Intonation out at 3rd fret?

[Guest MoJo]

I have a friend who has an Ibanez SR300. He claims his E string is in tune, the intonation is correct at the 12th fret but when he frets a G at the third fret, it's out of tune. What could be causing this?

[Thunderbird]

I am no expert but I was watching a video on youtube about this and the guy said it could be the bridge is wrongly adjusted or the strings are old and have a stretch in a certain place let me see if I can get the link to the video as I did not get it all but you might

This is one of the vids [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEiaq0znGL8"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEiaq0znGL8[/url] the guy has a few others on there that could be relevant? hope this helps

Edited September 7, 2013 by Thunderbird

[Beedster]

If 12th fret is OK most likely the string needs replacing

[OldG]

3rd fret sitting high combined with a mole grip strength fretting hand?

Edited September 8, 2013 by OldG

[Guest MoJo]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'll pass them on

[Count Bassy]

I had this with an acoustic guitar and is was a duff string, so I'd suggest changing strings first., and think again if its still the same.
Is the tuning at all the other frets OK?

[Mr. Foxen]

High nut will bend the lower notes, but also be brutal on the playing, you can get used to it I guess.

[MoonBassAlpha]

If the nut is cut wrong, and the string is "fretting" at the back end rather than the front, the lower frets will appear sharp if the intonation is set correctly at the 12th.
More likely the nut is too high though, as Mr Foxen suggested.

[OldG]

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1378576084' post='2202066']
If the nut is cut wrong, and the string is "fretting" at the back end rather than the front, the lower frets will appear sharp if the intonation is set correctly at the 12th.
More likely the nut is too high though, as Mr Foxen suggested.
[/quote]

My first thought - but no mention of problems at the first and second fret? ...

Edited September 8, 2013 by OldG

[iiipopes]

Indeed. Nut slot problems. Not only if there is a correct "witness point" at the front of the nut, but if the slot is too high or too tight, the string core will stretch and pull sharp.

[Count Bassy]

But, as mentioned, a nut problem will put all the bottom end frets out (getting less as you move away from the nut), and the OP only mentions the 3rd fret.

[iiipopes]

And then again, the OP didn't say he plays F or F# for anything, either.