How To Intonate Your Guitar (Adjust Intonation On Electric Guitar)

This is the correct way to adjust the intonation of your electric guitar, so your notes sound in tune!

In this episode of "Gibson's Guide to Guitar Setup and Maintenance," Gibson Master Luthier Jim DeCola demonstrates the correct way to adjust the intonation of your electric guitar. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned professional, Jim will give you pro tips on intonation adjustment and how to set it properly that will make the process easy and efficient.

The intonation on your guitar has a dramatic impact on how "in-tune" it will sound at various positions on the neck. If the intonation is not properly adjusted, your guitar will sound out of tune as you move between different chords and positions. While totally perfect intonation isn't achievable, Jim's expert tips will help you maximize the accuracy of your guitar's intonation, resulting in an instrument that sounds sweeter and more in-tune across all playing positions.
Learn about how we test guitar intonation with Jim at the Gibson USA factory using this Gibson Explorer as an example, discover what guitar intonation is, how to test and adjust intonation on your electric guitar, and the benefits of properly adjusted intonation. Finally, hear Jim DeCola's expert tips on what to look out for when adjusting or determining whether your guitar’s intonation is out.

#gibson #gibsontv #guitarmaintenance    

Chapters:
0:00 What is guitar intonation
1:34 How to test and adjust intonation on your electric guitar
6:52 Benefits of properly adjusted intonation
7:40 Jim DeCola’s tips on guitar intonation

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[jimmyjaylinssen]

The tip with the direction of the tuner is amazing

[yeetfeet]

Why am I here I’m a drummer?
Because Gibson puts out cool content!

[djjazzyjeff]

I don't think he mentioned it, but make sure you're holding the guitar in playing position like he does. If you lay it on a bench or table or bed or anything you'll get false readings too because of the weight of the guitar pulling on itself. Make sure you're holding it in playing position.

[rexnavarro]

Jim DeCola Gibson Master of Rock n Rolla! Thanx for these videos on guitar set up and maintenance. Such a great reference guide. I remember when I was kid before the Internet age having to go the Public library to check out the book "The Guitar Book: A Handbook for Electric & Acoustic Guitarists by Tom Wheeler" and reading the step by step process of guitar set up and then looking at the small black n white pictures detailing step a. step. b step c. and trying to figure out..am I doing this right? Man, we have come a long way on how we get information. By the way I would frequent that Public Library all the time as a kid and one day a their book sale (how the Library clears out all their old stock books to purchase new ones) there it was again Tom Wheeler's "The Guitar Book: A Handbook for Electric & Acoustic Guitarist. I purchased it and still have it to this day an original hardcover 1974 print. A cherished book among my collection of guitar books. Keep up the good work Gibson.

[細井邦生]

I always enjoy this program and learn something new to me.

[The_Wood]

This guy is like the Jedi Master of electric guitar. I would love for him to set-up my Explorer. 🎸

[noelsalvador]

Thanks for the tips. Sharp to the right (lengthen) Flat to the left (shorten)

[davidiennosredna]

HI Jim, out of all the videos I've watched on Intonation and other guitar tuning and related videos and such I will say this video is very well done. In your explanations, descriptions, application of such and everything else it wasn't until your video did it actually make sense and so I just wanted to thank you and give my opinion that you're very professional, a good speaker, and there was no cheesy or unprofessional bs. Your tone, speech pattern, and knowledge. As well as environment, tools and confidence make it all a success. You know what you're doing and your ability to describe it effectively and professionally made it a success. So again thank you and good job! 🙏

[SirVicc]

The Explorer is pretty much the only pointy guitar I like.

[jamessator]

Thank you Jim !! You really help me understand my guitar, so that I’m not afraid to work on it !

[mrsunshine]

This series of videos is great 👍 excellent how he explains the setup easily and accurately. Keep this up! 🎸

[joeyskar]

Put on new strings, stretch them, tune it, press 12th fret, if it's sharp saddle moves back, flat forward. Press the string at the bridge and nut a little to get rid of the string curve, retune, recheck, press the bridge again if needed. If you use the same gauge it should be the same everytime so long as no other adjustments are made and the neck stays straight. Always check your neck and adjust truss rod if needed prior to adjusting saddles and always make sure your pickups are the right height or they will pull the string causing it to not play the note in pitch.

[rayf]

cool! learn something new every day now i don't have to pay someone to do it.
great channel for new guitar players they'll save $$$$ from set up costs.there are other set up videos from this channel.

[johngregory]

Hi Jim, I really enjoy watching you video classes. Your knowledge of guitars is so excellent. I learn something new every time that I watch one of your video classes. Stay safe and well & keep Rockin. Signed John Zepbass. From Munster, Indiana.

[The_Texan_Tyler]

Don't you already know how it intonate your guitar? "Yes"
Then why are you watching the video?
"He has an explorer"

[timmacious]

Thank you for the tip about moving the saddle in the same direction as the note on the tuner!

[RandyKekipi]

Thanks for that information....always love to play Gibson guitars...

[altheamayberry]

Thank you for the tutorial. It was very informative. But what do you do if the saddles are bottomed out and can no longer be elongated or shortened? Can the saddles be repositioned to center, and then the tuning process started over? If so, what would be the best way to do this? I have a Hondo II, with a Les Paul style bridge, and 3 keys on top and 3 on bottom of the headstock. I recently replaced the keys with new ones. The strings are fairly new, and have no rust on them. I would greatly appreciate and further help with my issue. I would take it to a guitar shop, but I live in a rural area of Texas, and guitar shops are far and wide.

[FrehleyBurst-]

Another great video by Jim DeCola! I have learned more about guitars and how to adjust/set up/fix by watching this Master Luthier than any other source on the net, Keep up the great work Jim! Awesome Explorer BTW!

[alexanderkushnarev]

I love this series. Any chance you'll put a video on how to level guitar frets?