I finished my first (4 string) CBG and it seems to have gone pretty well. I strung it up and tuned it to open G, with strings I got from Gitty for open G/standard. I figured out there are 2 open G's, and have it tuned to the correct one: DGBD.

So, here is the issue. It sounds great strummed open, but finger any fret on any string and I can't get it to hit on the right note. I've checked the scale length and the position of the 12th fret multiple times, and they're spot on at 24" and 12" respectively. I've also moved the bridge in both directions, a little at a time and retuned.

Initially, I thought I had the strings too high and was stretching them too much when fingering against the fret. I was able to drop the bridge about 2mm, and the slots in the nut about 1.5mm, and it's easier to press the string to the fret, but I still have the same issue.

Is it possible the strings are crapped out from being stretched/adjusted too much? Are these strings from Gitty not ideal, since they seem to be a "one size fits both"? I realize the high string is only one full note difference, D instead of E, so it shouldn't be too far off--and that has no bearing n the other 3 strings. Any thoughts or advice?

Thanks, Brad

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Brd,

How far off are the notes when fretted, and does it happen at all frets, or just a couple?
Ron, they're kind of all over the place, and they're off from the first fret. I'm looking for some sort of chart so I can figure out what all the notes are supposed to be--I was hoping to avoid learning all about the damn notes and such.

But, I got one of those digital tuner things and some notes see to be a quarter off, others halfway between notes. It doesn't necessarily get worse as I work my way down the neck. But again, I'm not certain yet what the notes are all supposed to be. I just know that it's measured pretty accurately, I could hear they weren't right, and the digital tuner confirmed it.

Thanks, Brad

Hi Brad,

This really sounds to me like a nut problem. Can you post a pic?

If the action is too high at the nut, when you're pressing the string down to play the first 5 or so frets, you're stretching it and its pulling the note sharp.

When I'm setting intonation at the nut, I play and open string, check its in tune, then play the 2nd fret - if its a bit sharp I keep lowering the slot in the nut a bit at a time until its right. Make sense?

*edit

So the 2nd fret on the D string should be E, 2nd fret on G should be A etc.

Here's a nut I just finished setting up yesterday for playing fretted (hence the bone dust and messy string ends). The slots are roughly 1-2mm off the fretboard.

Richey, that makes sense, and it was sort of what I wash thinking. Initially I cut the slot for the nut too deep--at least I thought I did. You can see in the photo, a shim I slid under it. The strings were just off the fret board, probably just under 1mm. This is where it's at now. So it sounds/looks like I still need to go lower?




Thanks for the help, Brad
Attachments:
If you want to play it fretted, yes that's quite a bit too high. Can you use your tuner on auto mode to see what note you get on the 2nd fret?

Richey,

Ah, well I guess I should have left the nut where it was... I suppose I'll just pull it (and the spacer I put in) out and make another, rather than continue to bodge this up--I've got plenty of bone. I should probably lower the bridge some more then, as well.

I checked again after another minor adjustment, and the note are all high, roughly between 20 and 40% high. I can check the second fret specifically when I get home.

Thanks very much for the help. Brad

Sounds sensible. Obviously in an ideal world the first fret should be perfectly intonated as well. try for the 2nd at first as if you make the action too low you could get fret buzz. Besides, who plays anything on the first fret? :-P

As far as which note you should have at each fret- each string should start at the note you have it tuned too and then work its way up the scale until you get to the 12th fret where it all starts over an octave higher.  So your G for instance will start open at G, 1st fret G#, 2nd fret A, 3rd fret A #, 4th B, 5th C, 6th C#, 7th D, 8th D#, 9th E, 10th F, 11th F#, 12 G.  Did you use a fret spacing calculator when you set the frets?

Dan,

Thanks for teaching me something. I used the scale template from Gitty. I dropped the fret board right next to it and transferred the fret locations over with a square.

Brad

All fixed now--dropped the strings lower at the nut and bridge. Not perfect, but good enough. notes have stabilized to just barely higher than what they should be. I'll adjust again, next time I have to take stuff apart--in the meantime, it's good enough to play, or to try to play as the case may be.

Thanks, Brad

Well done Brad! Now enjoy your guitar. Also, +1 on Slowpaw's comment - GDGB is a nice tuning. DGBD is a banjo tuning so that's good if you know banjo chords etc.

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