minorkey
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Too many instruments, too little time
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My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
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Post by minorkey on Feb 6, 2022 15:16:07 GMT
So let's say you have an instrument that sounds ok, but as you go up the neck you find it going out (my kid's soprano ukulele in my current avatar). I know how intonation works, but how do you adjust it on an instrument with a fixed bridge. Do you raise/lower the saddle and/or the nut depending on whether its sharp or flat at the 12th? Its easier to grasp on my mandolin because it has a moveable bridge, but even so I still can't get it to intonate so something else is going on there that's beyond my capability. But I was thinking of getting new strings for that little uke and setting the intonation.
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Post by robmc on Feb 7, 2022 7:34:38 GMT
Hi Larry, I think you can make small adjustments to the saddle which might help or buy a compensated saddle to see if that helps. Sometimes if the nut slots are too high it can cause intonation issues too.
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minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
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Post by minorkey on Feb 7, 2022 7:47:53 GMT
Hi Larry, I think you can make small adjustments to the saddle which might help or buy a compensated saddle to see if that helps. Sometimes if the nut slots are too high it can cause intonation issues too. Thanks. I actually found a video specific to this uke!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Feb 7, 2022 8:51:03 GMT
Most cheap ukes have a nut which sets the strings far too high, which not only hinders playability, but puts the intonation out too. Deepening the slots to bring the strings nearer the fretboard reduces the deformation (and hence increase in string tension and sharpenin of the note)when fretting. The bridge saddle may also need lowering for similar reasons. The only other means of adjustment is altering the break point of the string over the saddle forwards or backwards by judicious filing - usually there's not much scope as the saddle is usually thin. Never had to do this on a uke - even the cheapest could play tolerably in tune once string height at both ends sorted. Having done this for dozens of the cheapest ukes in the village school it does make a worthwhile improvement.
Keith
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