How to Adjust an Electric Guitar's Action and Intonation For Dummies
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ส.ค. 2024
- Adjusting the action and intonation on your electric guitar affects your instruments sound. The exercises in this video lesson show you how to adjust for sharp or flat frets the tips ensure your adjustment is working.
Don't forget to TUNE DOWN the string before you lenghten the distance between nut and saddle. If for any reason the adjustment you have to do is very large, not tuning down beforehand will increase the tension on the string to such a degree that it might snap in two. Can't believe it's not mentioned in the video.
Yeah I was wondering if he was lengthening the string wouldn't it snap?So you are saying that I need to loosen the string at the top right?Cheers
Yeah just tune the string down a bit, and after adjusting tune it back up. Still can't believe how this guy explicitly says: "Remember, you always start your test with your open string in tune" like, at the exact moment he's lengthening the string by a huge amount. Like, how smart is it not to mention you have to tune the string down BEFORE you lengthen it.....
trtgre grfdgdfg Maybe he needs to read the book for dummies on how to tune and set the action uh.
Cheers
That's not how you set intonation. You need to have the string tuned to pitch check the harmonic at the 12th fret with a tuner and make slight turns at the saddle adjuster until it's tuned. You should never start cranking and turning the saddle adjusters to "lengthen" the string.
Steven Kok Snapping it would only occur if you lenghtened it too much. The string should ALWAYS be in tune first on the open note and harmonic before you start.
Pro-tip: when adjusting for intonation, slacken the string right off before altering the saddle distance. You don't want the screws that adjust the string height gouging holes in your nice chrome bridge plate as it moves across it!
Test; slacken; adjust; re-tune; re-test. Repeat as necessary.
Been playing guitar for almost 20 years and never knew how to do this...thanks!
Far and away the simplest and most informative video I have seen yet on keeping my Strat in tip-top shape. Thanks so much for bringing it down to a level that we guitar non-snobs can understand. Great help and great video! Thanks again
I remember blindly messing with all of these when I was younger...picking up my guitar ~7 years later, this helped tremendously. Thanks!
Just wanted to add a comment. If you are trying to intonate and the low e saddle is all the way back and it's still sharp, you have to tighten the truss rod (carefully). I just had this problem with a new SG standard. This solved my problem. I used a capo at the first fret and my finger at the last fret and used a 0.010 feeler gauge at the 9th fret. After I made the truss rod adjustment, the guitar was easy to intonate correctly. Now the guitar sounds and plays awesome. I was about to bring the guitar to a tech...now I don't have to, and I saved myself some cash. . I hope this helps someone out with the same problem. Peace
It's probably a good idea to bring it to a tech for the first time, ask some questions and get to know how it's done professionally. It will also tell you what your striving for when you want to do it yourself. Worth the money I think (at least the first time).
I say just start turning shit with wrenches and screw drivers until you get it ballparked then smash it over your half stack !
there are some very bad techs out there. Best to take the time and learn your guitar yourself. There exists enough tutorials on the internet.
this was the answer to my 2-year problem with my lowest saddle which was all the way back and still sharp by a half tone. a big THANK YOU, John Lain! Will turn my truss carefully tonight
@@Ranger11413 Thats exactly what I do! Except I'm smashing it over a lil 40 watt combo amp >:)
Absolutely amazing, well paced and simple easy to understand terms.
The 12 year old me just plugged his guitar in and if it made noise then AWESOME, I'm now back and 24 realizing what those little things I adjusted were actually doing. Lol, Thanks!
Thanks!! I have been searching for a simple explaination of this adjustment! You just saved me about $40-$70 from having someone else do it!
Thanks, I found your video helpful, concise, and to the point.
Me too; three years on ....Thanks
@@tomncar me also 5 years later thank
Concise and to the point mean the same thing, so ironically that comment itself wasnt concise
Best explanation of this you will find on you tube. Hands down. This guy nailed it.
You forgot that you have to adjust your neck relief before you adjust the action. That is always the first step. Or at least check the neck relief. It may not need adjusting, but you should always at least check it first.
That was the same thing I was thinking. And making sure your nut height is right. These are the last 2 steps that he is showing us.
I've played guitar for almost 13 years and I think the first time I properly adjusted the intonation on both of my guitars was 1,5 years ago. Live and learn!
I surprisingly found this video helpful. just fixed the intonation on my Tele and now I'm on to the SG.
My girlfriend bought her first guitar yesterday and it's a pretty cheap one made in China, so obviously, the bridge isn't setup correctly. I'm not a guitarist and this video helped a ton! Thank you!
Just bought a new semi-hollow body and was ready to take it back! THANKS!! Had NO idea about the intonation. DUH!!
Twelve years later. Thanks.❤
Damn... I've never known that and always wondered why the saddle looked adjustable... what a ... dummie? Yep. I feel like I've learned a lot in this 5 minute video. Thank you so much! Very much appreciated.
