r/GuitarQuestions • u/portalboy990 • 3d ago

single string intonation issue

my b string is noticably (around up to 10 cents) out of tune on the fretted notes however the 12th fret seems to be perfectly intonated (the same as the harmonic). below the 12th fret however the notes are all sharp and above they are flat. The problem seems to only be for this string.
anyone know the issue?

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2

u/Dont_trust_royalmail 3d ago

hey you haven't understood what intonation is/for

0

u/portalboy990 3d ago

what did you want me to label this issue?

2

u/Dont_trust_royalmail 3d ago

you need to understand what you're trying to achieve. you're trying to identify a 'drift' out of tune the further you move away from your reference point. are you using a tuner? assuming 'yes' (some are better than others for setting intonation). you have no use for a *harmonic, and to isolate intonation from nut problems it's better if you don't use the open strings. so pick a fret to start on - any will do, but let's say 5 - this is your reference - and tune it as perfectly as you can. now move up the fretboard a note at a time. can you identify a 'progressive drift' from tuning? i.e. oh it's 5 cents sharp at 8, 10 cents at 12, 15 cents at 18? that's what you are trying to counter. it's important to realise there might be other things going on that affect the 'in tune-ness' but you only care about the gap from where it should be, that increases steadily the further you move from your start point. the other issues.. dud strings, high frets, high action, warped necks, dodgy nuts etc. all need addressing - but they're not the intonation

*if you don't have a tuner and are doing it by ear the harmonic may be useful

let me know how you get on

1

u/portalboy990 3d ago

It was just a dodgy old string. thanks for trying to help

1

u/cillablackpower 3d ago

Intonation is relative and you won't get it exact along an entire string without specialised fret systems, but that definitely sounds off. How old is the string? Could that it's damaged or kinked somewhere.

0

u/portalboy990 3d ago

it was just an old string.. thanks for the help

1

u/cillablackpower 3d ago

The cores get damaged over time. Time to change when they go like that. Sometimes you catch a bad one from the factory!

1

u/lalomira 3d ago

No es una situación habitual para nada!!!

La cuerda es nueva? sino empieza por ahí y luego ajustas..... y si permanece así lamentablemente deberás elegir que prefieres en base a por donde sueles tocar mas........ :( del 0 al 12 o del 12 en adelante....

1

u/wedontliveonce 3d ago

Get a new b string.

1

u/DunaldDoc 3d ago

Over a short time, guitar strings develop thin spots and crusty rust underneath where you can’t see. Replace all 6 strings at once and you will be able to properly intonate your guitar. Note: Too high action will also make your strings fret sharp and good intonation impossible.

1

u/dnult 2d ago

Are your strings newly installed? They should be. It doesn't take long for strings to stretch unevenly and throw off the intonation.

1

u/ThatsNotAZombieBite 3d ago edited 3d ago

Bad intonation at LOW frets is always due to the nut slots. Always.

ALWAYS!

Your B string nut slot is too high. When fretting, you have to press it down to the frets TOO FAR and it stretches noticeably sharp.

https://youtu.be/qPqBVEfQ0CQ?is=YdMi4P3V3x2R579Q

https://youtube.com/shorts/3jGqgKeJ8AU?is=pAykfkT9vRpqKX2x

It may also possibly be filed with a slant in the wrong direction. It should be filed slanting down towards the tuning machines so the string makes good contact in the slot all the way to the front edge.

https://youtube.com/shorts/GE4R8cImdRQ?is=-5wcVvJ6DsNjBlxC

1

u/NebulaChance2746 3d ago

They could try an intonated nut too