string/harmonic problems....

[meathane]

i wonder if anyone can help me...

ive been setting up my tele, and i know about the harmonics on the 12th fret and how if they're slightly flat, the u move the little bridge thing forward etc, but heres my problem: the harmonic is fine, but the actual note that plays when i play the 12th fret, isnt the same as the open [the string is the high e by the way]. is this just because the string is old and lost its tension? all the other strings are fine, they are all quite old... i cant work it out. any help asap would be so cool,
cheers

[srvfan]

Replace all of the strings with a new set, then have the intonation set (or set it yourself, if you want).

[crazyderek]

from what you described is sounds like you have it backwards, to set the intonation get a new set of strings, put them on and play them for a couple mins, do a couple bends to get them borken in a bit.
Now play the 12 th fret harmonic, then play the string on the 12th fret, if the FRETTED note is sharp (relative to the harmonic on the 12th), then move the saddle further back from the neck, if the fretted note is flat (relative to the 12th fret harmonic) then move the saddle towards the neck. The harmonic is your reference, the fretted note on the 12th is telling you how much you need to move the saddle one way or another.

[Pinhead82]

Originally posted by meathane
i wonder if anyone can help me...

ive been setting up my tele, and i know about the harmonics on the 12th fret and how if they're slightly flat, the u move the little bridge thing forward etc, but heres my problem: the harmonic is fine, but the actual note that plays when i play the 12th fret, isnt the same as the open [the string is the high e by the way]. is this just because the string is old and lost its tension? all the other strings are fine, they are all quite old... i cant work it out. any help asap would be so cool,
cheers

Are you remembering to re-tune your string after each adjustment? THEN checking the harmonic?