Setting Intonation on a Gibson

OK, on this ane, we're assuming yous have a Tun-O-Matic bridge. This is what's generally installed across a huge swath of the Gibson range and it'southward almost certainly what'south installed on your Les Paul, SG, Firebird, Explorer, 335, etc., etc. There are a couple of styles of tun-o-matic only the basic operation is the aforementioned. If you lot've got a wraparound-style tailpiece bridge, check out that article.

The adjustment screws can exist a flake fiddly to access so exist careful. Endeavour not to impairment your strings, your guitar top or the screw itself. Employ an appropriately sized screwdriver (unremarkably a pocket-size-medium flat-bract)

HOW TO SET INTONATION ON A GIBSON TUN-O-MATIC

First up, though, let'south recap the prerequisites.

The rest of your setup must exist right for you before you start. Intonation is the last matter to set up so become your activeness, relief, nut and pickups sorted out first. You should have fresh strings (of your usual gauge and brand) installed, properly stretched, and tuned up as normal.

Remember, too, e'er check intonation and tuning with the guitar in the playing position (i.e. not lying on a tabular array or counter but upright as if you lot were playing it).

The basic theory is this:

  1. Pick the open string and verify it'south in tune.

  2. Fret at the 12th fret and pick this notation. Compare it to the open string—is it flat or sharp?

  3. If the 12th fret notation is flat, move the saddle forward a little past turning the adjustment spiral. Yous'll usually want a modest, flat-bladed screwdriver for this.

  4. If the twelfth fret note is precipitous, move the saddle back a little by turning the screw.

  5. Retune the open cord and go back to i.

Setting intonation on a Gibson tun-o-matic

GIBSON TUN-O-MATIC INTONATION QUIRKS

  • Commonly, the adjustment screws are accessed from the dorsum of the span. Occasionally, though, you might find a guitar with the bridge reversed—the adjustment screws are accessed from the front. This tin exist a fleck tricky—driblet your bridge pickup downwards a little if it helps get to the screws and be careful non to scratch or dent the pickup.

  • Considering the tun-o-matic is pretty narrow, and in that location'south non a lot of dorsum/frontward movement possible, Gibsons may be less forgiving to certain string gauges. Lighter gauge strings can crave more overall compensation. If y'all've problems intonating your 8-approximate strings, you might take to flip saddles or move bridges (see beneath).

  • You tin can see that the Gibson bridge is installed at an angle—farther back on the bass side—in a like manner to an acoustic guitar. Since the tun-o-matic bridges are generally relatively narrow, this gives them a 'head commencement' in the compensation game but sometimes it's not enough. The saddle flipping trick outlined below might help.

  • Every at present and and then, you might come across a Gibson that just will not intonate. Sometimes, the bridge is just in the wrong place (seriously—it happens) and, even if you flip saddles, in that location isn't enough travel to intonate. If you bought it new you can try warranty service. There are also some afterwards-market tun-o-matic bridges that are wider and might let extra travel if you tin can detect one. And, equally a final resort, y'all can have the original holes plugged and the bridge re-mounted. It's a hurting but it's occasionally required.

REVERSED SADDLES ON A TUN-O-MATIC

The big quirk on these bridges is the reversed saddles. It might exist helpful if I expand a little on the bridges themselves.

While there are any number of slight variations, there are ii types of span fitted to most Gibson electrics. They are the ABR-1 and the Nashville.

The ABR is the original bridge. Unremarkably, you tin expect at an ABR span and encounter that ii or iii bass-side saddles are installed 'backwards' (with the sloped or angled side pointing towards the neck). This is to make up for the fact that there is insufficient travel on the intonation adjustment screws to go these strings to properly compensate. By flipping the saddles, yous can get a tiny scrap more than bounty before the saddle hits the back of the span. Essentially, it'south a cludge. Information technology'due south a workaround.

Gibson tried to address the issue past introducing the Nashville tun-o-matic span. This bridge has a lilliputian more travel and it more often than not intonates without whatever saddle-flipping. Of course, every bit with many changes fabricated by Gibson, lots of players complained they preferred the original and then you'll find a mixture of Nashville and ABR bridges installed across Gibson models.

FLIPPING SADDLES ON AN ABR-ane Bridge

The ABR already has some saddles flipped. The Nashville doesn't. However, on either bridge, you'll occasionally have to flip one yourself. Sometimes you'll be at the terminate of the saddle's travel—it won't go any farther back or forwards just you're not quite intonated. Flipping a saddle might just get you where you demand to be.

On the ABR, it's pretty piece of cake (if a little fiddly) to practice.

  • Offset up, slacken off the cord you're intonating.

  • On the bridge, there's a really thin 'retainer wire' holding the saddle screws in identify and stopping them from falling out. Use a small flat-bladed screwdriver to remove one terminate from its hole and carefully move it and so the screws are gratuitous.

  • Lift the saddle and spiral out of the bridge slot. You might need to prise information technology slighly. Be gentle.

  • Back out the adjustment spiral, flip the saddle 180ยบ and re-insert the spiral.

  • Pop it dorsum into the span and (the fiddly bit) put the retainer wire back in position over the saddle screws and get the cease dorsum in the hole.

  • Bring the string back up to pitch and continue intonation.

Reversing a saddle on a Gibson ABR-1 tun-o-matic bridge

FLIPPING SADDLES ON A NASHVILLE BRIDGE

On the Nashville bridge, you tin get lucky and find a model that the screws just 'back out of' merely virtually oft the screws are 'captured' past a clip of some kind.

This may be a circlip (C-prune) or wire clip. Getting these off to flip saddles is possible but information technology's a lot of hassle—especially putting them back again. The wire clip in item will probably demand to be replaced afterwards.

Arroyo this with circumspection and talk to your trusted repair person rather than forcing the matter.

Circlip or C-Clip retainer

Acoustic Guitar Action: Geometry Class

How To

Gerry Hayes

diy-intonation, diy, how-to, how to, intonation, gibson, 335, 345, les paul, sg, firebird, explorer, flying-v