Help! Unwanted Natural Harmonics!

[Daco]

I have a Fender Jazz MIM.

Every time I play (with my fingers) an open A string over my pickups (both of them) I get a natural harmonic sound (F sharp or C sharp) in additon to the A sound. when I play on any other part of the string, that's not over the pickup, the problem is gone.

How can I fix it?

 

[joeyl]

assuming your muting technique is up to par, you may need to lower the pickups a bit.

 

[The Golden Boy]

try a piece of tape over the strings- just behind the saddles, and/or just behind the nut. Could be sympathetic vibrations- I've got a guitar that's got bad sympathetic vibrations...

 

[JustOpenYourMind]

assuming your muting technique is up to par, you may need to lower the pickups a bit.

+1

Is the effect present when the bass is played without an amp, if not, it's probably your pickup height. Try it anyway, you have nothing to loose.

 

[Daco]

the harmonics are sounding even without an amp.
but I found another way from this thread
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=414470

If I increase the angle behind the nut withe my fingers (push really hard) it stops ringing...
but I don't know how to hold this angle..

Although I hope to find some other way to fix it. I'll ask my Teacher/Repairman what to do and I'll post his answer here.

 

[joeyl]

well when you wind the strings on the tuning posts make sure the last windings are at the complete bottom of the post to ensure a more downward angle

 

[maurilio]

the slot on the nut is too flat (parallel to the fb). Try filing the slot with a steeper angle toward the headstock.

M