Is this normal ????

okay I just finished this build about 5 days ago. this is my fourth build, all my other guitars I had know problem with intonation bridge adjustments but I have never had one look like this in the end so tell me if this looks right or if you have had yours come out like this.

(See Picture) notice how the brass bar is at a steep angle and shouldn't it be angled in the opposite direction. The intonation is real close but I cant angle it much more or the strings will slide of the rod. it plays good so I shouldn't complain and if I wasn't so OCD I could live with it. I have to see if I may have missed something...I posted a question a week or so back on recommendations on string gauge because I decided to go with a 20 3/4 scale, after some sound advice from my posting I went with light gauge .032 .025 .016 on my strings. Any help would be great. Thanks Jamie

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Replies

Jamie Kerns September 20, 2010 at 11:42pm

I appreciate everyone's help, I did try at first a few times to set it back to zero sort of speak and re-adjust again I was put right back into the same position. Then I lowered the action it came up a bit but not much. so then I went back to the original height and put a low 6th string on just to see if the thicker gauge would put some light on the situation, it did bring it up a lot enough to where it wasn't so Rad, it was still angled at the same direction just not at a kill pitch. So I was thinking could I maybe go with .042 .032 .025 instead . what I mean is instead of using the B,G, and D(low) from a standard pack of strings which are what I have set up now. Couldn't I use the G,D, and A? theory being that the G string as my high would increase gauge thickness on the high about .009 which may be enough to get it out of that funky angle and at least look normal. Don't know, what do you all think????

Ben said:
Hey Jamie,
You're checking your intonation, so that's a start! I actually had this happen to me on a long scale 3-stringer (30"), just not nearly as extreme as yours. I did not have ridiculously high action and I was in tune at the octave as well as at each fret (well, as "in tune" as an equal-tempered instrument will get). I have since parted it out, but it played well at the time. If you're happy with how it sounds, don't worry about it.
Ben September 20, 2010 at 3:37pm

Hey Jamie,
You're checking your intonation, so that's a start! I actually had this happen to me on a long scale 3-stringer (30"), just not nearly as extreme as yours. I did not have ridiculously high action and I was in tune at the octave as well as at each fret (well, as "in tune" as an equal-tempered instrument will get). I have since parted it out, but it played well at the time. If you're happy with how it sounds, don't worry about it.
Diane in Chicago September 20, 2010 at 2:53pm

How are you checking intonation, at the 12th fret for a perfect octave with a tuner?

Where are you measuring your action? The old rule is dime at one, nickel at 12 or whatever.

If you can bring your action down any it will surely help the intonation.
Bluesdog September 20, 2010 at 2:45pm

Nope that's not normal.

Have you tried another string? Sometimes a string (even when brand new) can have a slight dent in it or be thinner somewhere along the length of it's scale causing intonation problems when setting up the instrument.

I had this problem with a Stratocaster and a fresh set of string's, one (the high e) needed to be set so far back the saddle ended up against the bridgeplate. I replaced with a new one and the problem was gone.

Frans
YeahDoIt September 20, 2010 at 8:27am

20 3/4 scale is short. Do you have frets? You might try over again. Set the bridge perpendicular to strings, then tune to pitch, then adjust bridge for intonation.
Outhouse Instruments September 20, 2010 at 8:03am

well, I would say partly because the action is kinda high for fretting ( for my taste and IMHO).
I would also double check the scale measurements for the bridge and 12 the fret. If all is well and it sounds good, I don't see a problem.

If anything is off and it's fretted, other than work with nut and bridge height, you can really do much.

Matt
Mark September 20, 2010 at 7:31am

Looks weird to me. That bridge seems to be at quite an extreme angle. Also, as you suggest, I'd normally expect the bridge to have to be shifted furthest back on the lowest tuned string - which is the opposite of what you seem to have if I understand your explanation correctly.

However the test is whether the intonation is OK when you play - if it sounds OK then it is OK.

What is it tuned to?

Choosing light gauge strings isn't necessarily what I'd expect with a short scale length - generally I think you'd want heavier strings for a shorter scale (assuming you're going for the same tuning as a longer scale instrument)
Jamie Kerns September 20, 2010 at 6:47am

fretted, action is about 3/16, the left side is the lowest.
Outhouse Instruments September 20, 2010 at 6:39am

Fretted or fretless?
How high is the action?
Looking at the picture, which side is the lowest string ... hard to tell with the blurriness.

Matt