BFC
01-01-2005, 08:42 PM
Just did a complete set up on my Cobra S with new Snake Oil Rock Forumula strings. I used the Stobostomp to set the intonation dead on to the Feiten open string and 12th fret presets. I mean dead on the money, no bars moving. Took a while but well worth the effort...
The first thing I noticed was just how much difference checking the intonation in playing position really makes. I can't imagine how far off I would be with the guitar laid out on a bench using a needle or LED tuner. The second thing I noticed was how much difference touch can make when setting intonation at the 12th fret (pushing down on the string, not using the harmonic). With the tuner reading the 12th fret as flat, it was very easy to just push down harder and harder until it read in tune. I used my 'normal' touch to set it. The other thing that hit me was how important Bruce Nelson's suggestion is of starting flat and working your way up as far as adjusting the saddle for string length. I cranked the saddles way back to start and this made it way easier in the long run. This keeps the saddle from putting a little kink in the usable string length I guess. Makes sense. The last thing I noticed was how important it is to have the truss rod tweaked right. More relief makes the open string sit further away from the 12th fret. Duh! Should have thought about that before.
Finally, I could not believe how incredibly in tune and how much better the guitar sounded after being intonated properly to my string choice and my personal touch. I honestly hadn't heard just how good the Feiten System is until now. This guitar is unbelievably in tune and the final result is a much sweeter tone with far fewer 'rubs' in the sound coming out of my speakers. I'm a happy camper. :D
The first thing I noticed was just how much difference checking the intonation in playing position really makes. I can't imagine how far off I would be with the guitar laid out on a bench using a needle or LED tuner. The second thing I noticed was how much difference touch can make when setting intonation at the 12th fret (pushing down on the string, not using the harmonic). With the tuner reading the 12th fret as flat, it was very easy to just push down harder and harder until it read in tune. I used my 'normal' touch to set it. The other thing that hit me was how important Bruce Nelson's suggestion is of starting flat and working your way up as far as adjusting the saddle for string length. I cranked the saddles way back to start and this made it way easier in the long run. This keeps the saddle from putting a little kink in the usable string length I guess. Makes sense. The last thing I noticed was how important it is to have the truss rod tweaked right. More relief makes the open string sit further away from the 12th fret. Duh! Should have thought about that before.
Finally, I could not believe how incredibly in tune and how much better the guitar sounded after being intonated properly to my string choice and my personal touch. I honestly hadn't heard just how good the Feiten System is until now. This guitar is unbelievably in tune and the final result is a much sweeter tone with far fewer 'rubs' in the sound coming out of my speakers. I'm a happy camper. :D