a different strat usa tuning Q

Generic Dreadhead

i have a usa strat that i've had for a few years now but have noticed that it's not the best at being in tune

basically this means that when i tune an open E string perfectly... then press on the 1st fret (the note F) it will be like 5 notches off on my tuner (boss gt6) on the sharp side.... i reckon this is probably due to string gauge, action, or fiddling with the little screws on the back of my bridge (the back, not the side inside the guitar).. i believe this is called inotation or something similar.... also someone once mention something about the neck (or pipe thing inside the neck) being bent.... or possibly the white bone thing at the top of the neck is too high/too low etc....

it starts to go closer to being in tune the more i move up the neck (usually by fret 9 we're perfect again)

please excuse my lack of correct terminology

now basiclly i like my string gauge and action and don't want to overly change them...

could somone give me some advice???
has this happened to any of you??

feylya

If you play the 12th fret, is it in tune? There are links to set up tutorials in the Resources sticky. Sounds like your intonation is off.

punchdrunk

for a start it sounds like your nut is too high
white thingy that the strings sit on!

Generic Dreadhead

thanks
it's almost the same as open... usually like 1 or 2 (max) notches on tuner off on the sharp side... if the F note is like 4 notches (or cents... i think) off how should i adjust the inotation... up or down... (i know it seems like a silly Q)
it never used to really bother me but my latest song is in F minor so it's an important issue

feylya

If the 12th is the same as open, then your intonation is ok. Sounds like the nut is too high alright.

Generic Dreadhead

i think it's bone... can i just file/sand it down???... i'm guessing i'll need to raise the action a bit so as to stop fret buzz

Johnny Storm

Its a bit of a specialist job.

Generic Dreadhead

i see.. so i just bring it in to my regular guitar guy and let him deal with it??

Johnny Storm

That's what I'd do, anyhow.

Generic Dreadhead

thanks much... at least now i know whats wrong... better then going in just asking him to fix the tuning when i don't have a clue... considering there is such a big differece in the open e and 1 stfret it probably is the height of the bone nut thingy

Bratach Bán

If it's dead on at the 12th fret, then yeah, as people have said, it is probably slots on the nut. (NOT the nut itself, the slots cut into it). If it bothers you, bring it to a pro.

Having said that, is this something that you can hear, or is it only showing up on your tuner? Borrow a strobe tuner if you can; sometimes cheap needle tuners are inaccurate.

Furthermore, most people can't hear a difference of 10 cents, and a guitar is never fully in tune anyway, so maybe you could live with it.

Generic Dreadhead

i can hear the difference on the first 3 or 4 frets.... it's well out..

Doctor J

Put a capo on the first fret. Tune it to F Bb Eb Ab C F with the capo on and see how close the notes are on the 13th fret.