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 Volume & Intonation 
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Post Volume & Intonation
Ok, so I got my Stick this past Friday, and I'm little by little (with what miniscule free time I have) making my acquaintance with it, and i"m having fun. There are two things which are starting to disturb me, though.
The first might be something that I have to get used to and suck up: when I play notes at the nut, they are almost inaudible, and there's a HUGE jump in volume when I get a couple of frets up from there.My practice amp actually has a built-in compressor in it, so that helps somewhat, but I wonder if this is supposed to be as big an issue as it seems to be. (Did Tony Levin have to compress his stick THAT much to get even volume on "I Don't Remember"?)
The second issue: the intonation on my instrument seems to be really wacky. I used to work in music stores nearly 20 years ago, and I got to the point where I could tech guitars and basses, so I recall that a properly intoned instrument should be dead on tune when the strings are played open and again at the (12th?) octave fret. And my Stick is way off.
Any thoughts?

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Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:19 pm
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
As far as the volume goes, you might need to adjust your truss. If you have a backward "arch" that will make the notes near the nut hard to sound, as there's no clearance over the frets.

See the following video for advice on that:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fx8LQS7Et1g[/youtube]

As far as the intonation goes, until you're really used to playing it, there are many technique aspects that will influence your intonation, including whether you push or pull strings, and how close you tap to the fret. Playing just behind the fret makes it harder to press them down after tapping.

If you follow the basic tapping technique advice in my new DVD, you shouldn't have these problems.

http://www.stick.com/features/video/

It's also important to make sure when you are tuning that you don't push, pull or press the strings.

I hope that helps.

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Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:36 pm
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
Bergerstick, do you have a grand stick or standard? Are you basing your intonation on the X fret and not trying to ring off an "open" string?

kev

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Sun Mar 25, 2012 6:16 pm
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
Hi guys, thanks very much for the fast replies. My instrument just arrived after Emmett did a total re-work on it, so it's in extremely good shape overall. Previously, sighting down the neck showed me that it looks about as straight as an arrow, but I'll take another look. Certainly it's possible that something shifted during transit from CA to ME. I've been getting some real buzzing about 2/3 up the neck, so I might indeed have to adjust the truss rod (I'll look carefully at the bridge nuts, too).
I have a standard Stick, in standard tuning, BTW. I initially had Emmett set it up tuned down a half step, but I found it just too difficult to work with the books I got (Emmett's book, and Greg's Vol 1), so I'm at standard tuning now. (The intonation and volume issue existed at the half-step down tuning, as well.)
I've been tuning the strings to their open pitches as much as possible, although the damper makes it tricky on some of the lighter gauge strings.
I'll certainly admit at this point to being a bit "ham-fisted" in my tapping, so I'll try to remember to relax! Thanks again for the info, and I'll take any more suggestions that you or anyone else has.

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Mon Mar 26, 2012 5:45 am
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
BergerStick wrote:
Hi guys, thanks very much for the fast replies. My instrument just arrived after Emmett did a total re-work on it, so it's in extremely good shape overall. Previously, sighting down the neck showed me that it looks about as straight as an arrow, but I'll take another look. Certainly it's possible that something shifted during transit from CA to ME. I've been getting some real buzzing about 2/3 up the neck, so I might indeed have to adjust the truss rod (I'll look carefully at the bridge nuts, too).
I have a standard Stick, in standard tuning, BTW. I initially had Emmett set it up tuned down a half step, but I found it just too difficult to work with the books I got (Emmett's book, and Greg's Vol 1), so I'm at standard tuning now. (The intonation and volume issue existed at the half-step down tuning, as well.)
I've been tuning the strings to their open pitches as much as possible, although the damper makes it tricky on some of the lighter gauge strings.
I'll certainly admit at this point to being a bit "ham-fisted" in my tapping, so I'll try to remember to relax! Thanks again for the info, and I'll take any more suggestions that you or anyone else has.


I'm working on some support videos now, the first one will go up this week, and soon a tuning video as well.

You really don't want to use the open strings to tune. The damper won't let them vibrate freely.

I like to tune the bass strings at fret #4 or #5 (E or F on the lowest bass string), and #12 or 13 on the melody strings.

these are very central playing areas, so you will use a natural technique to play there. Tune the bass strings by tapping with your left hand and reaching up to the tuners with your right, and tune the melody strings by tapping with your right hand.

Don't tune the instrument or check its intonation by laying it down on a central point. This will make the instrument slightly sharper than in playing position.

So this is not accurate:

Code:
---------------------------------
            -----------


but this is:

Code:
---------------------------------
   -----                  -----


I hope that helps.

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Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:14 am
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
You know, I was wondering if I should be tuning the melody strings around fret 12, because of the reason you mention: my right hand will be spending a lot of time there. I'll definitely take your suggestion about tuning around fret 4 & 5 for the bass side, too.
When I tune, I have the instrument on me in playing position.
I had a couple of moments to sight down the neck a couple of minutes ago, and there is a slight perceptible hump around frets 12-16. Could be an intonation culprit, as well as, of course, the cause of the buzz I get in that range. I'm loath to screw around very much with adjustments, seeing as they were just done at S.E., so I'll be VERY cautious and gentle about it, and will only make very small, incremental adjustments at a time.

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Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:10 am
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
BergerStick wrote:
I had a couple of moments to sight down the neck a couple of minutes ago, and there is a slight perceptible hump around frets 12-16. Could be an intonation culprit, as well as, of course, the cause of the buzz I get in that range. I'm loath to screw around very much with adjustments, seeing as they were just done at S.E., so I'll be VERY cautious and gentle about it, and will only make very small, incremental adjustments at a time.

The truss is meant to be adjusted frequently, as needed. That keeps the board flat. It's not at all like the truss on a guitar or bass. Just tweak it and go!

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Mon Mar 26, 2012 7:51 am
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
[/quote]The truss is meant to be adjusted frequently, as needed. ... It's not at all like the truss on a guitar or bass.[/quote]
Ooohhhh, very cool! That's very good to know. Thanks again!

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Mon Mar 26, 2012 8:02 am
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
Well, shoot; I tried to adjust the truss rod to give the strings a tad more clearance, but the nut ran out of pressure after 2 turns. In other words, after two small turns of the wrench, I was able to spin the nut with my fingers. The neck is still flat, so I guess that's good news.
Plan, B, anyone? :D

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Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:18 am
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Post Re: Volume & Intonation
BergerStick wrote:
Well, shoot; I tried to adjust the truss rod to give the strings a tad more clearance, but the nut ran out of pressure after 2 turns. In other words, after two small turns of the wrench, I was able to spin the nut with my fingers. The neck is still flat, so I guess that's good news.
Plan, B, anyone? :D


Look again at Greg's video (around 5:20), he explain that the truss rod is "two way" and can also push (v.g. exert pressure in the same direction of the strings).


Cheers, Daniel.


Mon Mar 26, 2012 3:04 pm
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