Topic: It's just not right.

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_mad.gif" border=0 alt="Mad"> Okay, I've tried a million online tuners, and an electrical tuner, I've tried tuning my guitar to my cousins, and they sound exactly the same, yet when I play a chord on this guitar it sounds dreadful, whereas when my cousin plays exactly the same chord on another guitar it sounds sweet.

What the hell is wrong!?


Ahm usin a Fender squier, bullet strat.

Re: It's just not right.

squires suck just get a better guitar

Re: It's just not right.

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>Quote:</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
squires suck just get a better guitar.
</td></tr></table>

<img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing"> funny <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_lol.gif" border=0 alt="Laughing">

Re: It's just not right.

Sounds like your intonation os off. Look up giutar setup ot guitar intonation foe an explanation of the problem and how to fix it.

-Ray

Re: It's just not right.

You should get the guitar checked by an expert, adjust the bridge, and get perfect tuning. I think it should work as well.

Re: It's just not right.

i know what you mean. it seems i'm having the same problem, the rings, buzzes just not right. i think we both need new guitars

oliver

Re: It's just not right.

this is a bit tricky... but tune your guitar as normal... then with a really good tuner, hit each string at the 12th fret...if the 12th fret note is the same as the open string, the intonation is fine...if the note is high or lower then you have to adjust the saddle... hypothetically ..The distance between the first and twelfth fret, and the twelfth and bridge should be identical ( except on the B string on (some) guitars)after that.. as for the clicks and buzz, you can raise the action by adjusting the height screws on the saddles just a little, and see if that works..if you have to raise the strings to an uncofortable level to play..then your neck may need adjusting..to check that, you can take a ruler or yard stick and lay the edge to the fretboard.. it should touch all of the frets.. if your neck is bowed it will kill the intonation as well... have a pro fix that!

Re: It's just not right.

I have to correct myself here (before someone else does!..lol.. the twelfth fret is halfway between the nut and the bridge! haha

Anyway..hope the info helps....

                                Quentin

Re: It's just not right.

Thanks for all your help people!

I'll report back here if it gets better ^_^.

Re: It's just not right.

i have a bullet strat too as one of my guitars. one thing i have noticed with this model is that the action of the guitar is set up too low on the 6th and 5th string. if you are new on guitar, the action is the distance the string lies from the fret board. this used to cause fret buzz for me. if this could be the problem, you can make the action higher. to do this, slacken the strings off and you iwll notice a slot for an allen key in the top of the neck. find the right sized allen key and give it a few turns (i think to the right) to make the action higher). once you've re-tuned, you will be able to tell if it needs altering anymore so feel free to do so.

hope this helps

chris

Re: It's just not right.

Have you tried getting an experienced player

to have a turn on it. Then you'll know if its

the guitar or you. Just a thought.

Re: It's just not right.

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>eftpos wrote on Sun, 09 April 2006 05&#58;25</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Have you tried getting an experienced player

to have a turn on it. Then you'll know if its

the guitar or you. Just a thought. 
</td></tr></table>


Yeah, my cousin. He's extremely experienced, trust me

Re: It's just not right.

Either go to frets.com and read the information on intonation there and adjust it yourself or take the instrument in for a good setup. I recommend learninf to do this yourself. It's fairly easy and no never know when your guitar may get bumped and you have to do this again.

Re: It's just not right.

Maybe you should try getting a different brand or thickness of strings. Sometimes if you have low quality ones, they just won't tune. I've had the same problem many times before and it's usually the strings. If that doesn't fix it, try adjusting the bend of the neck. They have this metal bar that can fix the way your guitar neck bends whether it goes in (up when lying on its back) or out. The neck position can put tension on the strings that may cause them to make sounds that aren't correct. Hope this helps. Good luck!

Re: It's just not right.

I think it could be one of two things it could be the strings or the guitar if its the latter you should pon that one and buy a new

guitar. a martin or an ovation are good and stay in tune. if you are serious about playing just spend the money and but a godd one its not like it will die just take good care about it

So Red Delicious

Re: It's just not right.

i think you should get a Jackson!!! i av 1 and i never ever ever goes out of tune!! its awsome. if you want 2 get a spikey guitar....the jackson has got a very spikey head. it is a quality guitar with a fender bender system which makes sure i doesnt go out of tune!!! try goin on the website. www.jacksonsguitars.com or co.uk i cant remember which but it will work. then look at them and i think all the good ones have the special system. u may have 2 spend a bit more money than usual but i is worth every penny!!!! mine was

StEvO

Re: It's just not right.

Or you could get a fender strat? DO NOT GET A MEXICAN STRAT THEY SOUND REALLY S.H.I.T!

Re: It's just not right.

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>Shredzilla wrote on Thu, 22 June 2006 17&#58;47</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Or you could get a fender strat? DO NOT GET A MEXICAN STRAT THEY SOUND REALLY S.H.I.T! 
</td></tr></table>

um.... the only difference between the MIM and MIA strats is that the MIM strats are made in Mexico.

they sound the same pretty much after a pickup change

Re: It's just not right.

i wouldn't blame the guitar. i started on a squier and they do the job fine.

firstly, if the guitar is new or the strings have recently been fitted, you may just need to give them time to break in, because they'll tend to stretch and go out of tune a  lot to begin with.


other than that, i found with the squier bullet that the action isn't too great when bought. i had to alter mine. i found that i got fret buzz which altered the sound a bit. if you get buzz, i'd personally alter the action. it's easy to do yourself and most guitar places do it for free

Re: It's just not right.

Well. It's fairly old. 3 and a half years.. So if it's not broken in by now I dunno what's going on, lol.

How do I adjust the action myself?

Re: It's just not right.

at the top of the neck, just past the first fret, you'll notice like a hollowing. inside that is a little hexagon shaped nut. you'll need an allen key. i can't remember which way to turn it but you'll soon find out. give it a few turns and see how it goes

Re: It's just not right.

I'll try it out, thanks so much for the advice.

Re: It's just not right.

Before playing with the neck be sure that its not the strings, as previosly mentioned. Also if your not going to be playing slide on it, measure the distance between the 6th string and the fret board, it should be about an 1/8 of an inch. If its any closer than that raise the saddle on the bridge. Then intoneate it, which is simply tuning the open to the 12th fret, if its off take a screw driver & turn the screw at the end of the saddle until you get the pitch the same.


Also when using your tuner make sure its reading at 440 hz.