Ugly harmonics/overtones

[GrouchyDog]

Hey folks:

My Elitist Std+ (stock) has some ugly-sounding overtones with some notes on some amp settings, mostly medium-gain sounds that are harmonically rich. It sounds like there's a phantom note (maybe diminished 5th / augmented 4th, I dunno) going on at a pitch several steps lower than the note I'm playing that just sounds bad. I don't know if this is what folks call a "wolf tone" or not.

My problem is what causes this & how do I get rid of it? Is is setup (i.e. pickup height/polepiece adj, etc.), strings, pickups or something in the guitar itself (I hope not)? Any advice appeciated, thanks!

[JasonC]

Some graphite on the nut or a new nut perhaps?

[GrouchyDog]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Some graphite on the nut or a new nut perhaps?

I kind of doubt it, it's always on fretted notes (lower strings, mid-neck) and the (bone) nut seems to be well-done, tuning's easy with no sticking or anything, action's good...

[JasonC]

Weird.. can you hear anything weird if you just play it acoustically?

[GrouchyDog]

Originally Posted by JasonC

Weird.. can you hear anything weird if you just play it acoustically?

No, sounds great acoustically, it's actually the only solid-body electric I've owned that I really enjoy playing unplugged...

[lp_junkie]

sounds like wolf tones to me, try adjusting your pickup heights (lower them) raise your action, etc. funny things happen sometimes.

[RocknRoller]

hows the condition of ur strings?
this has happend to me b4 and a new set fixed all the problems.

[hbucker]

Honestly, it's probably how that guitar and amp work together. Do you have other guitars? Do they do the same thing? What amp are you using?

I have several guitars and they vary as far as these kinds of harmonics. Changing pickups or the amp would probably be the easiest way to get rid of them.

I can say that I didn't really care for the stock bridge pickup in my Elitist. It is a little harsh to my ears and generally, not the greatest. I replaced both of them with a matched set and the harshness, specifically in the bridge, went away.

With all of this, I can't tell you how much your amp and effects affect subtle tones. It may sound obvious. But so many times on these boards I read something like, "This guitar sucks! I couldn't get any good tone out of it." Fair enough. Assuming these people don't have a predisposition to hating a brand and therefore giving a bad review of a piece of gear. It is a mistake to over generalize about a guitar or amp based on one experience. Change amps and suddenly any given guitar could shine, or sound worse.

Sorry for the tangent. But it seems worth mentioning. In the world of electric guitars, very little regarding tone needs to be permanent.

Good luck.

[GrouchyDog]

Thanks for the input. Strings aren't bad although it's not too early to change them, can't hurt! I was going to carve out a little time to mess around with adjusting the pickups to see what happens, I'll let you know.

HB, what pickups did you install? What kind of tone were you looking for, and did you get it? I'm kind of thinking about getting something different - like you, I think the bridge pickup is good but not great & a little harsh. I'd like something a little richer in the top end at the neck as well. I wish there was a way of checking out pickups without having to pay the money up front, it's kind of a risk. I'm mentally throwing around either SD Alnico II Pros or some WBs based on what I've read here.

New amp really isn't in the picture ($$$). I'm playing a Line6 Flextone III XL; some tones are really good, some are so-so. I'm not expecting the richness of a top-shelf tube amp, but with a little futzing my LP (and other guitars) can sound really, really good - good enough for me as a hobbyist anyway. :^) Other guitars don't behave this way; I will say the the Elitist produces the most "good" harmonic content of the axes that I have, I just need to get rid of the "bad" tones.

[st.bede]

people have suggested all the things that I would have so.......

for PUs...what type of music do you play? I can suggest WBs, jason Lollar, and WCR..have them all and they work really great...(I will say that the wb are very cool)

[hbucker]

Originally Posted by GrouchyDog

HB, what pickups did you install? What kind of tone were you looking for, and did you get it? I'm kind of thinking about getting something different - like you, I think the bridge pickup is good but not great & a little harsh. I'd like something a little richer in the top end at the neck as well. I wish there was a way of checking out pickups without having to pay the money up front, it's kind of a risk. I'm mentally throwing around either SD Alnico II Pros or some WBs based on what I've read here.

New amp really isn't in the picture ($$$). I'm playing a Line6 Flextone III XL; some tones are really good, some are so-so.

I was looking for a vintage type of tone and installed a set of Manlius, Fat Diane pickups: Humbucker Guitar Pickups from Manlius Guitar Pickups They are modeled after a set of PAF's that Monty took out of a 1960 ES-335. I love mine.

They are much smoother than the stock pickups and much to my surprise, are much more versatile, even for modern stuff.

To be fair, I've not played a Flextone III. But I've generally associate harsh harmonics with every Flextone I have played.

I do understand having limited $$$ for an amp. I would say a pickup replacement would certainly help your situation though.

Good luck.