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Post by Randge on Dec 13, 2014 11:03:50 GMT -6
I have very heavy strings with my lowest string being a 0.70 tuned to a B on some of my guitars. John, I have to play in tune with pianos and well tuned instruments all the time. If my instrument isn't tuned well, there is no hope of playing it in tune when it is fretted. Plus, if everyone is tuned to the same calibration, it makes all of the thirds blend.
R
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Post by popmann on Dec 13, 2014 12:53:04 GMT -6
I wonder how it works on heavy gauge B strings? Since I know you mean bass  ....the 70s strobe works, but it's distinctly harder to read on the low B. I tend to hit the 12th fret harmonic, as it will get a few more rows of overtones activated. |
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Post by popmann on Dec 13, 2014 13:04:48 GMT -6
The build of the guitar abso-sultely matters. If I might add "duh". But, what I think JK is really discovering is that you don't even KNOW how good the build is until you get it set up well. Because a Squire will NEVER be set up well from the factory. Just a function of a time/labor costs. I guess "never" means reliably--they might accidentally get one right in the 90seconds allotted to adjust, but...
I kinda think that's why music stores no longer set up everything that comes through the door like they once did. Because once set up well--some inexpensive guitar MIGHT be great, and lose them a sale on a much more expensive model. So--they lose money paying someone to DO the set up--then they lose money when someone needing a good guitar, picks up the MexiTele or JapStrat or whatever that plays like buttah.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 13, 2014 13:12:40 GMT -6
Yeah. I think that's why half the time you can't tell anything until they're set up. Well, you can certainly judge tone on acoustics without setups.
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Post by Guitar on Dec 13, 2014 16:22:43 GMT -6
I agree with Matt. Plain G (3rd) strings when in tune open, usually are sharp when fretted. On Stratocasters, the 6th E string has that problem too. Fret an F and it's sharp. You compensate for that as you play. Guitars just aren't that in tune, and I'm not sure it's desirable. I've come to think a lot of the boredom evident in modern music is due to equal temperament. Everything is rigidly in tune, and it's boring to the ear. Polished, but dull. Lots of the historical pop music I like because the artists' interpretation of pitch as part of the performance, whether vocally or instrumentally. I like the rub, living on the edge of intonation, as style. I'm talking about cents sharp or flat.I think you need to tune your instrument to sound the best playing the music you are playing at that moment, and use any deviation creatively. I've used Conn and Peterson strobe tuners since the '60's. They're great, but the strobe GUI is cumbersome to me, and some of the software tuners are just as accurate. I have a MacOS software strobe tuner (iChromatic) that's really precise. I've got an early iPhone tuner I still use, even though it's been abandoned by its developer. Tuning a band's stringed instruments with a good tuner is good practice because at least the take will start out with all the open strings in agreement. <script type="text/javascript" src="safari-extension://com.ebay.safari.myebaymanager-QYHMMGCMJR/c4ea24e5/background/helpers/prefilterHelper.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="safari-extension://com.ebay.safari.myebaymanager-QYHMMGCMJR/c4ea24e5/background/helpers/prefilterHelper.js"></script> is dead on!, this is the reason i can't stand diecast drum hoops (especially on snare!), or even 2.3mm triple flanged hoops on my drums, my custom built drum kit has 1.6mm hoops on it, i go through them about every 10 pairs of drumsticks or so, it's time to replacem when they become hard to tune. The reason i like 1.6 is because i'm a rimshot junkie, i always set up my snare and toms so if i want to dig into a rimshot, the shaft of the stick falls directly between 2 lugs, and i can bend the hoop (not unlike a bend on a Gtar) for an instant to get the kwank! out of it, boring drummers hate this lol, i stole the idea from a pretty good drummer, what was his name...hmmmm, oh yeah, John Henry Bonham!!  btw, all the drum hoops were 1.6mm back in the day as far as i know. I agree. I have programmed some pretty static music with software instruments and samples. It never sounds right to me until I add some what I call "microdynamics" which is just a term I made up to describe tiny constant changes in sound, whether it be distortion, modulation, tape sims, whatever. I find sound that moves here and there in subtle ways to be much more interesting to listen to. Which is probably why I like records better than digital audio. There's just more going on. That flat clean tonality just doesn't work for me very often. Also on the original topic, I love the Peterson strobe tuners, although I've never had an analog one. The bx_tuner in UAD is extremely accurate as well I've found, I'm using it for setups right now. If I start gigging again I'll probably look at a Turbo Tuner. |
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Post by Randge on Dec 14, 2014 8:40:09 GMT -6
I think if you guys pleked your guitars, you would find a whole new world regarding intonation on electrics or acoustic instruments.