Probably the most well explained tutorial video on the internet
ty, I need to do mine now. I just had someone set it for my Ibanez and all it needed was to low the action some and he brought it back to me buzzing throughout the whole neck. This will be my first time doing and I know I will do a better job than he did. Thanks again
Excellent tutorial. i once had a Brown Telecaster. it was my first electric guitar.. & after a while the E string on top (the lower sounding E) started buzzing.. & i didn't know how to fix it. The guitar shop of course loved having me come in & paying $75 for that simple fix. Now i know how to approach it.. but i wished TH-cam info was readily available then.. & your video gives exact, concise info.. When you don't know how to do something, it can easily seem like only a rocket scientist could handle the equation... But some of this stuff just requires getting the right tool for the job... (& most of the time its just supplying the brain with info).. Thanks
Extremely basic and extremely useful. My brand new bass guitar is buzzing at the first and second fret. Driving me wild. I spent WAY to much money and now this. I will apply your tips and think that will fix the problem. THANKS.
Kick ass you rock ,By far this video gave the most basic in plain English ,however I wish you added the neck tension the need to higher or lower tension but thank you short sweet to the point
Thanks for the simple explanation. Others get too technical.
Thx, love a guy with no agenda or ego making it clear.
Thx alot
Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insight. Very clear and easy to follow instructions. Your info helped me in adjusting my Squier electric guitar. God bless!
Finally a great explanation on intonation for me - thanks!
I JUST walked across the street to Safeway's to get 2 dbl ' A " batteries for the exact same tuner , from the 80's . IT WORKSSZ .
1:57 "IN - TOE - NATION"
Is that the new white stripes song?
Thanks man, highly educational and beautifully explained!
Thank you as this adjustment was what I was trying to find, your video answered my question perfectly, thank you 👍
I'm not a dummy :(
you might wanna tell your face? :-)(
dang it you beat me to it
Awesome video m big help. Thanks and cheers from Canada 🇨🇦 !
I honestly had no idea, mate. Thank you very much for the education and the lesson..
I like this guy... he wants to adjust the sound of the "acktives" so that they "may-atch" by turning the screws in the "bay-ack."
That slaps me on the knee
Jimmie Ervin I AA-gree
Damn good one Jesse
This guy is a super teacher. Really well done and explained. Thank you.
One should check the neck relief and adjust the truss rod as necessary first. Then set string height. Check string height above the first fret & reduce to minimum for best accuracy near the nut (not easy). Check notes on the same string an octave apart that are away from the nut (say 3 & 15 fret) to set tailpiece intonation; the strings will tend to be sharp near the nut and it is better to have most fretted notes in tune rather than including open strings. Nut extenders can be needed to correct sharpness near the nut (think Feiten & others). Use of the free Seventh String strobe tuning software will give excellent accuracy for this work.
I got a problem. I have a schecter Damien elite with tune-o-magic bridge (string thru body). When I tighten the truss rod to straighten the neck, the lower frets get major buzz on lower strings while the action on bridge is to high and would have to loosen the rod to get rid of buzz. Any help?
You could not have explained more perfectly.
best string height i have found on my strat is 1.8 mm at the 17th fret where it joins the body. its comfortable and easy to bend.
@74bluewolf If its vibrating, or fuzzy sounding, its your trust rod, or your bridge. If you cant take it to the shop..(looking should be free) try to adjust the pickup by hand. its very difficult but it should be reversable.
This is so early 2000s vibe. I miss those days
Great video. Right to the point. Thanks!
I actually learned something. Thank you. You deserve 4 more years mr trump
@andr4681 Yeah, you're both right. He's talking about guitar intonation in that each fret has the correct note being sounded. Whatever note the string is tuned to will be the same played an octave, in other words the 12th fret. He's not saying that if the open note matches the 12 fret note the guitar is in tune, he's merely saying the intonation is correct.
Thank you very much! you made it very clear... You helped me a lot! I thought I knew how to "strobe" an electric guitar but I was not sure..... Thank you!
awesome man just plane awesome man.. learned a whole lot about the tuning using the bridge. your work is much appreciated
Fascinating and informative.
Exactly what I was looking for.
Thank you 👍
so freakin helpful thank you. was getting irritated with my guitar because I'd play a cover of a song and it would always sound nothing like the original even when playing the right chords.
Brilliant video. Clear, precise and everything I wanted within one video. Thank you!
that was great! totally to the point and easy to understand. thanks!
Thank you 🙏 so much. I have an Ibanez Locking string guitar 🎸. Just a ball of fun when it comes to tuning. 😂
Very clearly and respectfully explained. Thank you!
@oxking321 I suggest raising the lowest screw on the floyd rose, should control the 3 lower strings.
Thanks for sharing this important information
@Kaitano94
search for floyd rose action adjustment. Most ibanez RG have an edge III tremolo, which is similiar to the floyd rose.
