Intonation/trem issues on Jaguar

Alternate · Post by **Alternate** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:47 pm

I've searched around and I couldn't find anything that hit my particular issue on the head, I posted in a couple of other forums about this issue, but I've lurked around here long enough

I changed the strings on my jaguar a few days ago and decided to up the gauge whilst I was at it (.10s to .11s) it seemed OK, strings felt tighter and thicker after I stretched them in, as to be expected, no immediately obvious intonation problems. I soon noticed that the wound strings didn't have as much "wiggle room" when tuning (any slight turn of the tuner has a very noticeable affect) but I wrote it off as a quirk of those old style tuners (for some reason!) as I said, everything seemed fine until I used the trem...

There is a huge disparity in tuning between the top and bottom E strings whenever I "press down or pull up" on the trem (which gets gradually worse the lower I go on the trem) . The affect is least noticable between the D and G strings (D is wound, but G is solid) when you use the trem, but the affect gets worse on the outer strings. For instance, if you play a power chord on the D and G strings and then use the trem, the chord only goes slightly dissonant, but if you play a chord that uses all six strings and then use the trem the dissonance is very noticable, particularly on the two E strings, if I was to hold the trem down (so that the strings should all be about half a step down) then the top E would sound just about correct, but the bottom E would be almost a full step down. Also, the bottom E is very "tight" when I turn the tuning peg.

Apologies for lack of ANY technical language...

Problem with the nut, the bridge? I just don't know

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 9:52 pm

Two possible things I can think of:

1. Are the nut slots wide enough for the higher gauge strings? It could be too tight for them to move properly.

2. Have you reset the trem? You need to tighten or loosen it the central screw so the trem lock JUST slides into place, locking the trem, but doesn't affect tuning when switched on or off.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:04 pm

I think what the OP is looking for is for the strings to remain in tune relative to each other while he uses the trem.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:07 pm

Have you set up the trem correctly with the new change of string ?

*If not check here:
http://www.webrocker.de/jaguar/cms/2007 ... lo-system/

Stretch the strings throughly, like several times... and tune back to pitch. They take time to settle fully.
Lubricate any point where the strings move with Pencil Graphite, ie nuts, saddles, string tree... etc.
Run some of the excess string you trim and run it through the nut grooves to take away any binding that could be involved going up a gauge
Consider filling the tuners with lithium grease perhaps, if they're old then this could help.

The trem will never drop the tuning of each string in equal measure... that's just something inherent with many trems.

You may also get slight minor tuning anomalies if pulling trem down and letting go or pulling up and letting go. Again part and parcel with a trem designed yonks ago. Try compensate with tweaking the trem screw * to compensate.

Just some things to consider.

George · Post by **George** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:10 pm

Oh, I thought it was after trem use.

Yeah, I wouldn't expect a trem to translate a chord predictably up or down. However, the bottom E nut could groove could be too tight by the sounds of things.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:45 pm

I would have thought it was the Nut slots straight away but like others said you may need to reset the tension screw in the trem.
What model is it? If its a RI/CIJ it may be worth checking the bridge is rocking smoothly with trem use or make sure you aren't moving it with your palm whilst playing.

Just reading what Nick said (if i am reading this right), the strings wont remain in tune with each other whilst using the trem, not even a Floyd Rose locking trem will achieve that. The strings are at different tensions due to their thickness.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 5:26 pm

Tune the low E up to the note (by turning the peg tighter to reach the correct pitch), then grab it near the 5th to 7th fret and bend it down towards the floor hard a couple times, then do the same at the 12th. Then check it's open tuning again... will have gone sharp if the nut slot is too tight. Do this a few times to make sure it's an actual issue and not just something that's happening as the string settles.