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LowPro
10-24-2006, 01:51 AM
Trying to make this post concise:


Whenever I try to play a 5th or 7th harmonic on both my D and G strings, the sound rarely echoes, and I am sure I'm pulling off right. I experimented my timing over and over, tried slightly different finger positions, but I can't get any echo of any kind. My guess is the strings are dirty, but I didn't know if that may be the problem or not.

And, interestingly, all the 12th harmonics work fine.
Az_Holl
10-24-2006, 02:05 AM
12th fret harmonics are stronger so that makes sense. Generally: boost mids, treble, play with bridge pickup, paly close to the bridge.

More than likely you just need new strings. What pickup configuration have you got? Some neck humbuckers suck the life out of 5th fret harmonics.
EADG
10-24-2006, 11:45 AM
Boost high mids
Boost treble
Compression
Distortion
New strings
Cleaner technique
Press harder
Press lighter
Hold the string longer
Let go faster


The variables are endless.
lais817
10-24-2006, 09:21 PM
I am sure I'm pulling off right
:lol:

just do as EADG and Atomicant have said, or try it with a pick or a wah pedal fully forward.
LowPro
10-24-2006, 11:42 PM
P bass, I cleaned the strings a few weeks ago, however I guess I can clean them again. And I've fiddled with the knobs on my preamp and combo, but i'm just not getting any ring.
gaslight
10-25-2006, 09:48 AM
If the strings are very old and dead that may explain it.
Jimbobntnr
10-25-2006, 02:02 PM
Compression

or Limiter.
bleeding_fingers
10-25-2006, 03:27 PM
I had my old stock strings on my Ibanez for a year and harmonics were more than audible when I played them.
BenJammin
10-25-2006, 03:47 PM
Do strings really affect harmonics that much?

Similar to what bleeding_fingers just said, I've had the Elixirs on my Ibanez for 19 months and they still sound perfect when playing harmonics (arguably better now then when I first got them, though I'll attribute that to improved technique).
Spaceman Spiff
10-25-2006, 04:31 PM
I have the same bass as Ben with the same strings for the same amount of time (almost to the day) and I will also say that my harmonics sound just fine.
LowPro
10-25-2006, 05:28 PM
Well, I reboiled the strings and put them back on, and I guess this is the hard part to explain. I can hear the harmonics well, especially the 12th, but still on my D string, the harmonic doesn't "echo" I hear it but it's like a "thunk" sound, I'm not getting any pretty sounding "biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnggg" this is when i'm picking and fingering it as well. I guess I should just go out and buy some new strings.
Jimbobntnr
10-25-2006, 05:37 PM
I don't think that this is going to resolve your issue. Sounds like a technique issue.
LowPro
10-25-2006, 06:33 PM
Hmm, well my technique applies to all harmonics except the 5th on the D string I guess.
Killer Fridge
10-25-2006, 06:34 PM
I want to say that its because its a Pbass, as harmonics ring out much better from a bridge pickup, and the Pbass has none
BenJammin
10-25-2006, 08:14 PM
I want to say that its because its a Pbass, as harmonics ring out much better from a bridge pickup, and the Pbass has none

I dunno about that, either. My fretless is a P and harmonics aren't an issue on that.
e p
10-25-2006, 09:03 PM
Could be your action is low and ending the harmonics prematurely.
Az_Holl
10-25-2006, 09:12 PM
Maybe your intonation on the D string is out, causing the harmonic to be somewhere else? I think thats how it works :confused:
gaslight
10-25-2006, 09:55 PM
Do strings really affect harmonics that much?

Similar to what bleeding_fingers just said, I've had the Elixirs on my Ibanez for 19 months and they still sound perfect when playing harmonics (arguably better now then when I first got them, though I'll attribute that to improved technique).

Yeah, dead old strings are pretty hopeless for harmonics. Elixirs are a different matter because they last so much longer than other strings, I have them on my Ibanez too and they sound brilliant. Love Elixirs.
LowPro
10-25-2006, 10:21 PM
Eh, stupid question of sorts. I don't know what guage strings I have at the moment. They are the stock strings of my Squier ( That may be my problem right there :P) As far as flatwound v roundwound, I don't care. This is me and my bros practice bass and we both just play whatever tabs we care to play, don't really have a selective genre.
EADG
10-25-2006, 10:55 PM
Do strings really affect harmonics that much?

Similar to what bleeding_fingers just said, I've had the Elixirs on my Ibanez for 19 months and they still sound perfect when playing harmonics (arguably better now then when I first got them, though I'll attribute that to improved technique).



They do, but not as much as say.. EQ or technique obviously.