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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Weird Problem

Posted by: -Zion- Jan 9 2010, 09:08 PM

Hey everyone..

I hope some of you might be able to help me out, cause i have this really weird problem..

Okay, after having postponed a string change on my guitar for too long, i finally decided to get it done today.. The G-string had "squishy" marks at every fret, so this was long overdue..

Anyways, I do my usual routine when it's been a while, so i take off the strings and begin to clean and oil the fretboard.. while the fretboard is getting all the oil, i start to clean and polish the guitar.. after this is done, i wipe the fretboard, and begin to restring the guitar..

I am using Ernie Balls 10-46 with a custom EB 18gauge wound G-string, exactly the same as before.. I begin with the g-string and then the D-string.. But believe it or not, i had forgotten my regular string-around-post "routine", so when i get to the B-string i finally remembered how i usually do it and decide to do both the G and D string again.. this time the "right" way..

So now my guitar is restringed, and finally i wipe the guitar once again with some "love potion" which takes away the fingerprints and gives it a nice smell..

i tune it up, and i leave it for a couple of hours..

I come back tonight to my daily practice routine, and i decide to check the intonation on the guitar.. I try to do this every time i restring the guitar..

So here is the problem.. I cannot get the right intonation for the D-string.. I tune the open string until its perfect (or max 1 cent off), and then fret the 12th fret.. if the 12th fret is flat the string is too long..

The D-string was around 20 cents flat on the 12th fret.. well.. no problem then.. just move the saddle closer to the fretboard making the string shorter.. well, get this.. i moved it ALL the way, the closest it can get, and it's still flat by 10-12 cents.. EVERY other string is pitch perfect, it's just this D-string messing with me.. I know it has been in perfect intonation before, but why it cannot now makes absolutely no sense for me..

The guitar is a Gibson Les Paul with the ABR-1 bridge and the "loose" tailpiece, and yes, i did put bridge on the same way as before..

Anybody who have any ideas? could the string just be a "faulty-messed-up" string, or could be causing this issue?

man, my mood just turned from very high, to extremely low..

Thanks in advance

edit: spelling

Posted by: Staffy Jan 9 2010, 09:16 PM

Well, sometimes You just get a "bad" string that's not wound properly from the manufactorer.... I always check the intonation and makes small adjustment when changing strings, well not really EVERY time, but at least if I change brand for some reason....

//Staffay

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jan 10 2010, 01:13 AM

Try to get a new set, or at least only D string, bad strings happen from time to time, it's not unusual.

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Jan 10 2010, 02:46 AM

That might be due to the corrosion left on the fretboard! that can make strings go rusty in days, happens to me,

I just left my guitar for mainteinance today,

Posted by: -Zion- Jan 10 2010, 05:38 PM

quick update..

I changed the D-string today, and the intonation was spot on.. Perfect pitch..

Hurray..

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jan 10 2010, 05:39 PM

As already said, it could just be a rogue string!