Everything falling into place

How my acoustic guitar got better

My acoustic guitar, a Martin D18 from the seventies, has had many improvements done to it over the years. The one that has given the most enjoyment is Buzz Feiten’s intonation system. Finally the instrument was in tune with itself — hearing is believing. This process is called ‘sweetening’ the instrument.

Buzz Feiten makes some big claims about his innovation, saying that he has improved on Pythagoras when it comes to improving the intonation of the guitar, but in a way he is right. The neck and the bridge of the guitar can be adjusted in such a way that the guitar is more evenly in tune no matter in which position on the neck you play.

The way that the frets on the guitar are placed is according to a law that Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras has described, however Pythagoras defined his law on the basis of a bottle neck sliding over a string that is under tension. In the case of the guitar we’re dealing with a string that is pressed down (a minute amount) thereby shortening the length of the string. This proves to make a big difference. Buzz Feiten has managed to counter act this occurrence through a new head nut, adjustments to the bridge and careful calculations.

I found Jim Matheas, a guitar maker in Melbourne, who had gone over to the US to learn how to install the Feiten system. He did a great job. I will never forget the feeling, sitting in Jim’s workshop and trying the guitar for the first time. Like a light switch being turned on — instant joy because the instrument was so much more in tune!

Thank you Buzz, thank you Jim!

Pro tip: If you are looking for a good guitar builder / repairer, go to the Buzz Feiten website and find someone who is accredited by Buzz (someone who has gone to the US to do the course). You will find a level of professionalism in that person you might not find anywhere else.
When you are a new guitarist you might not hear the difference of a well intoned guitar, it will take time to develop your ear, but once the penny drops you will not want to play a guitar that is not properly intoned. It’s a feeling of everything falling into place, it’s that good.

Pro tip 2: Peterson makes a clip-on strobe tuner that has Buzz Feiten presets.