franzbassist Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 So I have just fitted a set of Lakland flats on my Sandberg VT5. They sound and feel great, the tension is perfect, but I can't seem to get the intonation right. I can tune the bass and nail the harmonic no problem, but fretted notes always seem sharp. Is this common with flats? I don't remember it being an issue with La Bellas or D'Addarios in the past. Do they just need to stretch in? Cheers Gareth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I don't have any problem with flats & I've tried several, favourites being GHS Precision Flats, which I believe are Sandbergs, so not a common problem IMO. Not wishing to offend - are you bending the string over/behind the fret when checking the tuning? Is the action a bit high? Just thinking maybe they don't 'bend' as easy as rounds, streching/changing length more & giving a bad reading when intonating, dunno just thinking out loud really Cheerz, John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 [quote name='KiOgon' timestamp='1353496839' post='1875142'] I don't have any problem with flats & I've tried several, favourites being GHS Precision Flats, which I believe are Sandbergs, so not a common problem IMO. Not wishing to offend - are you bending the string over/behind the fret when checking the tuning? Is the action a bit high? Just thinking maybe they don't 'bend' as easy as rounds, streching/changing length more & giving a bad reading when intonating, dunno just thinking out loud really [/quote] Hi John Thanks for that. Just spent a little time playing around and it seems better this morning. Just about nailed it on all strings now. Cheers Gareth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstriper Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I think heavy gauge flats create more of a bow in the neck and that affects the intonation around the middle of the neck, where the action is too high. The answer is to tighten the truss rod a bit, to get the neck straighter. Or use lighter gauge flats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) Hi guys Just re-read my original post and I wasn't clear... it's only the fretted note at the 12th fret that's a touch sharp when setting the intonation. I tweaked the truss rod when I changed the strings last night: I've checked it again just now and it's fine (same as when the bass had rounds on) Cheers Gareth Edited November 21, 2012 by walbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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