Adjusting Intonation

by Brian Calvert

You will need to use your guitar tuner to fine tune your intonation.

Start by tuning up your guitar to proper pitch, now check your High E string tuning at the 12th fret.

If your tuner shows that your sharp then adjust the High E saddle on the bridge slightly further away from the neck.

If your tuner shows that you are flat then adjust the High E saddle on the bridge slightly closer to the neck.

Each time you move the saddle try to moving it only about 1/32", then of course you need to retune the open E string perfectly and recheck the octave tuning at the 12th fret.

Below you will see pictures of where you need to turn a screw to adjust the position of your saddle on the three most common style of bridges
Fixed Bridge Gibson Style
Strat Style Floating Bridge
Telecastor Style Fixed Bridge

If you have a Floyd Rose style bridge (floating bridge) You will need to relax the tension completely on your string before adjusting the saddle into it's proper position, unless of course you have purchased a special intonation tool which clamps onto the bridge itself to aid you in the adjustment.
<After you have relieved the string tension loosen the saddle lock down screw here
You can use the string lock down bolt to aid in moving the saddle back and forth here (do not turn this or loosen it as the string will pop out)>
Repeat this procedure for each of the individual strings, moving right up the line till your finished with the Low E string or in the case of a 7 string guitar the Low B. You should only have to do this once when setting your guitar up properly as long as you stay with the same gauge size of strings.
 
On to Step 1: Head Stock Area
On to Step 2: Truss Rod and Neck Bow adjustment
On to Step 3: Nut Height check and adjustment
On to Step 4: String Height and Bridge adjustment
On to Step 5: Adjusting the intonation of a guitar (You are here)
On to Step 6: Adjusting Pickup Height