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Author Topic: Harmonic Overtones  (Read 4226 times)

llJasonll

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Harmonic Overtones
« on: October 30, 2011, 05:30:43 PM »
I am heavily torn between the Rebel Yell, Miracle Man, and Holy Diver for the bridge position of my new axe.  The guitar that it will be going into is a bright guitar: Alder body w/thick Maple Top; Maple neck/fretboard; bolt-on.

My question is out of the three pickups, which has the most prevalent harmonic overtones?  That is probably going to be the most important factor when I am choosing.

Also, can someone explain how certain pickups bring out the harmonic overtones better than others?  I don't know much about the topic, but I assume that compression has something to do with it?  I imagine that harmonic overtones are more prevalent in "open" sounding pickups?

Either way, I have some time to mull over the options since I will probably pull the trigger and get something right around the holidays.

Thx in advance!

Telerocker

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2011, 05:35:02 PM »
The VHII provides lots over overtones.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

Kiichi

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2011, 05:40:20 PM »
When I asked for a lot of harmonic overtones I got the Rebell Yell and I can only say that I like it a whole darn lot!
BKPs in use: 10th set / RY set / Holy Diver b, Emerald n / Crawler bridge, Slowhand mid MQ neck/ Manhattan n
On the sidelines: Stockholm b / Suppermassive n, Mule n, AM set, IT mid

PhilKing

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #3 on: October 30, 2011, 09:21:35 PM »
The Rebel Yell gives me great harmonic feedback in my PRS.
So many pickups, so little time

Nephilim

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #4 on: October 30, 2011, 11:14:21 PM »
What actually is 'Harmonic Overtones'?

llJasonll

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2011, 02:21:27 AM »
I can't describe what harmonic overtones are because I don't understand how they are produced...but I can hear them, and I like them a lot!

So out of the 3 pickups the Rebel Yell has the most overtones?  How does the Holy Diver compare?

Also, when it comes to pinch harmonics; how does the Miracle Man fair?

thx

darkbluemurder

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2011, 09:52:48 AM »
I have got all three, RY, HD and MiM, and I can get pinch harmonics with them all without any effort.

Cheers Stephan

Roobubba

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2011, 05:48:58 PM »
Yeah I can concur that the MM is a piece of cake to get pinch harmonics from. So is the aftermath and the black dog in my experience, but I do play with a lot of them, and can happily get pinch harmonics from a Uke if you want...

Sancho

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #8 on: October 31, 2011, 05:54:46 PM »
The pickup doesn't produce the pinch harmonics, the player does ;)
Hey Nonny Nonny mylord!

Telerocker

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #9 on: October 31, 2011, 06:34:43 PM »
The pickup doesn't produce the pinch harmonics, the player does ;)

+1. Though I must say it's a bit easier with the VHII in my ashstrat, then the Crawler in my swampashstrat.
Mules, VHII, Crawler, MM's, IT's, BG50's.

darkbluemurder

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #10 on: November 01, 2011, 08:23:16 AM »
The pickup doesn't produce the pinch harmonics, the player does ;)

That is correct but any player would have had a hard time doing this on the early 80s Gibson SG I had - that guitar was just born dead and ugly and should have never left the factory.

Cheers Stephan

Sancho

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #11 on: November 01, 2011, 08:54:26 AM »
When a guitar is dead, there's no salvaging it. No pickup will help a guitar that doesn't do pinch harmonics unplugged.
And yes, certain pickups will capture the overtones better than others.
But I must insist : the player is the first part of the equation. It took me quite a while to get pinch harmonics down (I'm a slow learner I guess). But once you get it, you can draw them out of an unplugged electric or acoustic. They just won't be so noticeable.
Hey Nonny Nonny mylord!

llJasonll

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #12 on: November 01, 2011, 02:45:24 PM »
So then the consensus is that the Rebel Yell has the most pronounced harmonic feedback, or overtones??

Dmoney

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #13 on: November 01, 2011, 02:47:00 PM »
Im not entirely sure what harmonic overtones are... i just know they find it hard to exist inside a crystal lattice.

Roobubba

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Re: Harmonic Overtones
« Reply #14 on: November 02, 2011, 09:50:31 AM »
Im not entirely sure what harmonic overtones are... i just know they find it hard to exist inside a crystal lattice.

True say, true say.