Whether you need to loosen or tighten the intonation on your bass guitar depends on whether the note is sharp or flat at the 12th fret.
If the note is sharp, you need to loosen the intonation. This will lengthen the string and bring the pitch down.
If the note is flat, you need to tighten the intonation. This will shorten the string and bring the pitch up.
To adjust the intonation, you will need a small Allen wrench. Loosen the screws on the bridge saddle that you want to adjust, and then move the saddle forward or backward until the note is in tune at the 12th fret. Once the saddle is in the correct position, tighten the screws back up.
Here are some tips for adjusting intonation:
- Make small adjustments and check the intonation at the 12th fret after each adjustment.
- If you are not sure whether to loosen or tighten the intonation, try loosening it first. It is easier to bring the pitch down than to bring it up.
- If you are having trouble getting the intonation correct on a particular string, try loosening the other strings. This can sometimes help to make it easier to adjust the saddle for the string that you are working on.
- Once you have adjusted the intonation for all four strings, play the bass guitar for a while and check the intonation again. The intonation may change slightly as the strings settle in.
With a little practice, you will be able to adjust the intonation on your bass guitar like a pro.
How to check intonation
To check intonation, you will need a tuner. Tune the bass guitar to standard tuning (EADG). Then, play the open string and the string at the 12th fret. If the two notes are in tune, the intonation is correct. If the note at the 12th fret is sharp or flat, you need to adjust the intonation.
When to adjust intonation
You should adjust the intonation on your bass guitar whenever the notes start to sound out of tune. This can be caused by a number of factors, such as changes in temperature and humidity, new strings, or wear and tear on the instrument.
If you are not sure how to adjust the intonation on your bass guitar, you can take it to a qualified technician.
