Intonation Problems

[philwood]

I have one of the rockbass warwicks that is having intonation problems.
The open strings and 12th frets are practically perfect but on the 14th fret and higher things just go badly wrong all over the place. The neck relief is good and nut seems fine.
Could it be a fret problem??

Many thanks!

[Twigman]

The dusty end of the fretboard shouldn't be a worry.....move higher than the ninth fret and you're playing the wrong instrument

Edited April 29, 2013 by Twigman

[danthevan]

^^^^ what he said! 0-12 is the important bit, although it should still be pretty close above that

[philwood]

Haha I agree gents, however it is bugging me as to why this is happening, never had this problem on any other basses.

[BigRedX]

If the frets are there, then they should be in tune. End of story.

Check it with a decent tuner. Get the bridge adjusted until the octave harmonic and the 12th fret for each string are exactly the same. Then check the frets above the 12th. They won't be exactly in tune as you need [url=http://www.truetemperament.com/site/index.php?go=0&sgo=0]true temperament frets[/url] to do this but they shouldn't be more than 10 cents out.

Is this a new bass? If it's not right take it back and get your money refunded.

[The Bass Doc]

That illustration of true temperament frets confirms that 'normal' fretting is not an absolutely exacting procedure. In other words 'near enough is near enough'.

Consider how Strat players for instance mess about with the individual saddles to give each string a different speaking length and then check out the bridge on a classical/Spanish guitar - it's a plain bar! - still sounds in tune though.

If you're looking for pitch perfection on every string, every fret, you could be driven round the bend looking at your tuner.

Edited April 29, 2013 by The Bass Doc

[zero9]

Take the frets out!

On a more serious note... if the instrument is perfectly in tune at the 12th fret (fretted note and harmonic), there shouldn't be a noticable problem higher up. It suggests either your instrument needs the set-up (bridge saddles) adjusting, or there is something seriously wrong. I've never had problems with intonation above the 12th fret. What strings are you using?

[iiipopes]

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1367234288' post='2062822']
That illustration of true temperament frets confirms that 'normal' fretting is not an absolutely exacting procedure. In other words 'near enough is near enough'.

Consider how Strat players for instance mess about with the individual saddles to give each string a different speaking length and then check out the bridge on a classical/Spanish guitar - it's a plain bar! - still sounds in tune though.

If you're looking for pitch perfection on every string, every fret, you could be driven round the bend looking at your tuner.
[/quote]Classical guitar manufacturers do not use the 2^1/12 function for mathematical placement of frets as do Fender and others. They use a compensated traditional centuries-old compensated scale of "Rule of 17," where each fret is based on a rounded 1/17th proportion of the fret board. Then the bridge is placed according to custom. This, along with the fact that classical guitar strings don't have the same string core stretch characteristics as metal core strings, determines why the bridges are different. Now, fretting inconsistencies can also be to blame. How about the 12th fret itself? Has it been checked to see it is in the right place? If not, then all the intonation tricks in the world won't fix it if they are based (pun intended) on 12th fret placement. Likewise, if the nut is not cut properly, there will be string stretch that will be especially noticeable on the first three frets, but will also appear on the upper frets as well. Finally, have the strings been changed? Bad strings can intonate all over the place, even if the bass is set up "perfectly."

[philwood]

Thanks for all of these posts Gents, I recently aquired it so not sure what strings are on it, they feel resonably new but they could be crap. I've ordered a new set of strings to see if that helps!

[ezbass]

If you've got it set up right for the 12th you will probably always find it'll be a tad sharp the higher up you go, unless you're string height is identical all the way up the neck of course, as you are effectively bending the string to fret it.

[hubrad]

[quote name='philwood' timestamp='1367336955' post='2064403']
Thanks for all of these posts Gents, I recently aquired it so not sure what strings are on it, they feel resonably new but they could be crap. I've ordered a new set of strings to see if that helps!
[/quote]
This first.. if you're unsure of the strings, or if they are getting old, they may be stretching unevenly. This can lead to all sorts of weirdnesses.

[discreet]

Don't worry. No-one ever listens to the bass anyway.

[Lozz196]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1367341402' post='2064464']
Don't worry. No-one ever listens to the bass anyway.
[/quote]

Yes, and if you do a hit a note on the 14th fret that sounds out, people will think the guitarist hit a bum-note

[discreet]

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1367344213' post='2064502']
Yes, and if you do a hit a note on the 14th fret that sounds out, people will think the guitarist hit a bum-note
[/quote]

Especially if you frown at him while you're doing it.