Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Weird overtones.

Is it just me?

There is a weird thing happening with my strings on my v63.
The upper harmonic overtones are out of tune with the fundamental.
This is increasingly noticeable on the higher frets and heavier strings.

I am currently using rotosound rs99 psd (piano string design). These are exposed core strings 45 65 85 105.This is my 2nd set. The previous set also sounded 'off'
I have also noticed the same problem to a lesser degree on a couple of roto rs66 105 E (normal wind at bridge) on the rick, and even when installed on my pedulla, which would suggest it's not a rick specific problem.

Is the same thing happening to you guys. Could you please play each of your strings at the 19th fret and let me know what you hear (and which gauges and brand) .
do you hear a slow beating sound, and get an uncomfortable sense of the note being out of tune with itself?

I did not notice the same problem with my 40-100 rotosound set, but I prefer the heavier strings on the v63, the plucking tension feels right and I like the sound of both the psd and the 45-105 swingbass sets.


So is it a case of TADTS (they all do that, Sir) or have I been unlucky?

thanks, Al.

try D'Addario or DR strings ... I like a 105 E as well ... and a 125 B ...

part of what I like about round wound strings is all of the "noise" ...

To answer your question, I have two year old TI flats on one Ric bass which I happened to have right next to me and the overtones are in tune all the way up past the third octave over the fundamental which is at about fret 2.5 which is way above the overtone at the 19th fret. If your strings have an out of tune overtone at the 19th fret I would try a different brand. I think smaller gauge strings are more true but I also use some heavy gauge strings on certain basses and like them.
It also may have something to do with the exposed core, the wound part of your strings is shorter than the whole length including the exposed core. I would imagine that if you pluck an overtone only the wound part of the string is going to sound which will not include the unwound part which goes over your bridge (I am not sure of this though it is only my theory, to check play an overtone and toucn the exposed core to see if the overtone stops). I used those strings in the 70's for a short period of time and do seem to remember some spurious overtones from them. In fact they seemed to be out of tune with themselves when played which is why I went back to regular Rots at the time.

I'm no expert, but doesn't "out of tune harmonic overtones" imply an intonation adjustment is needed? I always set my intonation so that the harmonic note and fretted notes are the same at both the 12th and 19th frets.

Jeff, rotosound steel strings are part of how I want to sound at this time. I am trying to assess if the fault is common.

Changing brand would be a last resort.

Bob, you may be right about the exposed core. Tapered string with too much taper towards the pickups are known to have overtone issues. the psd's are adjustable and rotosound recommend 6mm only of exposed core at the saddle.

On the E string, here are the figures.

fundamental (open) 0 cent error
octave harmonic 0 cent error
double octave (fret 5 harmonic) 10 cent error
triple octave (fret 2.4) 20 cent error!!!

I haven't measured the 19th fret harmonic ( octave+ fifth)
as I can't remember how many cents difference between equal tempered and just tempered fifths ( something like 11c diff.)

but the fretted note at the 19th...ugh

how's yours sound, Jeff (listen deeply and let me know)



Ed, as I am not comparing the tuning of harmonics with fretted notes, intonation is a non issue.

higher fretted notes sound out with themselves regardless of comparison.

However I do keep checking the intonation just to be sure!

I used Roto's in the 80's and 90's a lot ... these days I use Copley ... I find that I am unhappy with the Rotosound low B strings ... the rest seem fine ... also I am impressed with the quality and sound of DR and Daddario strings ...

I loved Dr's. On all my pre Ric basses anyway! I'm trying Chromes this weekend on the 4003 to see if I like them.

DRs!

especially the coloured ones.

I stopped using Rotosounds about 24 years ago because of the weird overtones and lousy fundamentals esoecially on the E strings. That was a few years before I bought a 5 string. I've never bought a 5 string set of Rotosounds. I figured that if the E string sounds that bad, the B string has to be even worse.

yeah its NOT all about those rotos! Recently switched to D'addario Prosteels, more solid consistent sound, no more dead strings covered in dirt from the packs, no more strings dying after 2 hours of playing the awful things. The first couple of sets of rotos i bought years back were fine, but it got bad after that

Maybe its not the strings at all.

My V63 horseshoe PU is very hot. Maybe you just have it adjusted to close to the strings. This will give you overtones, or actually more of an out of tune sounding "oscillation" effect.

The solution to that is to send me the horseshoe pickup and replace it it with a hi-gain!

I think sending you the srings would probably more likely help him with his wierd overtone problem, nice try though Jeffrey, haha!
I switched from rotos in the early 90's for exactly the same reasons as Joey, I guess that's why they are called piano string design, they do sound like piano strings, no bottom and wierd overtones especially the ones with the exposed core, those are like super Rotos.

I'm not sure if this would help, but maybe try using the RS55 Solo Bass strings that Rotosound makes. I loved them, as they really got me THAT sound that I was looking for, and, compared to the other strings that I have used, they were very consistent in intonation, on every string, all the way up the neck. Rotosound definitely has quality control issues, though. I wouldn't be surprised if you've just bought bad sets. They're awesome strings when you get a good set, but I guess it's a luck of the draw thing (my RS77 flats had a completely dead E right out of the package, but the other three were perfect . . .).

Another reason I stopped using RS66's in the early 90's were dead strings right out of the package. I also bought two sets of their flatwounds several years ago and both G's were dead right outta the box. They are the only string I've ever had that problem with.