abutton

[abutton]

Thank you Wokkaboy - you are a God send!

I have viewed the video and it seems straight forward enough

I think the hole went to the bottom saddle post but I will check the way you suggested

Before I do it - when I completed the electrics I checked if the humbuckers worked by touching it with a screwdriver thru the amp and checked that the corresponding humbucker worked to the 3 way switch setting and it all worked perfectly - does this mean I still have to earth it to the bridge?

Is there anything I should do with the height of the humbuckers - I havent touched the adjustment - or is this part of the intonation process?

To wind the strings onto the tuners I guess you just stick the string thru the hole and leave enough string for 3 - 4 turns and then tighten it to tune it

Thanks again Wokkaboy - you must want me to complete this as much as me just to give you a break from me! - ha!

Cheers,

Alan

[wokkaboy]

hey Alan, no problem I am happy to answer your questions as I've made plenty of mistakes not knowing correct procedures.

Yes you still have run an earth wire from bridge to the common earthing point - usually back of a volume pot. Without the bridge earth wire you will get an ugly hum from the pickups.
Once you have set the bridge height, depending on how high/low you want the string action and nut slot heights are set the pickups are generally set about 2-4mm below the strings. Make sure you fret the strings to 22nd fret to check the strings don't touch the pickup pole screws.
I'd buy a string winder are only a few bucks from a music store. Saves getting sore wrists turning the tuners by hand. Generally get at least 2 turns of the string around the tuner peg.
Expect it to go out of tune a bit when strings are new and the neck hasn't been played in. Also helps to stretch the strings so they are tightly wound around the tuner pegs.
Good luck

[ihasmario]

The headstock and the eyes/mouth are great. Good job

[abutton]

Thanks again Wokka and thanks ihasmario I really appreciate your comments.

I'm not sure that the eyes turned out the way I imagined - I was hoping they could look like knots in the wood as well as eyes but it didn't quite work out that way.

I have seen the guitar you are building -I'm sure you will do a great job - I like the hollow guitars also - I will try and follow your progress and give you my expert opinion - Ha!

Cheers,

Alan

Cheers,

Alan

[abutton]

Hi Guys,

I got the pickups earthed and strings are on

I tried to intonate it but it sounds awful.

I adjusted the action and it looks pretty good

I tuned it basically to a clip on tuner and then checked the intontation on the 12th fret and each time I pressed down on the string behind the 12th fret it seemed it was on the flat side but the saddles are wound all the way forward so I think you have to shorten the length but there is no adjustment.

On the video they end up too sharp and he winds the saddles back where you have plenty of adjustment to bring it back to the same note octave equivalent (I think?)

I think I must be doing something wrong.

I wound the strings too tight but didn't want to go too far and break them

There was some awful static thru the amp and I checked all my earths and connections then changed the power cord over and it cleaned up nicely.

I think all the controls work O.K. and the neck seems to have straightend up also.

Adjusted the pick ups to about 3mm below the strings

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Thanks heaps,

Alan

[WeirdBits]

If you are still struggling with the intonation then it may pay to check your scale measurements again. I know you checked then here and it looked ok, but now that everything is glued in and strung up check again just to make sure the numbers are where they should be.

Post your results (nut -> 12th fret crown, 12th fret -> high e saddle, 12th fret -> low E saddle) and then we can work through the intonation process and sort out if something is wrong.

Btw, the SG looks great.

[pablopepper]

Clip on tuners aren't as accurate as plug in tuners. Use your ears and compare the fretted 12th fret with the 12th fret harmonic. The harmonic is correct.

[abutton]

Hi Scott and Pablopepper,

The good news is - after playing around with the basic tuning today it seems like it is tuned!?

I think I might have been tuning to some of the notes to the # note ? not sure - but it is at least playable now

And the sound is crystal clear and beautiful!!!!

I can only play basic riffs and strum patterns but it sounds allot better than my other electric guitar

It might not be tuned 100% - I am not experienced enough to know what a properly tuned guitar sounds like

I checked the measurements Scott and they are

Nut to 12th fret - e string 312.5mm
Nut to 12th fret - E string 312mm
Saddle to 12th fret f- e string 315mm
Saddle to 12th fret - E string 319mm

I tried the harmonics with the clip-on tuner and the E A and D strings come up good - the G and B strings struggle to find the note but sometimes does??? and the e string works O.K.

I adjusted the saddles back on the G and B strings (to make it longer in length from the 12th fret) and it seemed to help?

All the strings come up on the tuner as the correct note so I don't think I am too far away

The only other thing is that I think the strings are too close to the fret at the nut end because they rattle when you pick them - especially the thicker strings

I have raised the saddle fairly high at the bridge end so I might need to do something with the nut

I do have a bone nut coming and I need to get it grooved so I might just pay the money and get the music shop to set it up properly with the new bone nut - see how expensive it is anyway.

Thanks for your feedback guys - I really appreciate it - this is all completely new too me - not even sure I am using the right terminology with everything so I hope I am not confusing you too much.

I am wrapped that I can play it even tho it might be a bit flat or sharp or something....

Cheers,

Alan

[DrNomis_44]

Best way to check the intonation is to compare the pitch of a string fretted at the 12th fret with the 12th fret harmonic, to play a 12th fret harmonic you lightly touch the string just above the 12th fret and pluck the string as normal, you should hear a note that's the same as the note you get when you play a 12th fret note, if the 12th fret harmonic is sharp (higher pitched) it means the string saddle needs to be moved away from the neck to lengthen the string, if the harmonic is flat (lower pitched) it means that the string saddle needs to be moved towards the neck to shorten the string, you'll find that you might need to check the intonation if you raise the action or adjust the truss rod, keep adjusting the string saddles back and forth till the 12th fret harmonic sounds the same as the 12th fretted note, you might need to make sure the string is tuned to pitch before checking the 12th fret harmonic.


Sometimes you might come across a string that doesn't sound cleanly, it tends to "buzz" like a sitar when played open, this can be caused by either a badly cut nut-slot or a bad string saddle on the bridge, or even a bad string (assuming the action is fine and the frets are all level).


Make sure the pickup volumes are on full and that the tone controls are also on full so that there's no tone roll off,tuners that you plug instruments into generally give better results than clip-on tuners, I have found that clip-on tuners tend to give results that are a bit hit-and-miss especially when the battery wears out a bit, I'm currently using a Korg Pitchblack + tuner for all my tuning needs and I think it is pretty accurate especially when set to Strobe-Tuner modes.

[abutton]

Hi DrNomis,

Thanks so much for your feedback.

I am really working in the dark here - no knowledge of intonation at all!

I have tuned all the strings - only to the clip on tuner (I may have to invest in the Korg Pitchblack tuner)

All strings are tuned O.K. and they sound like they are in tune so maybe that's as good as it needs to be for me (a novice!)

When I tune to the harmonic note all strings show the same note except the G string seems to be showing a C note to the harmonic?

I cant really tell by ear if the hamonic note is sharp or flat to the open note- just not experienced enough I guess?

No strings have a buzzing noise but when I strum them they tend to rattle which I think is because the action is too low but I have raised it about 3mm off the 24th fret so I don't want to lift it up any further.

I will try and play around with the G string and see if I can get it sound out a G harmonic note

Thanks again for your help,

Cheers,

Alan