 

[badscrew_projects]

Some people bend the intonation screw to twist the saddle a little. Most people just shoot for "good enuf". If you bend the screw, you may need to bend it again with a string gauge change.

This bridge has compensated saddles, but they are compensated too much

 

[kuch]

I have the 3 barrel bridge on my 52 hotrod and don't have any problem with intonation on any of the strings. Is it the "compensated" saddle?

 

[badscrew_projects]

This is what the Wilkinson saddles look like.

 

[Peegoo]

Don't get too hung up on bang-on intonation at the 12th fret.

Instead, look at the fretted notes between the nut and the 8th fret because this is where most chord work gets done.

For most players, that is.

 

[Piggy Stu]

Different gauge string might balance this like original design?

 

[JohnnyCrash]

I set basic intonation at the 12th fret, then adjust between the 5th and 17th frets to fine tune.

Sometimes with compensated saddles I get a saddle that’s a little wonky. I sometimes slightly tweak its height/action. Depending on the guitar, I might even take a small file to the saddle. Some rare times I still can’t get them perfect, so I aim for good enough.

What gauge strings do you use?

 

[Maguchi]

Just acquired a Tele with a Wilkinson compensated three saddle bridge. Everything has intonated well except if the high E is spot on, the B is slightly flat so I’ve had to go ‘in between’ to get both sounding okay. Is this something I have to live with or are there any tricks to help?

6 saddle bridge.

 

[bottlenecker]

I don't know the height of your strings, but it's what compensation is compensating for. If you have room to raise the B and/or lower the E it will help.

 

[Geo]

Make sure the bridge plate itself is aligned properly. Just "cocked" a few thousands off can cause this as once
experienced here.

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

6 saddle bridge.

View attachment 1043094

Yuck!

 

[Wound_Up]

If the b is slightly flat, I just fret that string a little harder to make up for it. I don't play for anyone except myself, though. So take that for what it's worth.

 

[Wound_Up]

I have the 3 barrel bridge on my 52 hotrod and don't have any problem with intonation on any of the strings. Is it the "compensated" saddle?

Doesn't Wilkinson have multiple compensated saddles? They have those pictured above as well as the round, slanted saddles like what came on my guitar, pictured below.

 

[badscrew_projects]

The slanted are better. The straight ones with the « steps » in them are worse than the vintage uncompensated barrels.