Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

[Korvanjund]

So I'm playing my washburn solar 170C through a Distortion pedal and blackstar Ht5c. Everytime I lift my finger off of a lower fretted note a get a very clear natural harmonic. I'm certain it has not always been this way, I have been dealing with this for a while convincing myself it was sloppy playing but it happens every time so something must be setup wrong. I have tone on the guitar on full and on the pedal about 3 quarters as I play metal and do not wish to reduce the tone as I know tha makes it more apparent. This is getting really annoying and it can't be the way I'm playing otherwise everyone who plays with high distortion would be struggling with this because no matter how carefully I lift my finger a harmonic will ring. Please, tell me what to do.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Dumb question, but do you know if the guitar is starting to feedback? It's also possible your strings are sticking to your finger. That happens to me if I don't play for a while and then start up again.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Have run into something similar with very high gain and compressor fighting eq... But it was always that way until I fixed it and doesn't sound like you have a compressor in the chain?

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[Korvanjund]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Dumb question, but do you know if the guitar is starting to feedback? It's also possible your strings are sticking to your finger. That happens to me if I don't play for a while and then start up again.

Definitely not getting feedback and it's not a matter of sticking of any kind, simply the moment that the string is not fretted and my finger is still in contact with it on the way up, the harmonic rings out.

 

[Korvanjund]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Have run into something similar with very high gain and compressor fighting eq... But it was always that way until I fixed it and doesn't sound like you have a compressor in the chain?

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The gain is high but not very as the pedal acts as a clean boost due to my gain on almost zero on it as to avoid needing massive distortion.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Definitely not getting feedback and it's not a matter of sticking of any kind, simply the moment that the string is not fretted and my finger is still in contact with it on the way up, the harmonic rings out.

Is it specific notes/frets? Does it happen with other amps? Conversely, do other guitars do the same through this set-up?


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[Korvanjund]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Is it specific notes/frets? Does it happen with other amps? Conversely, do other guitars do the same through this set-up?


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It is not specific notes or frets any of the lower frets in thicker strings produce the noise but it is specific to this guitar under these settings. I have not tried it through other amps since the problem arose.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Since something changed it almost has to be signal chain.

I would play thru other rigs to see if it still happens. Hard to imagine any way a guitar acoustically could switch its sound to create more harmonics.

Assuming you do not hear the sound through another rig I would expect it to be some type of configuration with your current rig.

If so, maybe you have discovered a new effect[emoji41]

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[Mincer]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Does this happen if you turn off the pedal? How about if you turn the gain down half way from what it is?

 

[ChAoZ]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Reverse headstocks are notorious for ringing behind the nut, try stuffing some thing in there to dampen it, pickup packaging foam works well

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

You probably have a microphonic tube(s). Sometimes they don't squeal, but just "ring". The sound isn't true, but smeared. I've heard this with slightly microphonic pickups, amp tubes and turntable tone arms in hi-fi systems that are not properly isolated.

Some of the other solutions offered may work too. But if they don't, take a good look at doing some tube substitution with tubes known to be of good quality.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

Lifting your finger from thicker wound strings will trigger them, no matter how "careful" you are about it. It's the nature of the angled wraps and cannot be avoided. If the strings are oscillating while your finger is resting lightly on the string, you have something causing the string to oscillate, such as a high-output pickup with a powerful magnet in just the right spot, a signal source feeding into the pickup and enlarging its field which would cause the string to move, or you're using a Sustainiac-type device and leaving it turned on.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

If this problem developed over time and if there were no signal chain changes, tubes seems to make the most sense... Very interested in final outcome.

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[PFDarkside]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

You know... I've got a Strat that does something like this when I mute all the strings at the bridge. (Strings are rlnging then I clamp down, it has a little *wheee*)

I thought it was a preamp tube but it did it on two amps, and other guitars don't do it.... I'm thinking maybe something in the trem spring cavity? I haven't really dug in to find the cause but when I do I'll post.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

You know... I've got a Strat that does something like this ... I'm thinking maybe something in the trem spring cavity? I haven't really dug in to find the cause but when I do I'll post.

That sounds like classic strat spring vibration- If that's what it is, it's easy to tell- Put a layer of foam under the springs- just thick enough to touch, but not retard string movement.

But if I recall correctly, the Washburn in question is a hardtail.

 

[Korvanjund]

Re: Unwanted, seemingly unmutable harmonics

It's no question of overtones behind the nut as they're muted there and it's a hard tail so certainly not in the springs. I think I'll fiddle with the pickup height and maybe try changing everything in the chain piece by piece, as someone said, a sustainiac like device may be causing it to be heard. If all fails, tubes may need replacing anyway.