This guy makes things sound soooo much simpler
I'm not seeing a lot of answers, but here are two questions. First, if the string height is too high or too low, it could be due to the saddle height (as noted) or to the truss rod needing to be adjusted. How do you determine which adjustment needs to be made? Second, when testing for intonation, rather than comparing the open string with the 12th fret note, can't you compare the 12th fret harmonic with the 12th fret fretted note? If properly intonated they should be the same. If it's off, its easier to tell because you don't have to compare octaves.
Thank you! very clear, simple, straight to the point.
Re: your comment of a year ago: "It is the guitar player not the guitar that makes good music." I agree with you only up to a point. I'd rather play a professional or quality instrument over what is commonly referred to as "a cheap guitar". To be honest, I Hate Cheap Guitar. When I was a kid, which is some time ago, cheap guitars were really cheap and hell to play and get any satisfaction from. Now I have a room full of beautiful Martins, strats, teles, and Fender tube amps. I'm a happy man!
Great, simple and clear. Thanks!
Always adjust the action before intonation. After action is comfy, loosen strings a full step, then adjust intonation. Then retune, recheck. easy breezy nice n sleezy
one of the better videos on this topic .... good Job
@polishskaterdude32 The neck is meant to be either straight or with a very slight bend
Thank you..very very helpful and easy
Well done video and I think Porly62 should look around the web page before making comments. This video was based on the fact that the truss rod does not need to be adjusted. There's another video that explains truss rod problems.
Great explanation on how to adjust action and intonation, thanks.
@BIGVERK23 That is a Stratocaster, I can't read if it is a Fender, but Fender is the make of most Stratocasters.
This was great my strings are too high from my fretboard and it makes it very uncomfortable on my fingers so this should help with that
After watching this video, I lowered my "action" myself! How cool is that. Thanks man!
But I have buzzing in the lower E. Maybe raise it back up a little?
Old video but still the best!!
An' 20+ YEARS later , going DuH' ( Truly , learn something new everyday ! ) Thank You , my guitar sounds SO much better now
Any guitar can be made to play and sound good. I know, I have several 'cheap' guitars that if one would have their eyes closed could not tell if they are cheap guitars.
The major component is the player, always has been, and that will never change as far as guitar playing is concerned.
Nice post. Simple to understand and follow. Thanks.
Some string buzz can be ok depending on what kind of tone you are going for. If you are playing heavy metal through a marshall stack, you will never hear that buzz. In my opinion(no disrespect), feel is way more important when it come to action unless you are playing jazz or need a super clean tone. Otherwise, buzz can be ok as long as it feels good and the intonation is correct. Have a great day!
Thanks. I lowered my treble strings. Now barre chords are much easier to play.
@dookiebabii if your neck is bowed back it will buzz no matter what. try adjusting the truss rod so that you have a bit of a forward bow, then lower the action. there are lots of videos here on youtube on truss rod adjustment if you need more help.
If you don't have a tuner, then a good way to hear the difference in tones is to play the harmonic on the 12th fret of the affected string and then subsequently play the actual 12th fret of that string. Keep doing this until they match.
This is world-class information. Thank you
Cool thank you, first time I have understood this as I was always told it was something to do with pitch? Also I was struggling to tune a guitar I was given, kept going out as I was tuning it. Turned out to be a tremolo plate that was adjusted too slack.
I did my own setups and intonation for a long time before I ever had my guitar serviced by a tech. I learned how to do all that stuff in a basic level. Seems like Gibson guitars are much easier to setup than a fender for many different reasons.
Does using vibrato mess up intonation in long run ?
@BIGVERK23 Very likely, if you're thinking about getting one, I recommend a Mexican Strat (What I play) over Squire. And no problem at all.
Very good video. Don't forget to adjust your neck. I mean the guitar neck with a trus rod.
Thanks so much. A clear, succinct explanation.
Nice and simple. Thanks for the video.
I buyed my first guitar yesterday, today I played the riff from Metallica Sandman, and its not so bad as people say, but my hand hurts, to bend hand so much needs time and I think I need to shorten my fingers a bit too xD but I love it!
Great tips and explained well. Thanks mate.
Excellent just what I needed. Thank You
Thank you. That was great!
Super helpful, thanks a ton
Very good video, thanks!
Informative and imperative.
@Kaitano94 You need an alen wrench and in the tremolo on each side of the string you'll see some "peg looking things" you adjust those accordingly with the allen wrench
So I have a left handed lp100 epiphone that I put a right handed nut on and I tried everything but I can't fix it
I don't really need the guitar but my marketing teacher gave it to me with confidence that it would be played and appreciated and I didn't have the heart to tell him I can't play lefty. So it's just become this drawn out frustrating project and I just want to fix it
Good grief! simple and clear! ....but why doesn't an acoustic guitar have that intonation adjustment? THANKS
Thanks for the info, works too.
This is exactly what I needed to know! 😲👌🏼 thank you
@Kaitano94 there's to screws in the bridge (in the two sides of the bridge) turn them to adjust the action
Thank you for that. Easy to follow
Thats all well and good if you have a strat, but my ibanez has a gibraltar bridge that can only be adjusted up or down.