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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Question About Pinched Harmonics
Posted by: ActiveX Dec 10 2007, 09:06 PM
This week I decided to tackle pinched harmonics, which is a first for me.
I have an interesting problem; with one of my guitars, I'm able to generate a decent harmonic
sound fairly consistently, but with my other guitar, I cannot make a decent harmonic sound.
Does the type of guitar or the type of pickup affect this at all, or is this all in my head?
I'm using an Ibanez GSA 60 (single passive humbucker pickup), and an ESP MH400 (2 EMG active humbucker pickups).
With the Ibanez, I can produce the harmonics much easier than with the ESP...why? 
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 10 2007, 09:10 PM
I have an interesting problem; with one of my guitars, I'm able to generate a decent harmonic
sound fairly consistently, but with my other guitar, I cannot make a decent harmonic sound.
Does the type of guitar or the type of pickup affect this at all, or is this all in my head?
I'm using an Ibanez GSA 60 (single passive humbucker pickup), and an ESP MH400 (2 EMG active humbucker pickups).
With the Ibanez, I can produce the harmonics much easier than with the ESP...why?
I think it depends somewhat on the guitar. But here this may help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinch_harmonic
Posted by: ZakkWylde Dec 10 2007, 09:11 PM
It must be easier with the active humbuckers... strange
You use pridge pickup and knobs turned up to the max with both guitars?
What string size do you use on each guitar?
Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Dec 10 2007, 09:13 PM
You use pridge pickup and knobs turned up to the max with both guitars?
What string size do you use on each guitar?
He said it is harder with the guitar with the EMG's.
Posted by: Goliath Dec 10 2007, 09:16 PM
The actives should make the harmonics scream even more. The problem is probably with where you're striking the string as each guitar has it's own sweet spots for pinch harmonics , you're probably not hitting the right spot. Do some experimenting striking over different areas, and kind of use your pickups as a map.
My HSH pickups in my S470 and RG550 are great for remembering the sweet spots. On the S470, the best one is over the split in the neck pickup, on the RG550, it's on the bridge edge of the neck pickup. Either way, you should be hearing the pinches if you play unplugged. On the thicker strings it helps if you bend/add vibrato to the pinch. I don't know why this works, but more often than not on the 6th string you'll see people either bend or add vibrato to an artifical harmonic. Practice makes perfect, just keep after it and you'll find it, I'm certain.
As for the pickups, the IBZ1s in my RG550 snag the pinches reliably and play them at a decent level, but the Evos in my S make the pinches SCREAM. When I want to piss off my roommate i'll plug that in then improvise with all pinched harmonics 
.
Posted by: ActiveX Dec 10 2007, 09:17 PM
You use pridge pickup and knobs turned up to the max with both guitars?
What string size do you use on each guitar?
All the same, except now that you mention it, I'm not sure what size strings the ESP has...I just got it a couple
of weeks ago, and it still has the stock ESP strings on it...I have size 9's (GHS) on the Ibanez. Then again, maybe I'm having more trouble with the ESP since it is new, and I'm not that used to it yet.
Thanks Goliath, that's probably it...I might just need to experiment with it some more...
Posted by: Goliath Dec 10 2007, 09:36 PM
If you're using standard tuning, check out your D and G strings, those are the ones I can get to ring out even when I hit them sloppily, then kind of transpose your discoveries to other strings and with practice you'll be able to hit them like second nature.
Posted by: SLASH91 Dec 10 2007, 10:47 PM
It also just takes a ton of practice; get good enough with them and you can do them on a crappy acoustic guitar.
Posted by: Smells Dec 10 2007, 11:00 PM
of weeks ago, and it still has the stock ESP strings on it...I have size 9's (GHS) on the Ibanez. Then again, maybe I'm having more trouble with the ESP since it is new, and I'm not that used to it yet.
Thanks Goliath, that's probably it...I might just need to experiment with it some more...
Just follow the advice on here, the harmonics will ring out in slighty different places, my Jackson and fender are totally different, if its a new guitar then maybe ya just need to adjust to find where they are, you`ll get em no sweat then you`ll be squeelin to yer hearts content
Posted by: ActiveX Dec 10 2007, 11:57 PM
Thanks a lot, guys. I'll just keep on practicing... 
Posted by: David.C.Bond Dec 11 2007, 01:58 AM
+1 Slash
Also make sure you've got new strings on your guitars, old strings tend to get harmonically 'dead' after some time. The active EMGs will certainly make the harmonics squeal more if you are doing it right. Try altering your picking position about, and generally just mess about until you figure it out! They do take some time to learn to do consistently though.
David
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