Harmonics Question

[CipherHost]

Hello all,

I built a Warmoth Tele. I get great harmonics at the 12th and 7th frets, but very poor harmonics at the 5th fret. I can get harmonics at nodes between the 5th fret and nut as well, just dead at the 5th fret. Any ideas on what the reason would be? I did a search for harmonics on this site and found some comments on pinch harmonics related to brands of pickups. Do you think pickups would be the most likely cause, or something else?
Thanks,

Roasted swamp ash body
Roasted maple neck and fret board
GraphTech Black TUSQ XL - Standard Nut
Vintage Tele® Bridge with “In-Tune” Saddles
TV Jones Tele-Style pickups.
Ernie Ball 2240 string set

 

[Seamas]

It is almost always easiest to get the octave (12 fret) harmonic--the 1/2 string length

The perfect 12th harmonic (found at the 7th and 19th fret) is almost as easy --the 1/3 and 2/3 string length

The second octave harmonic (found at the 5th and 24th fret) 1/4 and 3/4. is usually considerably less  easy to hit because your nodes are getting smaller and the overtone is less strong.

Are you saying that it is easier to get the harmonic found at the 3.9 fret than the fifth? That would be strange.

Is this the case no matter what strings you use? can you hear the harmonic when unplugged?

 

[amigarobbo]

You've not using the pickup under the double octave/24th fret are you? If so the 5th fret node is directly above that one and you won't hear it on that pickup.

:icon_scratch:

 

[Seamas]

You've not using the pickup under the double octave/24th fret are you? If so the 5th fret node is directly above that one and you won't hear it on that pickup.

:icon_scratch:

Great point.

 

[bagman67]

Generally, any time I find myself unable to grab natural harmonics beyond the 12th and 7th fret nodes, I will find I'm not on the bridge pickup.  YMMV.

 

[CipherHost]

I tested the harmonics without amplification and it is as clear and strong as I would expect. I was using the neck pickup at the time and it is directly under the 1/4 string length node (same distance from the bridge as the fifth fret is from the nut).

Thank you all for your responses. (extra kudos to amigarobbo for your explanation!)

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I tested the harmonics without amplification and it is as clear and strong as I would expect. I was using the neck pickup at the time and it is directly under the 1/4 string length node (same distance from the bridge as the fifth fret is from the nut).

Thank you all for your responses. (extra kudos to amigarobbo for your explanation!)

You may get them acoustically, but the neck pickup cancels out some frequencies, especially when going beyond the 12th & 24th fret nodes. 

The further away you get from the center of the range, i.e.; the 12th fret & work toward the nut, those harmonics are best picked up by the bridge pickup, and you will develop a muscle memory over time in order to hit those nodes consistently accurately.  Some pickups are better at it than others depending on their resonant peak.

EVH didn't get there overnight, just remember he had to practice to get it right too. It took me years to get that 2 octave A on the 2nd fret of the G string, and it doesn't come out as clearly on some guitars when I'm trying it out at Guitar Center on multiple guitars with different pickup types.  Newer strings is always best, but it still takes practice.

 

[fdesalvo]

Man up.  Grab harmonics by the node.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Man up.  Grab harmonics by the node.

Isn't that, "Go-Nodes"?