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Permalink Reply by Tyler on January 13, 2017 at 7:37am

Forgot to mention that my slide doesn't give that "classic slide" sound, not sure of a better way to explain it. It sounds pretty dead, but it sounds great without the slide. Any ideas?

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on January 13, 2017 at 3:25pm

I didn't see any comments about the slide sound so I'll take a shot.  First you don't mention what you are using for the slide but steel sounds different than glass or other materials. Secondly it looks like you have pretty low string height based on the photo.  It may be that the strings are touching the soundboard when you use the slide instead of ringing freely.  It is a combination of how hard you pick and how much you push the strings down with the slide.  It takes a light touch on a guitar with normal action, much easier if the action is higher.

Also I second watching the intonation youtube previously mentioned.  Good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on January 13, 2017 at 8:05am

Just above the box where you type your comments, there are several buttons that let you add a link/image/video (in that order.) Just click the 'image' box, browse for the file, then click OK.

Photos will be a great help to us. For a 25.5" scale, you'll have 12.75" from nut to 12th fret, then that same distance to the bridge. Or maybe slightly longer to the bridge, depending on your build.

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Permalink Reply by Moritz Voegeli on January 13, 2017 at 8:10am

How did you get the fret positions? Hard to say from the photo, but I think they are not correct: the third fret is the first one I suppose it may not be in place.

In most cases the bridge is tilted the other way, that the high string is shorter than the low one.

Someone around who explains the correction of the bridge position with flageolet above the twelfth fret in clear english?

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Permalink Reply by Moritz Voegeli on January 13, 2017 at 9:10am

Sorry for «flageolet», it should be «harmonics» in english...

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Permalink Reply by Tyler on January 13, 2017 at 8:40am

I'm posting from my phone, so that might be the problem. I added a photo and it didn't show up.

For the frets I got the dimensions from stew mac for a 25.5" scale. I really hope the frets are in the correct place! I will have to remeasure them again tonight. And for the bridge, it may be off 1/8" to 1/4". How much of a difference would this make? Do I measure the scale length from the center of the bridge or just before center?

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Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on January 13, 2017 at 9:40am

Measure from where the strings leave the nut to where they first touch the bridge.

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Permalink Reply by David Bowes on January 13, 2017 at 9:52am

See Justin Johnsons 

GETTING PERFECT INTONATION ON A CIGAR BOX GUITAR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPTQmyNbwpY

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on January 13, 2017 at 2:16pm

As Moritz says, the photo seem to show your fretting is out, or at least your bridge position, i may just be an illusion with the angle the guitar is leaning,on.first thing to check when setting intonation is to place the bridge at twice the distance of nut to 12th fret on your top or "thinnest" string and work from there, in the pic it seems much further from nut to the 12th, than 12th to bridge, and they should be the same on your top string at least, or extremely close

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Permalink Reply by JL on January 16, 2017 at 3:48am

Measure from the nut to the bridge, adjust the bridge till the 12th fret is dead center between thenut and the bridge...

then Do this on the high string:

Use a tuner, tune the open string, then play the 12th fret.

If the 12th fret is sharp, move the bridge away from the nut.

If the 12th fret is flat, move the bridge toward the nut.

repeat.

then do the same for the low string, angling the bridge so the high string work you just did doesn't get messed up.

The bridge should end up at an angle and a bit farther from the 12th fret than you started

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Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on January 17, 2017 at 6:31am

learn how to play a harmonic, by touching your finger on the middle of the string, plucking it and quickly lifting your finger (it will let the note sing out true). this should be your position for the 12th fret. this will work for any string at any tightness tuned to anything so dont worry if the string is at the wrong note. also its better if it isnt tuned to near breaking point as moving the bridge will be easier and less likely to snap if its a couple or 4 tones lower.you move your bridge backwards and forwards until this harmonic sits at the same spot as your 12th fret. after you find it, the 12th fret should be the same note as the harmonic. a little tweaking and shifting by mm's should let you get it exactly right.

after that, its down to your fret position measurements and accuracy (also your nut position relative to the rest of the fretboard). if its still wonky, throw a capo on the first and check it out. if its good, your nut may be in the wrong place.

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