Author Topic: Tuning your axe (Read 822 times)

dean_m · « **Reply #15 on:** September 15, 2004, 02:27:38 PM »

Brother Paul,

Thank you for the warm welcome. I was going to call but I think it's got to be very late there now.

Too much wine will do that to you. I am back home with my Alembics in tact. You are correct although I was playing my Elan.

No greek island though. I am working on that too. Hopefully by the end of the year we'll have a Greek tour planned out. If there is aanyone that can give me a heads up on any jazz clubs in and around Athens, I would be greatly appreciative.

Have another glass for me too brother. Did I not send you a copy of my book??? If not let me know.

Peace,
Dino bptfo

palembic · « **Reply #16 on:** September 15, 2004, 02:40:30 PM »

BROTHER DINO

I AM STILL UP! And NOT mowing the lane!
Working on the accounts of my alas failing business.
No ... I didn't get a copy. I just steal it from your site ...HA!

Just give me a ring!

Paul the bad one

elzie · « **Reply #17 on:** September 15, 2004, 05:18:20 PM »

Paul The Bad One will tell you that I use my giant head for tuning, but sadly, I don't. I use a tuning fork and harmonics most of the time. When I install a new set of strings I use a tuner.

Welcome back Dino! I hope you had fun

Paul TGO

David Houck · « **Reply #18 on:** September 15, 2004, 06:14:12 PM »

Let's see; it's late at night and your drinking copious amounts of wine; AND your working on the accounts for your business!

palembic · « **Reply #19 on:** September 15, 2004, 10:59:44 PM »

***blush***

I was finished when I started these.

PTBO

dannobasso · « **Reply #20 on:** September 16, 2004, 08:44:45 AM »

My rigs have Korg DTR 2000, DTR 1000 & DTR 2 TONEWORKS tuners in them. I use a small korg that i keep in my case when I go to a studio. All use the down a half step option. My band plays that way so i get to rumble a low B flat! I use harmonics as most of you do but I am amazed that Alembics can hold their tune even when shipped! Take that Fender! Have at you!
Danno

son_of_magni · « **Reply #21 on:** September 16, 2004, 08:46:56 AM »

Just for fun I just ran a few calculations. I had heard way back that if you tune using the 3rd and 4th harmonics (above the 7th and 5th frets) you should tune for a certain number of beats/second to really be in tune. Here's what I discovered.

When you tune this way (let's say you're starting with your lowest string and working towards the higher strings) each successive string will be increasingly flat. But this can be compensated by sharpening each string to get the following number of beats per second. (Discounting inharmonicity.)

E to A = 0.3 B/S (ie, one beat in about 3 sec)
A to D = 0.5 B/S
D to G = 0.75 B/S
G to C = 0.9 B/S (almost one beat per second)

Of course, as you keep going higher the problem gets worse, which is why when a guitar player uses this method he can tune all day long but can never get his E strings to match.

I wonder if someone with a strobe tuner could try to confirm this?
SoM (the harmonious one)

(Message edited by son_of_magni on September 17, 2004)

bob · « **Reply #22 on:** September 16, 2004, 09:48:35 PM »

Harmonious -

As long as you're set up to run the calcs, what happens if you tune using harmonics at the 12th and 5th?

And further, what if for each pair of strings, you sort of split the difference in a way that would minimize beats between the 5/7 and 12/5?

I'd be willing to try to confirm this, but it won't be until almost Thanksgiving (late November) the way things are going right now.

I do have some notes somewhere, from when I first got my Peterson, that showed my ears being off more than expected, though I thought I was spreading rather than shrinking - have to dig those out, or just try again.
-Bob

flaxattack · « **Reply #23 on:** September 16, 2004, 11:57:52 PM »

i use a line 6 pod. i can check every fret to ensure proper intonation and a flat neck

adriaan · « **Reply #24 on:** September 17, 2004, 02:01:36 AM »

I guess I was always tuning open strings to where they sounded at the proper interval. Then someone told me about the 5th/7th harmonics trick, and I used that, but I always found myself setting the D and G strings slightly sharp and perhaps the E string slightly flat, because the intervals just seemed off. Now you guys tell me there's a perfectly good reason for that, and I must say I'm relieved!

I guess I'll stick to tuning in intervals and just stay away from the harmonics trick. But I still can't ever get a guitar tuned comfortably - that may have to do with not having set the intonation on mine for at least ten years ...

son_of_magni · « **Reply #25 on:** September 17, 2004, 04:52:56 AM »

I have to go to work but I just a couple notes. Where I said 4th and 5th harmonics they're really called the 3rd and 4th harmonics.

The harmonics over the 12th and 5th frets are the 2nd and 4th, and they are in tune (no error).
- SoM

bob · « **Reply #26 on:** September 17, 2004, 08:16:36 AM »

The harmonics over the 12th and 5th frets are the 2nd and 4th, and they are in tune (no error).

Duh, I knew that... why are things always so much more obvious in the morning?

kmh364 · « **Reply #27 on:** September 19, 2004, 08:58:19 AM »

Alrighty then, I couldn't wait, so I bought a V-SAM. Damn, the thing has everything but the kitchen sink on it. I'm gonna be scratchin' my head for a while trying to figure out all the things this thing does.

Good thing for that smelly rubber protective boot a la FLUKE DMM's. This thing has some pretty crappy construction for a $375 tuner. Is it even made in America? I know ask a stupid question...., LOL! Would it have killed them to include a cheapo carry/slip case for the thing, or even a set of cheapo batteries? Whine, whine, whine, some people are never satisfied, LOL! If it lasts twenty-something years like my last two portable Korg jobbies, It'll be doin something. Yeah, I know, wishful thinking...and then I woke up, LOL!.