question about my warwick thumb.

Josh Emmons

Josh Emmons

Joined
Apr 1, 2009
Messages
194
Reaction score
0
i would like to start off saying i still do LOVE my warwick thumb!!!! i am not ripping on it, just asking a question about what my thumb NT 4 does, but other basses can't do... so my question is, how come my thumb can easily hit harmonics, while other basses cant seem to hit some harmonics? like when i play jaco's portraits of tracy, or victor's Amazing Grace, the wick can play the notes beautifully, while other basses cant pick most of the harmonics up? it is a pretty dumb question, but i have always wondered... i doubt it is my playing, i try to hit it again and again, but it wont work as well as on my wick. :d
 
I noticed the same with my Streamer, the harmonics just sing.
My guess is that the mids make the harmonics pop out, and Warwicks obviously don't lack mids :)
just a guess tho.
 
1. The material used for the nut - Telur iirc.
2. Dense woods - always remember, the sound your bass has is embossed by the frequencies your bass is absorbing! The denser (correctly it would be: the stiffer) the wood, the less the sound is dampened. And conclusivley: In fact you are not PLAYING harmonics, you are killing the root note - so the more frequencies are not absorbed by the wood, the more harmonics you have.
3. Pickup placement - bridge PUs with Warwicks, esp. Thumbs are pretty close to the bridge -> better harmonic effect.
 
Shmone said:
Can you please elaborate? how do the frets affect the harmonics?
the string doesn't interact with the frets when you are playing harmonics :confused:
Click to expand...

I meant it to be tongue in cheek, and use this symbol: :P
 
I really feel like my warwick has more string tension than other basses (like my fender jazz, I use the same strings on both), and this really helps when playing harmonic, I think.
 
A well built bass,well set up,with good pickups will produce good harmonics.
 
Pickup placement has a lot (IMHO) with harmonics. My P-bass has weaks harmonics compared to my Squier Jazz using the bridge pup. The same happens when you use the neck pup compared to the bridge pup on any bass.My Infinity has very clear harmonics, especialy when using the bridge J/J pup.

I don´t think fret materials had anything to do with harmonics, though.
 
Pretty much as greg said but you'll have to pan between the pickups to find the harmonic sweet spot. Just soloing the bridge pickup doesn't make for optimal harmonics. Play one and pan between the pickups there will be a spot where they just sing out effortlessly. On my buzzard its about 55/45 blend to the bridge pickup on my $$ is more 75/25 towards the bridge pickup.

Strings also make a difference - hex cores have more overtones than round cores i've found - and hellborg string from DR are imo the worst as they are all about the fundamental - where as EMP's to my ears have been the best for harmonics.

Most important factor by far is setup - get this right and harmonics will sing no matter what you do!
 
Right harmonics - rich sound. When I was in search for a new bass for live, I was using an octaver too. Warwick were triggering the right notes much better than other brands.
 
With reference to the fret material, if you think about it you don't actually fret the bass when you play a harmonic (well natural ones anyhow) so I wouldn't thinks that makes much difference to the sound.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top