Strange intonation

[Martbass]

Dear friends,
 
I keep having problems with my '90 spoiler with the intonation on (just!) the A string from the first to the fifth position. De notes are to high! At first I thought I was just bending, but no matter what I do - I can't get them any lower.
 
I've read earlier posts and I've had a specialist check the setup and the intonation, everything should be ok?! But it's not.  
 
I also changed strings a few times (the same brand though, bassboomers that is), but no change.  
 
In a live setting there is no problem, because the audience doesn't know. But next month I'll get into the studio again, and I'm a bit frightened.

[adriaan]

Did you try raising the nut a hair?
 
And by the way, Joey's Post on Setting Up Your Bass is your guide to becoming a setup expert yourself.

[Martbass]

Thanks for the reaction & no, I didn't. Do I have to raise it as a whole? Or just the upper half? I never knew this could affect the intonation...
 
I'm going to learn Joey's Post by heart!

[adriaan]

You can change the height for either side or for both. Come to think of it, it might be too high as it is now - so you would have to press the string down too much.
 
One of the very nice things about Joey's post is that it's so short!

[Martbass]

I think you're right. I remember now I raised the nut a couple of months ago to stop some frets from buzzin'. Thanks for the help, I can't wait to get home and grab the bass.

[Martbass]

Hey man, it really worked!!! Thanks man, you should be in history books or something.

[adriaan]

Kijk mama, zonder handen!

[David Houck]

Great call Adriaan!

[terryc]

This type of info is invaluable, we ahould have an area where this can be indexed and stored for future use.
It usre saves us worrying and having mild coronaries when something goes wrong