Luthier Services & Repairs

Step-by-Step: Setting Up Your Guitar: Intonation Proper intonation is a process of balancing the length of each string so the guitar plays accurately across the fingerboard. The 12th fret provides the reference point because it is the octave of the open string. Start with fresh strings. Strings develop uneven wear as they are played, and worn strings can produce misleading intonation readings. For an accurate setup, begin with a properly installed, fresh set of strings. Tune the open string precisely. Bring the string to exact pitch using a reliable electronic tuner. This establishes the reference point for the intonation check. Check the 12th-fret note. Play the string at the 12th fret using normal playing pressure. Excessive finger pressure can raise the pitch and give you a false reading. Compare the 12th-fret pitch to the open string. 12th-fret note is sharp: The string is effectively too short. Move the saddle backward, away from the neck, to increase the string length. 12th-fret note is flat: The string is effectively too long. Move the saddle forward, toward the neck, to decrease the string length. Make small adjustments. Intonation should be adjusted gradually. After each saddle adjustment, re-tune the open string before checking the 12th fret again. Moving the saddle changes the string's pitch, so skipping the re-tuning step can lead to an inaccurate adjustment. Repeat the process. Continue the tune–check–adjust cycle until the open string and its 12th-fret octave are accurately matched. Repeat for each string. Every string behaves differently because of its diameter, construction, tension, and interaction with the instrument. Each one must be evaluated and adjusted individually. The Important Part Intonation is not simply a matter of moving every saddle to a predetermined position. The final position of each saddle is determined by the individual string and the instrument. Proper intonation requires careful measurement, small adjustments, and repeated checking until the guitar plays accurately where it matters—under the player's hands.