String harmonics and pickup height

[lloydloar]

A couple of weeks ago I posted a question about the setup of my new R0. I got a lot of great feedback about string gauge and setup. Thanks for the help!!

I think I'm close on the setup, but when I'm playing I seem to be getting a lot of tone and/or harmonics coming off the strings that I just inadvertently touch. For example, if I bend a string up and just touch the string above (e.g. bend G up and just touch D with my finger) I get a pretty significant tone and/or harmonic out of the amp. To be clear I'm not saying I slide under the string or anything like that, I just mean touch the string.

Up until now I've played almost entirely strats. I'm pretty comfortable getting around on strats and I don't ever have this problem when playing.

So my question is... Is this something I need to adjust to because humbuckers are that much more sensitive than single coils OR is it possible that I have the pickup height a little too high and the sensitivity is greater because they're too high?

Any ideas?

[imsilly]

So is this harmonic created by vibrations traveling from one string to the other through contact or harmonics traveling through the guitar itself to the nearest string because they are resonating at a similar frequency?

I have found most harmonics, sitaring, buzzing appear due to poorly setup bridges and nuts. There is always a chance that a string is more likely to vibrate if the break angle is not sharp enough at either end. Either that or the action is too low and the frets start to get involved.

As for pickups some a more microphonic then others and can pick up all kinds of vibrations, even peoples voices and radio waves so I guess a microphonic pickup too close to a string can pick up and amplifier even slight natural harmonics.

Some guitars are just more resonant and full of harmonics then others I find that Telecasters with traditional bridges that have strings sharing saddles are like that. Strats are very subtle sounding.

[lloydloar]

Maybe harmonics is an incorrect way to describe the sound. My mistake.

I think it's probably more accurate to say it's sound being generated because my finger touches the string when I bend up (e.g. bend up on the G string and inadvertently touch the D string).

[R8R6Ben]

my R8 does the same thing, it is super resonant and the strings start vibrating really easily. Try dampening the strings you aren't playing with your picking hand, this helps a lot.

[lloydloar]

As a follow up...

After playing my R0, I've gotten more familiar with it. Having played strats almost exclusively, I'm learning that this guitar takes a different touch.

Years ago I had a Les Paul Classic and I never could bond with that guitar; it just wasn't a very good guitar. This historic is a completely different animal. Even compared to my strats - which are great guitars in their own right - this R0 is like a Ferrari. It has so much resonance, responsiveness and tone. It's far more touch sensitive than my other guitars. Play it light and it responds a certain way, push on it a bit and it will explode. It's really a tremendous guitar.

I was skeptical about how good these historics would be, but this R0 has really impressed me.

Thanks to all the forum members that helped me work through my setup issues and in making recommendations on which reissue to get!

[Slapjaw]

Originally Posted by R8R6Ben

my R8 does the same thing, it is super resonant and the strings start vibrating really easily. Try dampening the strings you aren't playing with your picking hand, this helps a lot.

That's it. You have to try and mute the strings, either with you palm or fretting hand.

[mrtoulouse]

Better resonance aside, it could be that the bridge feels VERY different on a strat than on a les paul. Pesonally I have real problems playing strats, as I'm used to the tune-o-matic. I get by fine on my tele with 3-barrel bridge though And while you had a problem with not palm-muting enough, I have the reverse problem on a strat where the really low bridge makes me mute the strings way too much, and I really have to concentrate to play it nicely What you're experiencing, obviously, is the excact same difference
congrats on your guitar. Enjoy

[Liam]

I think you've possibly just got a very good Les Paul. They kind of play themselves to an extent (but only the really good ones), and you find youself working around what you're going to damp, and what you're going to allow to ring.

It all takes a bit of getting used to. If it's any consolation good 50's Les Pauls are often even more alive than a great reissue. It means it can take weeks, or even months before you really feel in control of the guitar, but it is SO worth persevering. Makes you feel kind of naked initially, and definitely a very different kind of trip from a great Strat. (and I love them too...)

Liam