Epi intonation problem!

[Knarbens]

A friend of mine owns a 2004 U-Serial Epiphone Les Paul Standard. I noticed that the intonation was everything but correct so I decided to set it up. That's the way I tryed:

At first I tuned the open string. Then I pressed the same string on 12th fret and the tuner showed that this note was too low. So I took a screwdriver and screwed the saddle more in the bridgepickup direction! - Is that the right way? Did I do something wrong?

I screwed the saddle all the way into this direction until I can't make any more turns, but the intonation wasn't any better!? I also noticed, that the harmonics on the first, second and third string are not over the 12th, but between the 12th and the 13th fretwire!

What's going on here? How to fix these intonation problems? It's not a pleasure to play this guitar! My buddys strings are 0.9 Gibson Les Pauls - are there to thin or what? Will a professional setup help? Pease help me!

[GNRFreak69]

Gibson Les Paul: Electric Guitar Setup | Expert Village Videos

This shows Gibson Setup, but should be the same.

[Knarbens]

Hey thank you! Welcome to the forum GNRFreak69!

[Axilla]

Hey Knarbens,

first thing: Yepp - for a normal setup, you did everything right.
There certainly are finer methods to do this, but I wouldn't mind those for now.

Now, if that particular guitar is so far off in intonation that you cannot handle it by moving the saddles of the bridge, you might try a different string gauge like for example 10/46 and then try to setup the intonation again.

I have never seen a Les Paul style guitar THAT way off, but one hardware thing you could do is to get a new bridge from GOTOH or TONEPROS (more expensive but the same as the Gotoh, only that it can be locked with screws...). These bridges have a broader range for moving the saddles. Works perfect on my Les Pauls.

It may be worth having a luthier or an experienced tech have a look at the guitar. Maybe there is even something wrong with the nut or the studs the bridge rests on have moved or are otherwise damaged...

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Axel

BTW: Cool Orville Paula you got there. How do you like it ?
...do these have the long-neck-tenons ?

[Muck Fe]

Knarbens, just quick thought, was the bridge put on the wrong way round when the guitar was last restrung? Could explain why it is so far out.

Rick.

[Knarbens]

Originally Posted by Muck Fe

Knarbens, just quick thought, was the bridge put on the wrong way round when the guitar was last restrung? Could explain why it is so far out.

I can not tell you... it's not my guitar! The screwheads were facing the bridgepickup. It might be the way a Epiphone bridge have to be! I'm sure that a professional set up, done by a tech, will be the best thing my buddy can do! I'll tell him to get himself a set of 10-46 strings (maybe D'Addario...) and then to let a pro do the rest...

Thank you Axilla! I like my Orville! She plays great, even without a long neck tenon! I believe the G-Serial Orville by Gibsons, built in the same period than my Orville, do sometimes have a long neck tenon.

[Axilla]

Originally Posted by Knarbens

Thank you Axilla! I like my Orville! She plays great, even without a long neck tenon! I believe the G-Serial Orville by Gibsons, built in the same period than my Orville, do sometimes have a long neck tenon.

You're welcome !

Thanks for the info - I'm currently thinking about Orvilles, but first I've got to to see and try some in the flesh before buying...

[Muck Fe]

Originally Posted by Knarbens

I can not tell you... it's not my guitar! The screwheads were facing the bridgepickup. It might be the way a Epiphone bridge have to be! I'm sure that a professional set up, done by a tech, will be the best thing my buddy can do! I'll tell him to get himself a set of 10-46 strings (maybe D'Addario...) and then to let a pro do the rest...

Ok Knarbens, that might be the best course of action.

FYI, both my Epis have the saddle adjustment screws facing inwards towards the bridge pickup, that's how they came from the factory.

Rick.

[Knarbens]

Hey Axilla! Great to see another German member here at the forum! I'm from Chemnitz! Welcome to the forum! (Ich schreibe mal in Englisch, damit die lieben Amerikaner auch wissen was ich hier schreibe! )

[Axilla]

...indeed, I see not many German participants here in the Epi section ;-)
We gotta grow our community

[lp_junkie]

Willkommen zu den Foren Axilla,(Knarbens Ihr Englisch ist besser als mein Deutscher).

[Knarbens]

(lp_junkie, das glaube ich auch! ) No, I'm just kidding you!

[KP Willits]

Mein Gott Walter, das werd langsam einen Deutsche Forum hier. Just yanking some chains….. lol

[-Ninja-]

I had to flip one of my saddles around to get intonation right on the G string. Because the saddle goes to a point you may be able to flip it around and gain an extra 1/8 in. of movement, if it's not already facing that way.

[sasquatch]

Originally Posted by -Ninja-

I had to flip one of my saddles around to get intonation right on the G string. Because the saddle goes to a point you may be able to flip it around and gain an extra 1/8 in. of movement, if it's not already facing that way.

Invest in a Gotoh Bridge for the 'import' Epiphone.
It costs about $25 and has longer saddle travel.
I added one to my SG Custom and wow, it finally intonated correctly.

[-Ninja-]

Originally Posted by sasquatch

Invest in a Gotoh Bridge for the 'import' Epiphone.
It costs about $25 and has longer saddle travel.
I added one to my SG Custom and wow, it finally intonated correctly.

My Epi is fine, its intonated right. All I did was flip one saddle around to get more travel. I think I am personally done spending money on my Epi. I was saving for an Elitist but now they stopped making them, I guess I will have to save longer for a Gibson.

[diceman]

Originally Posted by -Ninja-

My Epi is fine, its intonated right. All I did was flip one saddle around to get more travel. I think I am personally done spending money on my Epi. I was saving for an Elitist but now they stopped making them, I guess I will have to save longer for a Gibson.

You'll still be able to find them on the used market! I was just playing one of mine a few minutes ago... A Poly finished Historic, I tell you!

[tintin]

There are even a few still available new from MF, etc.

[-Ninja-]

I want the GoldTop and for that much money, there is no way I would go used.

[tintin]

OK

[-Ninja-]

Originally Posted by tintin

OK

They are out of stock but say they are getting them in? Whats the deal I thought no one else was getting them? If this is true I might have to get it now. They are discontinued though, right?

I don't think I can blow 1,200 bucks right now but I can sure make payments.



P.S. Sorry for the hijack

[-Ninja-]

Originally Posted by tintin

OK

Sorry to still be off topic but I have to thank you very much. I ordered the Elitist GT from there. They are only getting 3 of them and I am number 3. They come in on 11/05


Thanks a lot for the link.

[tintin]

Happy to help, although I envy you! I'm tempted to snap one up, but I already have more guitars than time to play 'em!