Strange Intonation Issue

[gemini8026]

Hi guys.

Quick question....


I have an Ibanez RGA121. I tune it down half a step with Elixit Mediums. (.11 - .49) It intonates fine and I have no issues.

Anyhow, I recently switched to a .52 string on the Low E , so that I could play a drop (c#)

In order to intonate, I had to remove the saddle string and the saddle is COMPLETELY all the way back. (on rga's there is lots of space, so I found that odd)

Anyhow, when I tune it in C# on the low E, it behaves weird on the tuner, and is tough to tune to pitch. When I pluck the note, it'll "waver" around and its tough to get it set on C# exactly! I have to let it sit for a second, it might hit the perfect pitch, but then a second later it'll waver off again.

Might this be a bad string, or could it be a limitation of a 25.5" scale guitar trying to tune to low?!? Ive never had issues with my Musicman sterling bass, it tunes great on low tunings. So im just curious, on a 25.5" scale guitar, once you start getting that low, might I have a bad string, or is there limitation on how well you can tune at that pitch and scale length?!?

[toejam]

There is a limitation on some guitars as to how low you can tune with a standard scale. My Strat just barely makes it in Eb with 10-46 gauge strings.

[Axewielder]

That "wavering" sounds like maybe the pickup is a bit high and the magnet is grabbing it.

[gemini8026]

axewielder, thats the first thing I checked!!!

It doesnt do it on any other strings. Im gonna buy one more string, and see if that changes anything, and if not, write it off and try things another way.

[Trem]

a little bit of that may be that when tuning down, you gotta pluck a lot lighter on the strings as they will go out of tune heavily -
it's a bitch to get the low A on my 7 to settle as well on a digital tuner.

double check just using a harmonic on the 12th to see if it's tuned true.

Sometimes the low strings oscillate funky - you might notice.
you should be able to tune to C# on a 25.5 scale i'm tuned to A and intonated, it is a pain in the ass tho.

[Nuclear Vampire]

you should be able to tune to C# on a 25.5 scale .

+1

My KVX10 25.5 and is tuned to C standard and intonated perfectly. My top string is a .54 though. I found that the thicker string on top helped with tuning stability (my biggest pet peeve)