What the hell has gone wrong with my Intonation?

[Aquila Rossa]

A couple of days ago I noticed my intonation on my high E string suddenly went out really badly.
I had changed a string a few days earlier, but the intonation didn't seem to be affected then.

The way it was set up the note was nearly a semitone flat when fretting the 12th. I managed to adjust it to a microtone flat but have no more adjustment left.

There doesn't appear to be any problems with the nut or saddle either, it's weird.

The other string's intonation is fine.

Anybody seen this before?

Everybody who has seen it is bamboozled by it and can't work out why it's happened.

The guitar is going to Ash next week for a setup and fret dress, but usually I do the intonation myself.

It's got me fu<ked

[Rog]

I have had this happen before (a long time ago).
Replaced the string and the problem went away.

Have you tried that?

[Aquila Rossa]

I have had this happen before (a long time ago).
Replaced the string and the problem went away.

Have you tried that?

I thought about doing that, but thought nah, how can a string cause bad intonation? I can't see how it could happen, but who knows?
I'll try it now.

[Rog]

I know, I was the same, but my logic was - that's the only thing which changed...

[Aquila Rossa]

I just did a quick google, and somebody said it is caused by having a bad string, funny thing his name was Rog too.

I'll chuck a spare on now.

Wish I could get single Elixirs. The dodgy one is Dunlop.

[otisredding]

Yep, I can confirm a bad string will cause this.

I use GHS Nickel Rockers and never have a problem (apart from getting them in NZ!) but I have had batches of other brands (D'addario and DR were the worst offenders) that were really bad.

[Ears]

It's not the string, it's 'cause you got one of them G gitars, get an F gitar and you'll only ever have to tune it once
see http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ILnjHumUvKA&feature=email

[ash]

Its not unusual for a wound string to cause bad intonation (even if Tom Jones didn't sing it in his song)
But it is unusual for a plain string to do so. Still not impossible. In the absence of any crazy stuff like poltergeist saddles, nut or frets, the string is about the only culprit left. If there is another culprit it would be magnetic pull from the pickups being waaaay to close, but also very unlikely.

[Ironbird13]

It's not the string, it's 'cause you got one of them G gitars, get an F gitar and you'll only ever have to tune it once
see http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ILnjHumUvKA&feature=email

no no no, he needs a Quitar






sorry, just wanted to use that word somewhere

[Kristie]

I've seen this intonation issue once before where there had been a light kink in an unwound string. When you fret after the kink the string vibrates more freely and has a different intonation to the open string or fretting before the kink.

[Bg]

I bought a shit load of fender strings in Hong Kong a couple of years ago - everyone of the high E strings had intonation problems. Took me ages to figure that one out as I kept swapping it with yet another crap fender high E string. I only figured it was a bad batch when I changed the strings on another guitar and the problem re-occurred. Not the bargain strings I was hoping for

[Aquila Rossa]

I put a new string on and hey presto, I adjusted the intonation and it is now all good. Thanks Rog.

I can't see anything wrong with the old string though, maybe it was slightly thinner in part of the length?

Anyway problem solved.

[Rog]

Cool!

[Aquila Rossa]

It's not the string, it's 'cause you got one of them G gitars, get an F gitar and you'll only ever have to tune it once
see http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ILnjHumUvKA&feature=email

Hey Ears, that's one country frickin' pickin' funny vid.

Have you put Slash-ed onto it, if so it explain why he needed a tele f-gitar.

[3928294]

Yeah the intonation madness happened to my les paul few days ago as well

maybe it's because the weather recently had a sudden change(if you're living in Auckland), and strings get affected...


Never try to fight with intonations with non-fresh strings