Better harmonic sustain?

[Nabby]

So I recently just acquired an american series P-bass (and I love everything about it), but for some reason the weaker harmonics (3rd fret, etc.) are barely sounding, and if they do the sustain is terrible. I can play the harmonics fine on any other bass, so is this a matter of pickup height/action or anything else I need to adjust?

[Slowgypsy]

Have you tried changing the strings?

[Samsound]

Pickup height is one factor. Is the bridge/saddles in good shape? Witness points? Sometimes interaction with the other strings via the bridge can affect harmonics.

[Nabby]

Yeah, I put on some new roundwounds as soon as I got it.

Bridge and saddles seem fine. I'm not familiar with what witness points are though.

Edit: It's early and im an idiot, witness points are fine.

[walterw]

is this your only bass without a bridge pickup? those smaller harmonics tend to get canceled unless they're being picked up close to the bridge.

[anonymous101511]

Originally Posted by walterw

is this your only bass without a bridge pickup? those smaller harmonics tend to get canceled unless they're being picked up close to the bridge.

Yes, the harmonics ring much louder with a bridge pick- up.
That said, you can do it on a P, it's just a little harder.

[darkstorm]

Thats odd. I've always found it easier to get harmonics from the neck pup. Via light precise taps on the string whereever. They ring out more distinctly and with the same sustain as held regular notes and open string notes for me. Perhaps the pup on the bass isnt to good at harmonics? Or you just do them in a way that is easier with bridge pup? For both bass and guitar I do harmonics easier with the neck pup and often roll the treble down a touch to get even more noticeable harmonic. I do like deep dark bell tones, and harmonics for bass and reg range for guitar dark and otherwise.

Perhaps my pup preferances have something to do with it to. I prefer & use crunchy rather then smooth sounding pups btw.

Id try replaceing the pup myself if that lack of harmonics and sustain with them occured for me.

[walterw]

it's not the pickup itself so much as where it's mounted on the bass.

the closer it is to the bridge, the more it will hear the higher harmonics.

[Nabby]

Was out of town so I wasn't able to read this until now, but thanks for all the replies! I think I've almost got the right balance of pup height so that it's not too low to receive a good signal and not too high so that the poles inhibit the vibrations. Still not as great as id like, might just be the pups themselves as you guys said though.