Opinions on harmonics needed :)

[Serratus]

Hi guys,
I have an Ibanez RG7620 with a Rebel Yell in the bridge, which I use to play some Ed Van Halen solos in a covers band. But I struggle a bit with getting tapped harmonics to ring out. I find that this guitar isn't particularly good for harmonics - they just don't ring out that well even when its not plugged in - I find that some guitars just seem to be better for harmonics than others.
So I am thinking of making a new body for the guitar, maybe from a nice piece of hard ash, and I wondered if you guys have experience with certain woods being 'better' for getting harmonics to ring out. At the moment its a very light basswood body.
Also, I'm wondering whether changing the Rebel Yell to a Painkiller (or another BKP) might help??
Any other ideas welcome!

[Yellowjacket]

UGH don't hack up your guitar.  Why not save your $$$s and get another one instead?  Have you tried boosting?  I hear that can help with harmonics.  Part of it is technique but I can't comment because I can't really do pinch harmonics!

[Serratus]

Don't worry, nothing will be hacked up!! I've built dozens of guitars before, in fact this is the only one I own that's not one of my builds, unfortunately it's the only one I have with a trem too! I'm curious as to whether a new body will make it more resonant and hence help with harmonics. I'm completely with you on technique - but this guitar definitely struggles with tap harmonics compared to my other guitars (with me using the same technique on them all).
I wonder if anyone's found a specific BKP that makes harmonics fly? The descriptions of the Painkiller and Cold sweat on the BKP site mention pick harmonics being effortless.

[PhilKing]

I've never had a problem with harmonics from the Rebel Yell.  The Emerald bridge is particularly good for harmonics too, though tbh I don't have a problem getting harmonics from most of the BK's

[Serratus]

I've never had a problem with harmonics from the Rebel Yell.  The Emerald bridge is particularly good for harmonics too, though tbh I don't have a problem getting harmonics from most of the BK's

Yeah I've got a horrible feeling its this guitar! I guess I should try a new set of strings too, in case its a dud string (most of the tapped harmonics in the solos I do are on the G string).......

[ericsabbath]

Holy diver

[ericsabbath]

and a boss sd-1 or mxr GT od or zakk wylde

[Yellowjacket]

Don't worry, nothing will be hacked up!! I've built dozens of guitars before, in fact this is the only one I own that's not one of my builds, unfortunately it's the only one I have with a trem too! I'm curious as to whether a new body will make it more resonant and hence help with harmonics. I'm completely with you on technique - but this guitar definitely struggles with tap harmonics compared to my other guitars (with me using the same technique on them all).
I wonder if anyone's found a specific BKP that makes harmonics fly? The descriptions of the Painkiller and Cold sweat on the BKP site mention pick harmonics being effortless.

This is important information! 
Yes, it may, in fact, be the guitar.  The Rebel Yell has tonnes of harmonic overtones anyhow so maybe the pickups need a new guitar?

[darkbluemurder]

I would also rule out the Rebel Yell as the problem.

My experience with Basswood is quite limited. I had one years ago - I think it was a Japanese Charvel where the neck had been replaced. Nice guitar - wish I had not traded it.

If you insist on making a new body for this guitar, consider alder. It's a harmonic friendly wood. But the actual source of the problem may be the neck, and in that case a new body may not get you where you want. Unfortunately this diagnosis is very difficult to make.

Cheers Stephan

[darkbluemurder]

PS: a new body offers a lot of opportunities to "correct" other things: you can get a new color, new pickup and electronics configuration or bridge, too.

Cheers Stephan

[Serratus]

Yeah its definitely not an easy problem to diagnose!! I just realised that the high G harmonic between frets 2 and 3 on the G string is almost impossible to get to ring out on this guitar, which as I grew up as an EVH freak is not a problem I've had on another guitar before.
I really hope its not the neck because its a team J craft neck which is lovely to play, but you might be right Stephan, it could be that.
I spoke to Tim and he said that a high output ceramic pickup is probably the most likely to bring out harmonics, so I think I may try one of them in it, but I also don't like the trem at all - its an RG1527 so it's an edge pro, and I much prefer the old LoPro that they put in the RG7620. So I may try to find an old beat up 7620 and make one guitar out of the two!! (including a new body, and then sell all the parts I don't want).

[Andrew W]

You might try altering the pick up height a bit too. You may find some change in the amount of harmonics you're able to get by doing that. It's also completely reversible if it changes nothing!

[MerlinTKD]

I have a Painkiller set in a basswood 7-string, and harmonics from either pickup are a breeze! 

I will say, the PK bridge probably isn't the best pickup in basswood for the EVH sound, it's very edgy; suits me and the sound I want, but it's not a terribly versatile combo otherwise. I can get some decent mid-gain sounds, but you can tell that's not the strong suit. In other woods, it does a lot more, and I hear it's killer in mahogany - but still not EVH-ish!

The neck is amazing, even in basswood, very versatile, sounds good in pretty much every kind of gear I've messed with, but of course it's ceramic and very modern sounding, so again maybe not that suited for what you're doing.

None of which probably helps much... I do remember reading an interview, when Eddie was creating his new EVH line (which is made by Fender), he went through a long process with his new pickups... at one point he told them "the current prototype is good, but it hits you in the gut... I need it to hit you in the chest!" So... a pickup that has less focus on the low-mids, more on the high-mids, but alnico so it's not too tight or harsh? I wonder if the Juggernaut would do it...?

Also, re: Andrew W's suggestion about the picup height - definitely! Literally 1/8th of a turn of the screws makes a noticeable difference in the sound and response of my PK's! You might try setting yours really high (say, 1mm away from the string held down at the highest fret), and working your way down, maybe 1/2  or 1/4 turn at a time, until you can zero in on the sweet spot. For mine, it seems to be right at 2mm, but YMMV! 

[Serratus]

Thanks, all valid points! :)
I agree that the PK is not gonna get too close to an EVH tone. However, I play through a Diezel Herbert, which is very low mid heavy (and very warm on low/mid gain tones), so I'm hoping it will tame some of the high mids in the PK and warm it up a bit. Any improvement in harmonics will be better than it is now!
I still think its the guitar though, firstly because I'm sure the RY should be fine with harmonics, and also because harmonics are so hard to get to ring out, even with it unplugged. So I think in the long run I'm gonna change the body and maybe the trem/nut because I think there's a chance they could be the culprit too. I love the feel of the neck so that's staying, even if I have to change everything around it!!lol

[Serratus]

I've just replaced the Rebel Yell with a Painkiller, I've got a gig tomorrow so I'll report back as to whether it's improved the harmonics! The Rebel Yell will get used in a future project because I still loved the tone and I'm sure it'll be fine with harmonics in another guitar.