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View Full Version : Unnatural natural harmonics

basics
03-23-2004, 10:41 PM
Anybody ever experience an odd harmonic noise every time you pluck a note on the top E string? It's like some effect on the guitar, only on the E string, when I play a note it adds a harmonic (a different one for every fret) that rings out no matter if all the strings are dampened or not. Kind of frustrating because I sometimes can't tell if this is the effect of a lower string being accidentally hit or not.
Death55
03-24-2004, 04:14 AM
Maybe some of your clothes accidently touch the string without you realizing ... or it could be a feedback harmonic.
basics
03-24-2004, 07:26 AM
No, this is an adnormalty in the gutiar probably caused by the bridge or something of the like. I practice without amplification usually.

It's an octave higher harmonic on every note I hit on the high E string that is sustained for a good second.
SLY
03-25-2004, 08:45 AM
I guess there must be something ringing with the plucked frequencies, like untightened screws , or the tremolo's springs.
basics
03-25-2004, 10:52 AM
Yea it's an old guitar and I'm well overdue to get a new one. Problem is, I'd rather blow cash on studio speakers and studio stuff if my guitar is at least still playable. Next one I get won't be a strat though, something with a thinner neck, not a maple one either, more frets and without the single-coil pickup or the two lone pickup selections that you have on a strat that dosen't produce a huge hum.
spanky10940
03-26-2004, 05:03 PM
you could check a few things...

1) check the gauge strings your using.. I tried a higher gauge on mine and I got the infamous post of "gstring buzzin at the nut!"

once I changed the strings, it was fixed..

2) check the nut, maybe it needs a little graphite lube on it.. be careful with this stuff, it's slippery as hell on the fretboard

3) check your bridge, loose saddles, incorrect intonation

lastly, that familiar fender hum is from no insulation on the wires..

if you take off the pick guard, you'll see.. some people spray an insulation paint in there and then clean up the wires so that doesn't happen.. a buddy did it to a squire strat and it worked pretty well...