Just Started Playing a Harmonic Only

davecanady · #1 12-13-2009, 01:49 PM

Has anyone had this issue...My G string 7th fret plays 90% harmonic and 10% actual note. It just started.

I confirmed the string was not touching on the 19th fret
I changed strings

What could this be?

Benjamin Strange · #2 12-13-2009, 07:54 PM

It sounds like you have a dead spot. This is a common problem - basically the bass is absorbing the fundamental tone of that particular note, causing it to die and leaving you only with the harmonic and most likely very little sustain.

You can try using a little clamp called a Fatfinger, which clamps on to the headstock and raises the internal resonant pitch of your instrument and helps remove the dead spot.

davecanady · #3 12-14-2009, 04:56 PM

Thanks Ben,
I've never heard of this before. I will do a little research and do what I need to do to fix it. I think the bass might still be under warranty...... if so, that may be the way to go.

davecanady · #4 12-16-2009, 04:37 PM

Not knowing what this was, I didn't know how to search for it.....Talk Bass has lots of comments about it. This seems to be very common, although I mentioned it to two bass playing friends who have not had this issue. My bass is back acting fine again. For now I'll just keep playing and if I have to use my other bass for all songs, that's what I'll do.

Thanks again Ben for pointing me in the right direction.