String Intonation: In tune across the neck | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep. 6 | Thomann

If you want to make sure that your guitar is in tune all over the neck, you need to check the intonation and adjust it if necessary. Here's a pretty much complete guide to help you with it.

Before you adjust the intonation on your guitar / bass, you wanna make sure it's set up properly with the string gauge and the tuning you are planning on using on the instrument.

Here are our 3 setup videos. Take a look at them before you proceed with the intonation adjustment:

Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
0:44 What is intonation?
1:02 How to adjust the intonation?
2:10 This is how you do it
3:07 remember: Flat - Forward
3:30 Intonation on Floyd Rose bridges
4:05 Vintage style Telecaster bridge
4:55 Compensated Tele saddles
5:27 Wraparound bridges
6:01 Evertune bridge
6:21 It's time for a test ride :)
7:15 Outtakes

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[DCSO]

Thank you for a simple, concise demonstration of how to set intonation., especially for a Floyd Rose tremolo. I bought a used guitar with a Flyod Rose tremolo. Played around with the setup, then installed new strings. It sounded great, but I did not know how to do the intonation. Well I know now. A little bit of extra work required, but still easy enough and it only took a few extra minutes and it was done with correct intonation. And I like the "Flat=Forward", I will remember that.

[MichaelTheMartainMetalMusic]

Great instructional vid covering all the different bridge set ups on the market.
before this was a multi vid search but you fixed that.. Thanks

[Matijp]

Love this guy :) is like he is always Smiling !

[MyNameIsMel]

Your videos are very informative with very simple explanations. Awesome and thanks!

[byroncjohnston]

Wonderful video. Calm to the point. not a lot of jamming.

[bluwng]

One thing no one mentions is string height, if the action is to high it will always read high regardless of your intonation.

[nicosantone]

“You have to guess” lol couldn’t be more accurate with that statement 😂

[austinsandefer]

Very enjoyable instruction on intonation. Thank You... 🎸 👍👍 🇺🇸.

[trianglerecords]

IMHO Just handling with the 12th fret is not precise enough. I tune first with your method and when right I fine tune by comparing the fretted note in 19th fret with the harmonic at same place. It gives very good results both in bass and guitars.

[gusdog]

Great job but I still have an issue intonating the high E-string.
I have a Fender American Strat. It has two bolts / screws in front of and securing the bridge.
My strobe shows the high E string slightly flat and I cannot shorten the string anymore because the saddle mechanism is right up against the bridge bolt. Neck relief and string height are set to spec.
Do you have a solution?
Thanks.

[realguitarshredder]

So I have sorted out the intonation on the 12th fret but the 24th fret is flat now. Plus the notes on 1, 2, 3, 4 fret are sharp so if dmajor is in tune then A major isnt. What can be the problem.

[oldmanzen]

Really leaning into the Joe Miller (from The Expanse) look, aren't ya! ;)

Great video as always. A perfect resource for folks wanting to setup their own guitars and basses.

[horschy]

Hi Kris,
great video, I always wondered what's the thing about the intonation.
And such a sweet bassplaying in the test ride, what is this song called?
Cheers, Max

[andyguitar]

Hi Kris, does it make a difference whether you adjust the guitar horizontally or in the playing position? Btw Great video - as always!!!

[PooNinja]

Ok now that’s done ✅ how do I make my frets True temperment? Just bashing them higher or lower with a tiny acrylic mallet has had disastrous results. Maybe I should just leave that to Anders.

[countblue]

I dont know but I think you forgot to mention that between moving the bridge forward and the next test on the 12th fret you have to tune the open string again.
So its: if you have to move the bridge you have to then retune the open string and only then check again the 12th fret. ;-)
Amateurs might overlook that otherwise.

[pisiprkl]

Did I miss something? How about tune-o-matic bridge? Same principals apply I guess. I have a HB TE-40 and the metal bits that you can fine tune with those screws are one way around in lower strings and another way on the high ones. I´m sure it´s not window dressing, what is a point do it like that?

[JuanG]

I was having a lot of trouble with the intonation. I don't have a tuner as I use Guitar Tuna, but it is quite impossible to get it to detect the 12th fret notes correctly.

[elektrar]

Hi Kris, what about the intonation at the 24th fret? I have just bought Music Man Majesty guitar and with the new strings I get perfect intonation at the 12th fret but at the 24th all the strings are way too sharp between 5 to 15cents depending on the string. And this is a 7000Eur guitar. On my 1000 Eur LTD I get perfect pitch at 12 and 24th fret. Is my new Majesty badly made?

[baknss]

What’s a good starting point for the screws and machine heads (say they were removed but didn’t remember how they went proper?)Half way?
Fromthe loosest position?