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Author Topic:  Chimes???
Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 5:57 am    
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I have one guitar that is almost impossible to get good clear chimes. It's a D-10 push pull and I'm using same strings that my other guitars have and they chime really easy. Wonder what is the reason for this? Have any of you ever had a guitar that didn't chime good? I also had a Performance that just wouldn't chime and a few others thru the years that didn't chime easy. I have checked everything that would have anything to do with the harmonics like fret board, roller nuts, changer, etc. Whats the deal?
By the way, guitar plays and sounds great.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Lane Gray


From:
Topeka, KS
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 6:19 am    
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How is it for sustain? If it's just a bit shorter, it might kill chimes.
The fretboard might be off just a smidge, making it harder to hit the node?
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 7:05 am    
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Guitar sustains fine and I have checked and double checked fret boards and they are on the money. I'm thinking this may be trait of just certain individual guitars because like I said, I've had a couple others that were same way for no apparent reason.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 7:22 am    
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Must be the operator. Whoa!
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Craig Baker


From:
Eatonton, Georgia, USA - R.I.P.
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 7:54 am    
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Henry,
Just a guess, but might the pickup be adjusted too close to the strings?

If you have a really short cord, a good one like a George L, try going direct from the steel to the amp and see if you hear stronger harmonics.

Also, the thinner your thumb pick. . . the better your harmonics. (I learned that from Gary Carter and it made a remarkable difference.)

Please let us know what you discover.

Craig
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 8:00 am    
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Erv Niehaus wrote:
Must be the operator. Whoa!


You are right Erv, I'm not a great chimer but usually can get one or two good ones during night. I'm also big on the train whistle. Can't do that on this guitar everytime.

Thanks Craig, I'll check pickups but believe they are ok, will let you know.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Marco Schouten


From:
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 9:37 am    
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I have another suggestion: could it be that the fretboard is slightly in the wrong position?
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 9:41 am    
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What amp are you using?
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Dale Rottacker


From:
Walla Walla Washington, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 9:54 am    
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I KNEW it wasn’t me... Laughing Laughing Laughing
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https://www.quilterlabs.com
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 9:58 am    
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Dick Wood wrote:
What amp are you using?

was using Quilter last Friday night, before that , Nashville 112.

Is this the Friday you be in Texarkana Dick, will try to make it by?
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 10:00 am    
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Henry,
Like with a lot of things, it just takes a lot of practice. You really have to be spot on to make good harmonics (or chimes).
But there are still good days and bad days!
I've always had good luck with harmonics on a Henway.
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 10:09 am    
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Erv Niehaus wrote:
Henry,
Like with a lot of things, it just takes a lot of practice. You really have to be spot on to make good harmonics (or chimes).
But there are still good days and bad days!
I've always had good luck with harmonics on a Henway.


True Erv but never have trouble with my Fessy at Opry but don't really chime that much. Love them Henways Laughing
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 10:18 am    
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We will be in Texarkana tomorrow night.

Was just wondering about the amp because maybe I'm crazy but it seems that since I got the Quilter I seem to be having a problem getting good chimes.

I've never had any problems in the past and it's all I can attribute it to at the moment.

Come see me if you can. If you're brave,bring picks and sit in.
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 11:15 am    
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Will try to get by and holler at you Dick. I got a gig also so be after 10 or so.
Never thought about the amp but you may be onto something. I have primarily been using Quilter. Love the tone of it.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 11:55 am    
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Henry,
If you roll of the highs on your EQ that could decrease the harmonics. The harmonics are an octave higher than whatever you're playing.
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Dick Wood


From:
Springtown Texas, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 12:12 pm    
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Be lookin for ya Henry.

Erv,come on out and let's check this stuff out.
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 12:44 pm    
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Chimes are mostly first-order harmonics, so if the high strings sound okay at the highest frets, and you're still not getting good chimey sounds, it's operator error. Confused The parallax factor may be different between the two guitars, and that could be causing most of the problem.

(However, keep in mind that new strings also help a lot in creating clear harmonics!)
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 1:02 pm    
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Dick,
I'd better leave right away!!! Very Happy
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 3:01 pm    
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Donny Hinson wrote:
Chimes are mostly first-order harmonics, so if the high strings sound okay at the highest frets, and you're still not getting good chimey sounds, it's operator error. Confused The parallax factor may be different between the two guitars, and that could be causing most of the problem.

(However, keep in mind that new strings also help a lot in creating clear harmonics!)


I'm for sure cockpit problem is one of the problems but I'm usually able to hit a few. The Performance guitar I had just would not chime. I can get the push pull to chime but more difficult. My Fessy is really easy, don't even have to think about it on it. Still think it may a trait of just some guitars, maybe optical illusion looking where to chime from, don't know. Appreciate everyone's help.
Hey Erv, Dick and I will see you Friday night, you have left already haven't you? Smile it's only 984 miles
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Dan Behringer

 

From:
Jerseyville, Illinois
Post  Posted 16 Jun 2016 6:45 pm    
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I've learned that on some guitars I have to put a little more downward pressure on the bar to get the chimes to ring.
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Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2016 7:55 am    
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Henry,
I might be a little late but I'm pedaling as fast as I can! Whoa!
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Bill Cunningham


From:
Atlanta, Ga. USA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2016 5:09 pm    
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My chimes are pretty good on new strings and get worse as the strings age.
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Atlanta, GA
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John Billings


From:
Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 17 Jun 2016 9:09 pm    
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Performance guitars chime beautifully!! I assembled them for Jerry (RIP my friend) Wonderful guitars. I suspect operator error!
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Henry Matthews


From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
Post  Posted 21 Jun 2016 6:56 am    
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Well, everyone is still pointing to operator error which I will admit is probably 50% of the problem. I've never gotten into chiming a lot so just never worked on to perfect but I can do it. I still say that some guitars are just harder to chime than other.
Yes John, the Performance was a really nice guitar and played great but it just didn't want to chime. As I stated above, I've had several guitars in my life that were hard to get good clear chimes on.
I tried all three my guitars this last weekend with a specific chiming exercise. The Fessy, you didn't even have to be perfect on and still got clear chimes. The Emmons SKH is also easy to chime but more critical to position than Fessy. The push pull is really critical to position, pick pressure and everything. It will chime but really hard to do.

Thanks everyone for all the input. I'm a palm chimer so going to work on maybe picky or 3rd finger chiming see if I can develop good chimes.
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Henry Matthews

D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes.
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Abe Levy


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 21 Jun 2016 11:21 am    
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I agree with you Henry. I have some guitars that are super easy and some that I have to be very precise with to get even a weak chime. My fender dual eight is super easy. My white Emmons bolt on not so easy, but my black bolt on does it at the drop of a hat. Who knows, but I think sustain has a lot to do with it.
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