Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: math2014 on March 06, 2006, 11:32:48 AM

Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 06, 2006, 11:32:48 AM
Hi all,

I have noticed that while playing some single note riffs on A,D strings, i get a metalic ringing sound coming out of the amp. Having eliminated the amp possibility i focused on the guitar.

Initially i thought some bad fret, but this happens at any position on the fret board using the A,D strings so the frets dont play a role here. Upon further investigation i have noticed that if i mute the unplayed GBE strings then i got no ringing sounds at all.

Now this ringing noise is like a metalic ringing sound after the normal sound of the note played.

This issue is more pronounced when using the bridge pickup. Neck relief is spot on, as well as intonation and action as far as i can tell.

Any ideas?

It is a Tokai LP LS85Q with a tune-o-matic bridge (without the retainer wire)
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Elliot on March 06, 2006, 11:38:40 AM
Are your P'ups too close to the strings ?  If you have recently changed p'up or string brand you may need to adjust the p'up height downwards.
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 06, 2006, 11:46:55 AM
Quote from: Elliot
Are your P'ups too close to the strings ?  If you have recently changed p'up or string brand you may need to adjust the p'up height downwards.


Well i havent changed anything, but i played after a loooong time the sunshine of your love riff and i noticed this ringing sound and since then i keep noticing it (placebo?).
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 07, 2006, 07:22:20 AM
Ok i tried to experiment with several setup variables with no result.

Please have a listen to this clip

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=15419891

I just wish Tim could hear it and tell me his opinion since he is the man with respect to pickups.
Title: Re: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Searcher on March 07, 2006, 07:40:20 AM
Quote from: math2014
Now this ringing noise is like a metalic ringing sound after the normal sound of the note played.


Are you talking about that squeeky sound that sounds a bit like when you move your hands along the strings?  Right at the end of the clip it sounded a bit like microphonic feedback.  But if that were the case, then I'd expect you to get a lot of feedback when you play at high volumes.

Perhaps something's loose somewhere?
Title: Re: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 07, 2006, 07:45:33 AM
Quote from: Searcher
Quote from: math2014
Now this ringing noise is like a metalic ringing sound after the normal sound of the note played.


Are you talking about that squeeky sound that sounds a bit like when you move your hands along the strings?  Right at the end of the clip it sounded a bit like microphonic feedback.  But if that were the case, then I'd expect you to get a lot of feedback when you play at high volumes.

Perhaps something's loose somewhere?


I dont know if squeaky is the proper term, but its that background metalic ringing noise that i am talking about. It is there when i use the bridge pickup, mostly on the drive channel and its much less pronounced on the clean channel and it doesnt exist at all on the neck pickup.

All the bolts etc seem to be tight everywhere. So i am a bit stuck here...
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Bainzy on March 07, 2006, 05:40:28 PM
What about your amp? Time to change tubes maybe?
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: HJM on March 07, 2006, 07:51:38 PM
Chances are you nailed the problem in your first post, you say the ringing goes when you mute the open strings - my bet's on sympathetic resonance between the fretted and open strings.

Have you tried new strings? Sometimes guitars just develop wired resonances as  they age, you could try a new gauge of string or a different tuning. Or just mute those unused strings!
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: jimi hendrix on March 07, 2006, 09:47:20 PM
You say it's not doing it with the neck pickup? Are you playing the same track, with the same picking strength? if you're using worn strings, check where they go into the bridge saddles, are they sitting in the notch properly?
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 08, 2006, 09:33:48 AM
Ok i had Hugh Manson check my guitar, and he said its just sympathetic resonance stemming from a very high quality resonant body/neck. He said that i should learn to control it and use it, and its a very good quality to have in a guitar.
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 12, 2006, 10:40:02 PM
Hmm strange thing... that ringing annoying noise (which is present when i play the open D string as well , if i dont mute the GBE strings) seems to go away if i roll off the tone on the guitar.

Is that a sign of microphonic pups?
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Skybone on March 13, 2006, 10:38:00 AM
When you strum the open strings do you get a "sitar" type drone-y hum?

