Intonation adjustment

[Roland Rock]

This is just out of curiosity. The vast majority of basses I see have their bridges set up so that the saddle for the lowest string is furthest back, then the next one forward a bit etc. What's the reason for this?

The next question - what about bridges which don't stick to this format? Does it tell us anything about that bass? I don't think it necessarily means that it's incorrectly set up, as I've seen Foderas which have all saddles more or less in a row.

Info welcome!

[spacey]

Just poor workmanship on instruments.
You dont get one of violins.

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1368087831' post='2072927']
Just poor workmanship on instruments.
You dont get one of violins.
[/quote]

Is the bridge totally 'square' on a violin? It's hard to tell:
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Music/muspic/51viobridge.jpg

By that rationale, on a well intonated bass, the closer the saddles are together, the better built it is?

[uncle psychosis]

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1368087831' post='2072927']
Just poor workmanship on instruments.
You dont get one of violins.
[/quote]

That is at least in part because fretless instruments have considerable leeway when it comes to intonation.

[iiipopes]

[quote name='spacey' timestamp='1368087831' post='2072927']
Just poor workmanship on instruments.
You dont get one of violins.[/quote]NO. CORE STRETCH!!! It's not bad workmanship. It's string core stretch. On conventional strings, the larger diameter the core, the more the string stretches as you fret it, and it goes sharp. The reason it is not noticeable on fretless instruments, whether electric bass, double bass, EUB, or what have you, is that the player automatically compensates by where he/she stops the note. Remember, Leo Fender got it right to start with: the original Precision Bass had an adjustable bridge from the start in 1951. What most people don't realize is that this happens at both ends of the string. If the nut is not placed correctly and the nut slot milled correctly, especially the E string will go very sharp on the 2nd & 3rd frets. I actually prefer a little higher action because of the way I "dig in," to the strings, so I actually have intonation shims on the front of my nut on my custom fanned fret bass to compensate for the string stretch, as well as adjusting the bridge. It's in the strings, not the instrument, not the player, and not the workmanship, although all of these contribute to overall tonality and may have a slight bearing on how much compensation to set.

[Roland Rock]

[quote name='iiipopes' timestamp='1368106324' post='2073275']
NO. CORE STRETCH!!! It's not bad workmanship. It's string core stretch. On conventional strings, the larger diameter the core, the more the string stretches as you fret it, and it goes sharp. The reason it is not noticeable on fretless instruments, whether electric bass, double bass, EUB, or what have you, is that the player automatically compensates by where he/she stops the note. Remember, Leo Fender got it right to start with: the original Precision Bass had an adjustable bridge from the start in 1951. What most people don't realize is that this happens at both ends of the string. If the nut is not placed correctly and the nut slot milled correctly, especially the E string will go very sharp on the 2nd & 3rd frets. I actually prefer a little higher action because of the way I "dig in," to the strings, so I actually have intonation shims on the front of my nut on my custom fanned fret bass to compensate for the string stretch, as well as adjusting the bridge. It's in the strings, not the instrument, not the player, and not the workmanship, although all of these contribute to overall tonality and may have a slight bearing on how much compensation to set.
[/quote]

This makes sense, and explains why the majority of basses have more or less the same setup.
So, on to the next question, what about basses which don't have this setup. Are they just badly set up?

Some Foderas, which one would assume are well built and set up:
http://basschat.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2010/post-5581-1290095522.jpg
http://www.austinbasstraders.com/newbass/250/fodera-imperial-5-bona-signature

The saddles are either 'out of order' or very closely aligned.

[Fat Rich]

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1368116257' post='2073436']
This makes sense, and explains why the majority of basses have more or less the same setup.
So, on to the next question, what about basses which don't have this setup. Are they just badly set up?

Some Foderas, which one would assume are well built and set up:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/uploads/monthly_11_2010/post-5581-1290095522.jpg"]http://basschat.co.u...-1290095522.jpg[/url]
[url="http://www.austinbasstraders.com/newbass/250/fodera-imperial-5-bona-signature"]http://www.austinbas...-bona-signature[/url]

The saddles are either 'out of order' or very closely aligned.
[/quote]

Nope it's more about the strings than the bass, probably to do with the thickness of the core wire and the flexibility of the string. Hex core strings have a slightly different tension and flexibility than round core strings, flats have much less flex etc.

If you always use the same brand, type and gauge of string you can probably get away without adjusting the intonation when you put a fresh set on, if you go between different types of strings the intonation will definitely need adjusting.

Edited May 9, 2013 by Fat Rich

[Pembo]

[quote name='Fat Rich' timestamp='1368120624' post='2073522']

If you always use the same brand, type and gauge of string you can probably get away without adjusting the intonation when you put a fresh set on, if you go between different types of strings the intonation will definitely need adjusting.
[/quote]
Totally this. When I recently changed from TI Flats to Fender Flats, I needed to adjust truss rod, lower pickups and adjust saddles. I decided that i was not fussed on the Fenders, so bought some new TI's. Again, needed to re-setup my bass and noticed the saddles were pretty much smack on where they were with the previous TI's on there, yet different to when Fenders were on there.