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Les Paul Intonation

nikhilsanju

New member
Joined
Jul 23, 2018
Messages
24
Hi there.
My Les Paul is giving me troubles with Intonation. I'm unable to perfectly Intonate it. It's showing that it 5cents sharper. I'm using a 9-42 guage. Is it alright if the difference is about 5cents? Or is there a problem? Would it Intonate better if I change to 10-46?

Please help me out. Thanks in advance šŸ˜Š
 

Bob Womack

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Apr 8, 2002
Messages
2,191
Typically, you don't want to intone an instrument sharp if you have a choice. You can always sharp a slightly flat note with finger pressure but you can't flat a sharp note.

Bob
 

nikhilsanju

New member
Joined
Jul 23, 2018
Messages
24
Typically, you don't want to intone an instrument sharp if you have a choice. You can always sharp a slightly flat note with finger pressure but you can't flat a sharp note.

Bob

Thanks for your reply
Will it Intonate better with 10's on it?
 

JReeves

Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2018
Messages
34
Typically, you don't want to intone an instrument sharp if you have a choice. You can always sharp a slightly flat note with finger pressure but you can't flat a sharp note.

Bob

on my tele i would bend the neck forward if i heard i was sharp. Haven't tried on my lpc yet...
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
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20,854
what do you mean "giving you trouble"?

are the saddles maxed in one direction? are the posts straight?
 

Bob Womack

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Apr 8, 2002
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2,191
Thanks for your reply
Will it Intonate better with 10's on it?
If you don't mash down to hard and it is set up well there shouldn't be a difference. The only difference I hear is that as you go lighter in gauge you can hear the string go slightly sharp for a millisecond as you pluck it if you pluck it hard.

Bob
 

WytLytnyn

New member
Joined
Feb 20, 2002
Messages
88
can you reverse the saddles to get another millimeter or two of adjustment?
I had to do this on an LPS.

If this doesn't work, you may want to consider some other bridges from aftermarket sources

TonePros
StewMac GoldenEra Roller bridge (I use these in my LP's)
Schaller

Plenty of companies have options.
 

PaulD

Active member
Joined
Jun 25, 2007
Messages
673
Yes it does sound in tune

Then personally I wouldn't worry about it. I doubt if many people would hear a 5 cent error as being out of tune, how hard you press down when fretting the note will likely change the pitch by much more than 5 cents.
 

Wilko

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Mar 11, 2002
Messages
20,854
is your action set high? lowering the strings will bring the fretted pitch down as the strings won't be stretched as much.

one thing to try is tune way down (loosen the strings) and lean the bridge back toward the tail a bit. Make sure it stays there when you tune it back up. Then measure intonation again. That should be enough. :salude
 
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