Might just be a simple change of strings?
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 13, 2006, 12:38:53 PM
well i get this sound that can be heard in the background of this clip

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=15419891

if i strum the GBE strings it doesnt happen it only happens from sympathetic resonance of one of the g,b,e strings that gets picked up by the pickups
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Dakine on March 13, 2006, 03:09:42 PM
I "can" get the very same thing on my EB Axis's and LP, and on these it IS sympathetic resonance.
Thing you nailed it :)
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 13, 2006, 05:41:06 PM
Quote from: Dakine
I "can" get the very same thing on my EB Axis's and LP, and on these it IS sympathetic resonance.
Thing you nailed it :)


So what do i do with it? Do i just live with it and mute it whenever possibly? Can a less microphonic pickup reduce it?
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: HJM on March 13, 2006, 07:57:45 PM
If you roll off the tone you're removing higher frequencies sand the resonance is in the higher range, that's why you don't hear it!

You'll have to mute those strings, it's good practice to mute any string you're not using.

Method two would be buy a machine wound mass produced pickup that has high capacitance and bugger all tone. These can be found in guitar stores everywhere under the brand names of Duncan and DImarzio..... :lol:
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Steve-Mr Pig 2U on March 13, 2006, 08:34:01 PM
It wont be the pickup, a microphonic pickup will squeel uncontrolably and will effect all strings, all frets, muted or not.
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Dakine on March 13, 2006, 08:51:42 PM
LOL, yeah sorry, gotta get into habit of muting strings not needed  :lol:
It can be useful (harmonically wise if used that way) and does show some good instrument traits (overal resonance) but as you say, unwanted in your useage so ya need to damp em bud.
String muting is our friend  :P
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 13, 2006, 10:50:00 PM
Ok so the byproduct ringing overtone that you heard on the clip is actually a good trait of a good resonant guitar and i should learn to damp and control it?

Even if i switch to BKP i ll still have that resonant ringing?
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: HJM on March 14, 2006, 07:23:09 AM
Yep!
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 14, 2006, 07:47:00 AM
Quote from: HJM
Yep!


Thanks people, thats good to know and i appreciate your advice, becuase i thought that it was either my pickups or bridge/nut causing that annoying ringing sound. If you say that its just technique, i ll just leave the axe as is for the time being.
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: jimi hendrix on March 14, 2006, 08:34:09 PM
Have you asked Tim about it yet?
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 14, 2006, 09:17:32 PM
Quote from: jimi hendrix
Have you asked Tim about it yet?


Yep, he said its not pickups... and usually these sounds are bridge related.

Having said that i tied a cloth on my GBE strings between TOM and tailpiece and/or between nut/tuners and it didnt make the noise go away. Ah well, i ll try a different TOM possibly sometime down the road, or try hybrid 9-46 strings
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: HJM on March 14, 2006, 09:25:02 PM
I kind of think Hugh Manson  has got it right on this!
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Dakine on March 14, 2006, 09:27:43 PM
Quote from: HJM
I kind of think Hugh Manson  has got it right on this!


Me too  :D
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 14, 2006, 09:46:29 PM
Ok, then my search finishes :)

I feel a bit like an idiot newbie finding out that this sound was normal... ah well, you learn something everyday (but basically i wanted to make sure that i shouldnt make any warranty claim on the guitar for bridge or pups, hence my frustration)
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: Dakine on March 14, 2006, 10:43:40 PM
No worries, thats what a "good" forum, like this one, is ALL about.
I reckon that EVERY single person on here can help out at some time or another (as some posts are more diverse than others, like in the "Sambo" Forum) and people with all kinds of stories,experiences and ideas/knowledge are here.
In short, GREAT PLACE  :)
Title: Ringing noise from resonance... normal??? Pickup ?
Post by: math2014 on March 14, 2006, 10:56:10 PM
Quote from: Dakine
No worries, thats what a "good" forum, like this one, is ALL about.
I reckon that EVERY single person on here can help out at some time or another (as some posts are more diverse than others, like in the "Sambo" Forum) and people with all kinds of stories,experiences and ideas/knowledge are here.
In short, GREAT PLACE  :)


+1 indeed it is a great place, that is why if i want a "SURE" answer for something i ask here before the final decision ;)