R
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 14, 2014 11:59:45 GMT -6
I think if you guys pleked your guitars, you would find a whole new world regarding intonation on electrics or acoustic instruments. R Hey Randy!, what's that plek process run $? |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2014 12:34:28 GMT -6
It is around 300-400 Euros around here, depending on the material used and premium options etc..
I thought about this for my flagship bass, but still hesitating. Might be in the boat for it, when i need new frets...
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Dec 15, 2014 18:33:18 GMT -6
There's a shop in Florida that does it for $195 a guitar. Anyone know what Glaser charges?
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 15, 2014 18:50:23 GMT -6
I have never heard this term before ? What specifically does it refer to ? thx !
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 15, 2014 19:42:00 GMT -6
I have never heard this term before ? What specifically does it refer to ? thx ! Turn on closed caption for first vid |
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Post by kcatthedog on Dec 15, 2014 19:56:20 GMT -6
Thx Tony very cool of course you wear that away from playing but I can appreciate it sets the fret/ neck up great !
also have not heard her " fall away " term either ?
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Post by jcoutu1 on Dec 15, 2014 20:06:58 GMT -6
I have never heard this term before ? What specifically does it refer to ? thx ! Additional info here too... www.lakland.com/plek.htm |
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Post by tonycamphd on Dec 15, 2014 20:38:37 GMT -6
westwood guitars in La does it, maybe i'll let them do the tele i'm building when it's done, if it turns out tits, i'll think about giving them my beauty(sounding/kicked dog looking) Taylor? That scares me a bit...for no logical reason.. 8)
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Post by joelhamilton on Dec 15, 2014 22:19:05 GMT -6
And how about those how have developed a pain in the ass stretched tuning where the low E is a hair flat, get the A string from a tuner and then 5ths up from there. Works pretty good.
I would love a Peterson like we had in the bandhall though.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 15, 2014 22:28:37 GMT -6
And how about those how have developed a pain in the ass stretched tuning where the low E is a hair flat, get the A string from a tuner and then 5ths up from there. Works pretty good. I would love a Peterson like we had in the bandhall though. Dude - I know...this thing I bought ain't far from it. Have you seen what some of the guitar techs are doing adding the extra nut on the E strings - a tiny bit of bone on the E string nut? |
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Post by jimwilliams on Dec 16, 2014 11:13:15 GMT -6
Plek levels frets, that's all. Any good luthier can do the same thing. Set up is far more than level frets. Intonation is what makes a guitar in tune or not. Add neck adjustments. Variables occur contantly like neck movement due to humidity and temperature changes, those the player or tech need to address constantly.
After a year or so of hard playing, the plek process will wear away due to fret wear, that is usually very uneven. Prepare to visit that shop every year or so if that's the route you take.
Or, find a good luthier.
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Post by Guitar on Dec 16, 2014 12:09:48 GMT -6
Thx Tony very cool of course you wear that away from playing but I can appreciate it sets the fret/ neck up great ! also have not heard her " fall away " term either ? I was told by a Roberto Venn trained luthier friend of mine that a theoretically perfect guitar will have some fall away on the slope of the frets on the last several frets, just like in the video. I am not sure about why, I'll have to ask again, but it might be something to do with the shape of the neck where the neck joins the body, compared to the curve of the neck on its free floating length. As you can see on those graphs, the slope of the neck is far from a straight line, it's actually a complex curve. All I know for sure is, this fret fall away is technically perfect according to modern luthiery. The story might be a little different for solid metal necks, but those are less common. |
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Post by joelhamilton on Dec 16, 2014 12:20:30 GMT -6
And how about those how have developed a pain in the ass stretched tuning where the low E is a hair flat, get the A string from a tuner and then 5ths up from there. Works pretty good. I would love a Peterson like we had in the bandhall though. Dude - I know...this thing I bought ain't far from it. Have you seen what some of the guitar techs are doing adding the extra nut on the E strings - a tiny bit of bone on the E string nut? Tell me more of this extra bone sir |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2014 20:40:23 GMT -6
Just to be clear, the seemingly high prices of the plek i posted for europe include the complete setup, fret change, material, nut etc.pp......
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 17, 2014 0:24:57 GMT -6
There has literally been this thing where luthiers have expanded the tonality the low e but the adjust for the e sting being sharp when depressed for the g. Long story
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 17, 2014 15:46:51 GMT -6
Weird...thread got locked somehow...unlocked now.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 20, 2014 20:42:44 GMT -6
There's a shop in Florida that does it for $195 a guitar. Anyone know what Glaser charges? Don't think it's $195... |
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....the 70s strobe works, but it's distinctly harder to read on the low B. I tend to hit the 12th fret harmonic, as it will get a few more rows of overtones activated. 
