Strange Intonation on E String

[kirkdickinson]

First post here. Hi everybody!

I purchased a Ric 4001 in the mid 80's, I think it was made in 81. I took some lessons in the 80's and early 90's, but haven't played with it for years. Got it out of the case a couple of weeks ago and took it to church to practice with the praise band. Took it out of the case and tuned it up and it still sounds great, plays like a dream; However I noticed that it was very sharp on at the 3rd fret G on the E string. My ear isn't that good, so for me to notice it has to be bad.

Got the tuner out and it is dead on open E and dead on 12th fret E, but G is noticeably sharp.

Took it to a local guitar store and they did a basic setup and put new strings on it. The guitar tech wasn't in, so I left it.

I go back to pick it up and he said everything was ok. I asked about the sharp G and he said he hadn't checked that. He put it on the tuner and told me that it was 25 cents sharp at G and basically every fret from F on up. The frets got less sharp as they went up, with the 12th fret being right on.

He told me that he needed refill and recut the nut. He did.

Now it is only 5 cents off at the G. I can't hear it as much, but it is still off and that bothers me.

The action is low and the neck is straight.

What should I try next?

Thanks,

Kirk

[VRICKY63]

I had 2 1977 4001 basses that were like that and most basses in general are sharp at the bottom . I sold them . The Buzz feinton ? system cures that problem and my Pedulla basses are perfect for intonation . Sounds like a nut/frets relocation is in order . Or just live with it . My wife singer/songwriter can hear intonation thats off instantly . She only likes the Pedullas and RIC 4004 .

[doctorwho]

Welcome, Kirk!

What happens if you tune it to reduce the cents-off at the G fret - does it make things too bad elsewhere, or does it make it all just a little off?

That's my two cents' worth ...

[kirkdickinson]

Which Dr. Who are you?

I have been tuning E just a little flat so that G is just a little sharp. Really can't hear it playing with other instruments, but if I do chord an octave, you can hear the waver. I don't know for sure how many cents it is off, just going by what the guitar tech said at CA House. My cheapo tuner works, but I don't know how to tell cents with it.

I haven't tried it, but I bet if I capo'ed the E string at F tuned to F then set the intonation, that every fret would be on, just the open E off. I am of the opinion that it has to be the nut is messed up.

With most any other bridge, I would just crank the intonation, this Rick seems overly difficult to set because I can't get at the intonation screws straight on without raising the bridge. But I still think the nut is the problem.

Thanks,

Kirk

[VRICKY63]

I remember seeing some bass with a staggerd slot nut . That would take some time to make but would work great !

[jingle_jangle]

I'd be interested to know if you've varied from the factory gauge in strings. This could be a part of this problem.

[kirkdickinson]

I don't know for sure what the factory string size was.

I ran Smith strings for a long time .45-.108 and now have GHS Boomers .45-.105. on it.

Kirk

[edski]

.40, .55, .75, .95

I think...it's been a while since I bought any, and at that point it was putting together a custom set via buying bulks. My initial though was it *could* be the string guage, although I've used other guages and not heard the issue you mention. I've had .100 on my E string and all seemed fine.

I recall in the early 80's a buddy who worked for a music store reported seeing several Ricks come out of the factory with grossly misplaced frets, but they were evidently quite easy to spot. Not being that handy with repairs I can't offer much more.

[kirkdickinson]

Misplaced frets? Now that is a scary thing for a guitar manufacturer to do!

I wouldn't imagine that the frets are the problem because the other three strings are right on.

Going to need to find a more advanced guitar/bass tech. Talked to a guy at Moore's Music Emporium http://www.mooresmusicemporium.com/inst ... epairs.php (local to me)
He wants to take a look at it and seemed to be pretty knowledgeable. Haven't had time to get it down there yet.

Kirk