String Length Adjustment...

[growlypants]

Quick question, folks!  I switched to D'Addario Chromes a while back on my Alembic 5-er, but have never adjusted the string length.  As set from the factory, with the original Alembic strings on there, it was perfect.  Now, when playing 10th to 12th fret areas, or especially when tuning, I can hear some differences on the G.  I've never had it "go out" of string length adjustment on me, and I don't know if string gauge could be the reason - what do you think?  Is the different gauges of the Chromes reason to adjust string length, or not?

[adriaan]

The simple answer is you should adjust intonation when it is off. You might not perceive intonation issues when noodling around on your own, or when not going up the fretboard much. But intonation should be corrected when it's off, regardless of what causes it to be off. And left alone if it's not off.

[edwardofhuncote]

I'd be very surprised if you didn't need to at least tweak the intonation on a couple strings switching from Alembic rounds to D'A Chromes Growly... but it's easy-as-pie buddy. 

Just use a good chromatic tuner, (I love my Polytune 2 strobe pedal for this) with the neck at rest, important that nothing is influencing it forward or back here, completely at rest, then tune the string open. Then check at the 12th fret. Is it sharp? Adjust the saddle rearward. If it notes flat, adjust the saddle towards the nut. When it notes true, move up to the 24th fret. You're really splitting hairs up there, so be very patient. Keep checking the open string for tuning drift too. Spot check around the neck at intervals for accuracy. Expect a couple cents of drift... figure out what you can work with. 'Rinse and Repeat' for each string. After doing all 5, I like to go over them all again. Cause I'm incredibly OCD about stuff.

*another helpful hint, try as best you can to keep the other strings muted while intonating one... so you don't pick up any sympathetic tones through the tuner. Alembics are incredibly resonant creatures, and plucking one string often sets off a couple more harmonics. Great vibes when you're playing though a couple kilowatts of amp and speakers, not so much when trying to set intonation. 

Hit me if you get stuck, man.

[StephenR]

Definitely a good idea, and usually necessary, to check intonation when changing string gauges or string brands. I use a Peterson Strobo-Flip to check mine. Peterson suggest either tuning the open string then checking the octave at the 12th fret or better yet two notes an octave apart when fretted. I tend to tune the note at the fifth fret and then adjust the saddle based on whether the same note at the 17th fret is in tune. Like Gregory I always go over it twice to be sure.

[lbpesq]

Peterson also has a tuner app called “iStroboSoft” that is quite good.  Only 10 bucks and you always have an accurate strobe tuner handy on your phone.

Bill, tgo

[growlypants]

Thanks so much!  The Chromes I have on there now, are FAIRly new (March) and I'll look for a strobe-tuner very soon.  (Hate to admit it, but I've never needed one before!)

[cozmik_cowboy]

....with the neck at rest, important that nothing is influencing it forward or back here, completely at rest, then tune the string open.

Allow me to add this "in playing position".  Resting it on its back, the weight of the headstock will pull it a hair sharp.

I also tune to the 12th-fret harmonic instead of the open string; habit from a lifetime spent on Conn & Peterson strobe tuners, which get a better read that way. 


Peter

[tomhug]

Chromes are great on Alembics, but they are stiffer and denser than round-wounds, which means an intonation adjustment is often called for. See my adventures in this post relating to witness points dealing with large gauge strings and intonation.

[bigredbass]

GP, as a general rule you always check your string length adjustments on the bridge saddles any time you change to a different set (in this case going from the OEM strings to D'Addario Chromes) than what was on the bass previously.  I even check if I'm going to the same gauges but a different brand, but I'm fussy about tuning, OCD about it like Ed of H.