Intonation and new strings

Snags

Just re-strung the Les Paul with new strings - D'addario Pro Steels, having previously had Nickel Wound on it. Same gauge as before (10-46).

Previously, the intonation was fine. Now it's all to hell once you get up to 11th/12th fret.  Admittedly I haven't change the type/style of strings in donkey's years, but is it really likely to have that profound an effect? I'd understand it if I'd changed gauge dramatically, but same gauge, different composition?

Obviously I'll be spending some time with the small screwdrivers later, just a bit surprised.

ICBM

Different core/wrap ratio (if they are) and metal type will have an effect on the intonation, even for the same gauge. Were the old strings quite old too?

It's also possible that if the new strings are steel rather than nickel, the neck pickup is adjusted a bit too high and it's pulling on the string causing a 'false node', which is most noticeable when you play around the 12th fret. It's more noticeable on Strats, but it can happen with humbuckers too.

Snags

Thanks, that makes sense. I've got it back to acceptable now, was just surprised. The old strings went on in January (oops) but haven't had masses of use and weren't dead. Just thought they should be freshened up for the jam.

The old ones were nickel wound rather than pure. The Pro Steels are an experiment.

skunkwerx

It could be the string not yet seated right at the saddle. Especially if the new strings are a bit stiffer. 

It could be bullshit but I’ll put a link to something a bit further down.. 

But firstly have you stretched the strings in good n proper?

I usually ‘stretch’ each string by lightly pulling it up, once near the nut end, once at the bridge and once around the 12th. 

Then I’ll pull up lightly at the 12th fret whilst fretting each fret from 1 to 10 on that string. 

Do all 6 strings.
Retune to pitch. 

Repeat 3 times total. 

May help... 



But about that break angle thing I mentioned. I once saw something in a video that made me think.. 

It was saying that new strings take a little while to properly seat/kink at the saddle. Til they do they retain an arc like shape over it instead of a sharper break. 

I can’t describe it well so here be a link which has pictures. 

https://hazeguitars.com/blog/string-seating-and-witness-points

I don’t know why that particular article calls them witness points, but I’m sure there is an actual word for it, but my minds frazzled... 

richardhomer

Snags said:

Thanks, that makes sense. I've got it back to acceptable now, was just surprised. The old strings went on in January (oops) but haven't had masses of use and weren't dead. Just thought they should be freshened up for the jam.

The Strat I played at the Huddersfield Jam in January still has the same strings on - can’t see any reason to change them already!

Snags

@skunkwerx yup, stretched in until they held tune consistently (which actually didn't take long).  Definitely seated correctly throughout, although whether that 'settling' thing applies remains to be seen. If the intonation goes out after it's been played for a few hours at the weekend I'll report back.

@richardhomer I made a bit of a bollox of putting a couple of the last set on (forgot about the lock-wrap technique it had been so long) so a couple of them were slipping out of tune easily.  Over the years I've gone everywhere between "Only when they're so rusty they hurt my fingers" and "once a month whether they need it or not". Now it tends to be "when I've got something interesting coming up"

skunkwerx

Snags said:

@skunkwerx yup, stretched in until they held tune consistently (which actually didn't take long).  Definitely seated correctly throughout, although whether that 'settling' thing applies remains to be seen. If the intonation goes out after it's been played for a few hours at the weekend I'll report back.

@richardhomer I made a bit of a bollox of putting a couple of the last set on (forgot about the lock-wrap technique it had been so long) so a couple of them were slipping out of tune easily.  Over the years I've gone everywhere between "Only when they're so rusty they hurt my fingers" and "once a month whether they need it or not". Now it tends to be "when I've got something interesting coming up"

Ahh. Well hopefully its sorted for ya either way! Could just be the different string composition like Icbm said!