Re: Vintage Viaten intonation
Don't know about Viaten's, but intonation problems related to strings are pretty common in the mandolin world.
We are additionally spoiled by mandolin bridges that are movable, string weight changes are easily adjustable to restore proper intonation up the neck by sliding the bridge as needed, assuming the bridge itself is properly compensated.
Guitars are harder, as the bridges are attached to the top, so changing string gauges requires a trip to a luthier to have it altered to play in tune again. Optionally you simply return to the string gauges the guitar is adjusted for.
Looking for pics of the Viaten on the interwebz, I see what looks like a normal (small) guitar body and fixed bridge. So your options fall into the guitar category.
This may help:
Lighter strings cause things to go flat up the neck, so the bridge has to move closer to the nut on that particular string.
Heavier strings cause things to go sharp up the neck, the bridge must move further away from the nut on that string.
If your problems are things going sharp, try light strings (instead of mediums), that would be my guess at a quick solution.
Davey Stuart tenor guitar (based on his 18" mandola design).
Eastman MD-604SB with Grover 309 tuners.
Eastwood 4 string electric mandostang, 2x Airline e-mandola (4-string) one strung as an e-OM.
DSP's: Helix HX Stomp, various Zooms.
Amps: THR-10, Sony XB-20.
Bookmarks