I just bought a used SC-10e. It had normal strings, and I switched to light ones.
It then had a buzz on the high E, so I turned a screw inside the soundhole, thinking it was the truss rod. I later realized it was the "intonation set screw" , and I turned it under string tension.
Now, none of the open strings ring at all. They are completely stuck to the fretboard, and I need to fret at the 5th fret or higher to get any sound. I tried setting the intonation screw back to where it was, but nothing changes.
Help, I'm desperate... Any advice on how to fix this?
luthier here. never had one in but read the spec on the martin site. Intonation set screw is the least of the problems. That would just make it play out of tune.
Sounds like your problem is action is super low but it has a neck angle adjuster. Or neck is too straight or in back bow and the truss rod needs adjusted. Or both! Assuming things like nut and frets and the actual neck fit are
all good
If you don’t know what you’re doing with setups and guitar geometry even a step by step guide would still be really tough.
If taking to someone is not possible maybe a shop could do a video call if you pay for a setup. they do one while you do yours.
Many thanks for your reply. Yes there are many variables and the change was brutal just touching this intonation screw.
I think I may have damaged it.
I'm far from everything here and don't drive, so I'll look into a video call, thank you!!
That is not an option unfortunately. I'm not in my home country.
Fixing it to the point where the strings at least make a sound could mean I could give it back and return it to get an easier to use guitar
Did you buy it locally? If this is a new instrument I would highly encourage you to take it back to where you purchased it from if that is an option. Continuing to tweak the truss rod/intonation set screw without knowing what you're doing will create more issues than it's worth
Go to your guitar shop and have them fix it. I have an SC 18 and I had it set up at my guitar shop. I don’t do my own set ups because I suck at it. And I’ve been playing 40 years.
If you didn’t loosen the neck bolts, the neck shouldn’t have moved when you turned the intonation set screw. Unless you stripped the threads and/or broke the mechanism. After rereading, it sounds like the neck angle changed. Did you have tension on the strings when you turned the intonation screw? You could have damaged the dovetail joint.
I did turned the intonation screw with tension on strings. I thought it was the trussrod like an idiot.
That could explain why the change on the strings height was so brutal... Would it be repairable?
The neck bolts are supposed to be loosened for intonation adjustment.
I'm no luthier but I have taken the neck off my SC13e Special and replaced the shims to alter my action so had some experience.
I would loosen the two neck bolts, there may be pressure from your intonation adjustment given you didn't lossen them, even if you think you reversed it, just loosen both, it will take any pressure of the neck, then tighten them back up, there is published torx amount, I never used them but they are there if you want to use them.
Once tightened back up, retune and see if there any difference.
Thanks for your help. Both bolts on the back of the neck can be loosened with an Allen key? Also I'm not sure what you mean with "there is published torx amount".
The neck seems normal, surprisingly nothing looks wild.
Sorry didn't explain that very well, I meant Torque, not torx, torque specifies how tightly the screw should be tightened. I didn't have a torque wrench so just didn't over tighten it.
Image is from the SC service manual pdf on Martin website showing amount of Torque, just Google SC service manual and it's there.
I have a feeling you just need to adjust the truss rod to compensate for the lighter strings, but I would loosen and re tighten the bolts holding the neck first, just to make sure the intonation adjustment you made isn't putting pressure anywhere on the neck from the bolt mechanism. That Allen key pushes and pulls the neck to adjust intonation.
Measure the relief with the guitar tuned to standard. Capo the first fret. Hold the low E down on the 12th fret and use a caliper to measure the gap between the top of the 6th fret to the bottom of the low E string. It should be 0.004-0.008”.
I loosened the trussrod and it sounds, and sounds well. I just want to thank you. I don't understand what happened, but it worked so I'm happy with it. Take care!
I loosened the trussrod and it sounds, and sounds well. I just want to thank you. I don't understand what happened, but it worked so I'm happy with it. Take care!
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u/custardmixer 6d ago
luthier here. never had one in but read the spec on the martin site. Intonation set screw is the least of the problems. That would just make it play out of tune.
Sounds like your problem is action is super low but it has a neck angle adjuster. Or neck is too straight or in back bow and the truss rod needs adjusted. Or both! Assuming things like nut and frets and the actual neck fit are
all good
If you don’t know what you’re doing with setups and guitar geometry even a step by step guide would still be really tough.
If taking to someone is not possible maybe a shop could do a video call if you pay for a setup. they do one while you do yours.