Intonation Problem

You can ask questions here about Trevor and Gerard's exciting new book on Luthiery.

Moderators: kiwigeo, Jeremy D

Post Reply
Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Sun Jan 16, 2022 4:39 am

Happy New Year, hope you all are doing okay with this virus business. Guitar work has been going along okay here, but I got a problem I can't figure out

My most recent guitar has an intonation problem around A3 (220hz). A3 and the surrounding notes Ab and Bb are all 8-12 cents flat on all three strings where they occur (A string 12th fret, D string 7th fret and G string 2nd fret). Other than these notes, all the rest are within 5 cents, most within 2 cents. All the strings except the A intonate properly at the 12th fret, so don't think it is a bridge location or compensation problem.

Looked at the FRC and saw the main monopole was right on a scale note (B3, 247hz.). Moving this down to 240hz (exactly between B and Bb) with some modeling clay on the bridge did not resolve the problem. Which makes sense as the problem is down around 220, not 240-247. Took a closer look at the FRC:
IMG_8795.PNG
IMG_8795.PNG (93.38 KiB) Viewed 15987 times
There is a bit of a peak at 218hz and the amplitude does not die off through 220hz before the amplitude climbs the next peak. I'm thinking this is the problem.

So how to get rid of it. Moving it around does not seem to help. With clay stuck to the top, i pushed it down to 213hz (again, half way between A and Ab) but as the peak is broad enough it still seems to be affecting Ab and A. I've tried clay in various spots and antinodes which moves the peaks around but does not change there relative positions or amplitudes.

I've tried to identify the source of this peak by looking at the Chladni pattern. It appears to be a weakly defined monopole. Audibly, it is very noticeable in the 218-220hz range. It is not the main monopole at 240hz which is louder and clearly defined.
IMG_8796.JPG
IMG_8796.JPG (125.31 KiB) Viewed 15987 times


By closing off the sound hole to see if it is related to the air mode, the air resonance is clearly eliminated but the 218hz resonance remains. So not related to air mode, eh? Also does not seem to related to the back which is pitched high enough that it is not particularly live.

So, I'm stuck. Moving the resonance doesn't seem to working and I don't know how to eliminate it. Thoughts?
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Sun Jan 16, 2022 6:51 am

Maybe I should add this is a Selmer style guitar, the kind I usually build. An air mode of 96-115hz and a main monopole of 230-260hz is very common in this style guitar.
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

User avatar
Trevor Gore
Blackwood
Posts: 1605
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:11 pm

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Trevor Gore » Sun Jan 16, 2022 11:06 am

Check out that peak at ~440Hz. That's likely your problem...

In the 2nd Edition, Section 22.3.4 shows an example of how to fix this sort of problem on the 2nd partial (not in the 1st Edition). Also likley in the Modal Tuning Course notes.

Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Sun Jan 16, 2022 11:49 am

Thanks Trevor, I’ll check it out in the morning.
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Mon Jan 17, 2022 12:17 am

I checked that peak near 440. Inspection with guideline indicates it is 452 on that FRC

Having already tried added bridge mass, I took all the clay and the 3.5gr mustaches off. Here’s the FRC:
0254D43C-A9FB-4BCE-972E-A3567C2BEE3D.png
Peaks are 100hz, 214, 252, 343, 370, 454, 503, 559, 705, 811

This is a nicer solution to the 247hz monopole peak landing smack on B3, and lifted that 452 peak to 454. There is still that little peak at 214 on the slope up to 252. and it seems better defined. But none of these seem to land on scale notes in the problem area, Bb3 (233hz) being the worst, 14 cents flat. A (220) is 12c flat, Ab (208) is 8c flat. Above and below these notes, intonation is normal. Also normal at A4 (440) and A5.

The peak at 370 in the FRC above is right on F# but the intonation of F# is good and no obvious direct problem here.

In the trouble area, the tuner is confused about the frequency it is “hearing”. As is my ear. Tuner shows considerable fluxuation and my ear is confused as to what is the pitch is being heard.
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Thu Jan 20, 2022 12:28 am

I’ve not resolved this problem yet. Tried tuning the guitar first up then down one half semi-tone with the idea that if the problem was a scale note conflict, tuning half way between scale notes “should” negate this. It doesn’t and the problem zone from Ab to A# doesn’t move.

Tried a different brand of strings, same gauge, no change.

Thoughts?
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

User avatar
Trevor Gore
Blackwood
Posts: 1605
Joined: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:11 pm

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Trevor Gore » Fri Jan 21, 2022 7:56 am

I've not applied any more thought to this (a bit busy at the moment), but have you got some sort of tail piece resonance going on?

Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Fri Jan 21, 2022 10:05 am

Thanks, I’ll check that email n the morning. I did dampen the after length of strings between the bridge and tailpiece. That didn’t change things. I'll check the tailpiece itself.
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Fri Jan 21, 2022 11:55 pm

Dampened the tailpiece, no change.
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Dave M
Blackwood
Posts: 595
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 6:44 am
Location: Somerset UK

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Dave M » Mon Jan 31, 2022 4:18 am

Did you get anywhere with this issue Craig? It does sound an interesting one
------------------
Dave

Craig Bumgarner
Blackwood
Posts: 195
Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:28 pm
Location: Drayden, MD, USA

Re: Intonation Problem

Post by Craig Bumgarner » Wed Feb 02, 2022 5:04 am

No, Haven’t figured it out yet. Tried Chiladni again and there is definitely a resonance around 220-230hz but poorly defined. I can move it around with clay to n the top, but makes no difference and can’t seem to get rid of it all together
Craig Bumgarner

Bumgarner Guitar Blog

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 28 guests