Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

[nimrod217]

Hey Guys,

I'm new to the forums, so let me say what's up. My first question is in regards to Duncan Distortion pickups and Mahogany Bodies.
I recently purchased an Ibanez Artist 100 and replaced the stock p/u's with the distortion mayhem set. My fiance' has the same guitar with same pickups.
The guitar is a mahogany set neck with mahogany body, fixed bridge, rosewood finger board. I love the way the pickups sound, but I find my ability to play pinch harmonics on it are tough. To make sure it wasn't me, I broke out my Les Paul studio and the pinch harmonics sounded fine, and when I broke out my fiance's guitar, same problem, had trouble.

My question is: Is my trouble nailing the harmonics due to the possibility that the pickup/wood combo just doesnt really make them sound good or is it just maybe the guitar and my playing don't mix. Let me know if you've had similar issues, thanks guys! Later!

 

[jmh151]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

I find harmonics have always been easier to pull off on my Les Paul Custom than any of my other guitars, oddly enough

 

[oilpit]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

Try them in different spots on the string, you may be missing the "sweet spot"
Try some new strings, raise your action (that one REALLY helps)

You might have just gotten a dead slab of mahogany, but try to fiddle a bit before you write off the guitar...

 

[benji657]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

it's your technique

 

[ACH91332]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

Yeah the action matters a lot so try raising it some. Zakk Wylde will tell you the same thing and even though I find his constant use of pinch harmonics annoying as hell he is good at them and probably knows what he's talking about.

 

[fretburner]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

Definitely your technique and finding the sweet spot.

I vary my "attack" for pinch harmonics for different types of guitars I play. What works for a Les Paul may not work for Strat with a Wilkson and a Kramer with a Floyd, etc.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

If the Ibenhad is a different scale length than the LP, then the harmonic nodes are in different spots.

Can you do them acoustically (not amplified)? If not, then it's your technique and not the pickups. The Distrtion is harmonic-happy, so if you're having trouble, it ain't the pickup.

 

[marvelous_seven]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

I use early Lace Alumitone (unsplitable) humbucker in my mahogany strat with FR trem tuned down to drop C and I can pull of some Wylde-ish pinch harmonics easily..

I think the key is your technique, string gauges and action, and how much drive your amp has though..

IIRC Gus G use SD Distortion and he pinch a lot too..

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

I made the odd experience that its easier to get harmonics with 009s strings than with 010s and also easier with stainless steel than with pure nickels. The newer the strings the better, too.

 

[Despair]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

Stainless steel having easier harmonics than nickel strings is no surprise, given stainless are brilliant & louder. People like nickel strings because they're warmer, not because they have screaming harmonics.

A good compromise might be nickel-plated strings.

Old strings not only are less brilliant, but can also lose sustain & vibrate oddly due to string wear & being coated with corrosion and having the gaps in the wound strings filled with crud. There's a number of reasons why guitarists boil their strings: clean the crud off, and to age them a bit and make them less bright.

 

[nimrod217]

Re: Duncan Distortion and Harmonics

The raising of the action did help a lot, thanks for the help:thanks: