thestringguy.com

It’s this time of year as the seasons change towards the warm summer months that humidity increases causing guitars to go sharp as the necks wow and the tops raise. Ideal humidity is 40-50% with no quick swings.

Often this is when a truss needs loosened slightly, but it should be checked by a pro.

Many shops do not temper the nut and file the slots to proper height. In my opinion, factory nuts are always set too high causing notes to be sharp right off the first fret. Without properly filing a nut everything else is compromised. Saddles are always too high too.

Adjust as follows:
1. Truss
2. Nut
3. Saddle

The biggest factor on intonation on fixed saddle acoustics is bridge height.

You should pick a set of strings you like, then adjust the truss, nut and saddle in that order and be done with it (minus any integrity issues like fretwork and bridge plate lift etc..) Compensated saddles on a six are typically only done on a B. Some don’t even need it.

Take your guitar to a good tech and you’ll be pleased. Getting a free opinion from a decent guitar tech will tell you more and if the tech is good he’ll tell you what the solution is and what the price is too to fix it.

Remember these points too:
1. You can’t properly set intonation with a guitar on a bench! It has to be in player position.
2. Wedging the nut to correct intonation at the 12 fret will not only shorten scale, but it will make your note on the first fret go sharp.

When you set up guitars, I’d suggest that you should be a lot more concerned about how good tuning is in first position than at the 12 fret. You want to temper the tuning and pay close attention to how good you can get tuning in common positions - ESP. The first three frets (1st position).

Every action has a reaction, so they say….

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy