Intonation on a 3000 (short-scale) bass

clarky · Post by **clarky** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:55 pm

Hi all, I have a restored 3000 FG (I posted the pics a few months ago). Problem is the intonation is horrible as I move progressively up the neck so that anything above the 12th fret is pretty much half a tone out. Playing drone type riffs (think She's Lost Control by Joy Division) is so out it makes my toes curl.

Can this simply be solved by playing around with the positioning of the bridge saddles (I have tried tweaking them to no avail but truth is I am incompetent!) or is this simply an issue with short-scale basses that you have to live with.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:16 pm

Is the intonation sharp as you move up the neck and are all of the strings off? I've found the tailpieces and therefore the bridges to be set too far forward on a couple that I've owned. If the intonation is sharp, peg the tailpiece mounting holes, move the tailpiece back as far as you can without uncovering the mute route and re-drill. You can also flip the saddles around with the top edge of the saddle towards the rear. There are additional things that can be done also, but intonation is as good on a 3000 as any other bass. Just make sure the neck is adjusted with no relief, you're using strings with not more than 160 lbs of tension and set the intonation at the 12th fret with the string fretted and not by the harmonic.

hen_jin · Post by **hen_jin** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:24 pm

Dane - someone just told me today that "Rickenbacker recommends no neck relief" and now I see your posting. So is this is a general instruction for all Rick basses?

Thanks,

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 4:40 pm

Yes. Because Ricks use two truss rods, it's actually possible and, coupled with the action being set properly at the bridge and nut, will result in an easier playing bass with truer intonation all the way up the neck.

hen_jin · Post by **hen_jin** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 5:15 pm

Thanks. That's one reason they are a pleasure to play.

clarky · Post by **clarky** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:27 pm

Hi Dane - actually the intonation is flat (so I have to bend the string to get the note!)

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:35 pm

In that case, the tailpiece needs to be moved forward. Try flipping the saddles around first though.

clarky · Post by **clarky** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:42 pm

Will do, thx again Dane