Jaguar overtones behind the bridge....

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:14 pm

... I never thought this to be problem and have always cussed those that think it is.....

However, I recently shifted from using a mustang bridge to a tunomatic and the overtones are mad... almost making everything sound messy. Also exaggerated by the fact I often use a compressor. Very apparent when palm muting for example. Generally I like I like the improvements but this is the only thing I dislike.

I cut the grooves back in the day when I had it on my Jagstang.... trying to replicate the radius, so they're cut quite deep already.

Before filing the grooves once more, for a third time.... is there a particular way to cut them and with which kind of file ?

I've taped the strings up behind the bridge and that counteracts everything... and I'm happy... but wondered if you had a invisible solution ?

Thought about drummers stuff for heads.... or even recently the mini weights for fishing lines.

Sounds wanky but it's quite noticeable. Can provide video if wanted.

Post by **Doog** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:38 pm

A Buzzstop took care of 90% of those sympathetic string noises for me and my Jazzyyyyyy.

I don't think there's an invisible solution per se, but you could weave a silver pipecleaner/hairtie/piece of fabric between the strings?

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:48 am

Thanks Doog, I don't want to go for a buzz stop... I've bought one 3 times now and have always sold it on. For me it makes the feel and everything more stringent.

Yeah, was gonna got a hair band solution perhaps. I do think It's due to a badly gut groove... but don'y wanna keep messing and buy new saddles / bridge.

It seems to me the added bonus of sustain and attack has had this adverse effect too.... making the overtones more lively.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:53 am

I noticed the palm muting issue on my CP Jag with TOM and that's with the trem closer to the bridge. What about putting a strip of foam or some clear algenate type stuff directly behind the saddles on the back lip of the bridge, just high enough to touch the strings? Just a thought, not tried it myself.

If you wanted something snazzy you could go to all the trouble of cloth winding the strings for the a couple of inches from the ball - like the reverse of bass strings. Major hassle though...

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:54 am

Sorry more out loud thinking....Jag mutes...could they be mounted backwards so as to mute behind the bridge?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:11 pm

i don't think that'd be practical. not sure there's an invisible solution to be honest. i reckon you should go full on bacchuspaul "the fuck are you looking at?" mode and stuff a big black sock under the strings.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:25 pm

Dang I might have just figured a semi invisible solution. Read an old hacking tip for removing audible sound generated by strat trem springs you get some aquarium pipe - the thin clear stuff - cut it to length and slide it inside the springs. So what about some really thin clear aquarium or medical pipe slipped over the strings between trem and bridge - an inch or two might be enough. Not sure if this would make trem action worse or not. /more more thinking out loud

Or maybe coat the with thick nail varnish??

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:34 pm

good idea. or you could get heat-shrink sleeving from maplin and do a similar thing.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/heat-shrinkable-sleeving-301

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:43 pm

stewart wrote:good idea. or you could get heat-shrink sleeving from maplin and do a similar thing.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/heat-shrinkable-sleeving-301

that's even better idea than the pipe for sure

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 1:45 pm

My Jag-Stang suffers with this problem (Jag trem and humbucker) especially in standard tuning. Its almost like a 'ghost note' effect unless i palm mute.
What i did was reverse the 'Mute' idea. I stuck a strip of draught excluder on the back of the bridge so the strings touch it on their way to the tail piece. Its inconspicuous and it works.
If your not sure what i mean its the foam stuff about 10mm thick you buy on a roll with a sticky back edge for old doors, places like Wilko sell it for a few quid.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 2:58 pm

Why not try something a little simpler before shrink wrapping, or stringing strings through tubes, etc. Use that clear tubing, or a black foam or something, cut it in a strip and place it on the bridge, behind the saddles over the top of the saddle intonation adjust screws? The strings would lay over the foam/rubber, and that should deaden a lot of the vibration? Make it thin enough and it should be all but invisible to a searching eye.
This is basically your backwards Jag mute idea, but eliminating the new hardware aspect.

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:53 pm

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 4:40 pm

ultratwin wrote:

LOL.

Do people actually do this? The overtones from the Jag are the best part of it. Though maybe I'm not understanding what you mean. I get "ghost notes" from both my Supersonic (strat bridge) and my Musicmaster (musicmaster bridge), but not with my Jag, I just get extra sustain on the Jag.

Then again, I also electrical taped the posts on the Jag so maybe that's the extra cushion that is stopping it on mine? I don't get ghost notes on the Jag at all.

Post by **Doog** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:00 pm

Pens wrote:Do people actually do this? The overtones from the Jag are the best part of it. Though maybe I'm not understanding what you mean. I get "ghost notes" from both my Supersonic (strat bridge) and my Musicmaster (musicmaster bridge), but not with my Jag, I just get extra sustain on the Jag.

Then again, I also electrical taped the posts on the Jag so maybe that's the extra cushion that is stopping it on mine? I don't get ghost notes on the Jag at all.

Seems odd to be; both my old Jaguar and Jazzmaster did this before modifications, even with the taped bridge posts. Try playing some staccato stuff with a high gain distortion.. no weird ringing sounds between chords?

Pens · Post by **Pens** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:03 pm

Doog wrote:
Pens wrote:Do people actually do this? The overtones from the Jag are the best part of it. Though maybe I'm not understanding what you mean. I get "ghost notes" from both my Supersonic (strat bridge) and my Musicmaster (musicmaster bridge), but not with my Jag, I just get extra sustain on the Jag.

Then again, I also electrical taped the posts on the Jag so maybe that's the extra cushion that is stopping it on mine? I don't get ghost notes on the Jag at all.
Seems odd to be; both my old Jaguar and Jazzmaster did this before modifications, even with the taped bridge posts. Try playing some staccato stuff with a high gain distortion.. no weird ringing sounds between chords?

I'll have to test this out at home tonight. I do not ever recall any such thing on my Jag, and I've been playing it for a loooooong time, and play staccato often.

I get weird ringing when I play certain strings open (B on MM, G on SS) like an extra note going on, but only when open.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:20 pm

Just get a ponytailer the next time you do a string change. I often keep a small ponytailer on my headstock as well, which is the other source of pinging sounds. I get a pretty loose one so it doesn't kill everything, it just kills enough to avoid annoying me.

Or get a really large ponytailer and wrap it around the whole guitar.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:08 pm

Thanks for the suggestions guys.... I quite like the shrink wrap or draft excluder idea.

Gonna try clean up the grooves in the new year, but if all else fails I'll try the above.

I never thought it to be a an issues but it's really noticeable.

GreenKnee · Post by **GreenKnee** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:51 pm

As you can see in this photo, I have cut a little bit of foam and laid them at the tremolo end of the strings. I only notice it if I'm looking for it, and there's no annoying overtones.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:00 pm

Ah nice, never really thought to attack from that end, cheers !!

What's the humbuck btw ?

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:52 pm

Is it a Lil 59?