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Thread: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

  1. #1
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    Default Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    I just got a bag of Harmonic Overtone Suppressors - tiny rubber donuts that life's not complete without, or something. Leaving aside the fact that I now know my Eastman 305 has a rubber strip under the tailpiece that seems to do the same thing - is there any skill involved in fitting these donuts, or do you just stick them between the string pairs somewhere between bridge and tailpiece and wonder if they're doing anything?

  2. #2
    Registered User Frankdolin's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    If you strum behind your bridge and the strings are dead, you don't need them. And IMHO, I don't like any kind of suppressor that can and will alter your tuning by stretching them as far open as some of those donuts can do.

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    Registered User resophonic's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    String lengths after the bridge and above the nut can create bothersome overtones. Any strategy the dampens them can work. The little doughnuts, as you call them, are actually wiring grommets and can be found in different sizes. I buy them at my local hardware store. As mentioned, you don't need them if the rubber in the tailpiece already kills the overtones. If you use them, just arrange them somewhere in the middle ish, so they look tidy. Also check at the headstock too. I generally use a bit of Black foam rubber under the strings, just behind the nut.

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  6. #4
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    +1 if you have a rubber strip on your tailpiece you don't need them. Unless you like the look for some reason I would not use them.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

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  8. #5

    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    Not wonder, but just believe! If you didn’t have that rubber strip, and had the ears of early childhood, and banged really hard on those strings, one might say the one place to not put the grommets (or the wallace) is exactly in the middle of the string segment because you’d not hamper the first harmonic of said piece. So, a little bit off the middle and your cat may better enjoy your playing.
    For a more country look, a bit of rawhide lace is attractive.
    My wonderful Mexican mandolin came with many colorful ribbons entwined up at the headstock. I’m keeping them. They prevent harmonic instrument snobbery.

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  10. #6
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    Gibson has used felt or leather for the strip since the beginning. The rubber grommets are fine but make sure they are rubber. If they are vinyl and you lose one in the case you run a chance of damaging the finish if your instrument has a lacquer finish. Vinyl will damage lacquer and yes, we have people here that it has happened to.

    http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Musi...nyl/vinyl.html
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  12. #7
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    Leather strip works well for both locations too.
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
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    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
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    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    Quote Originally Posted by MontanaMatt View Post
    Leather strip works well for both locations too.
    I use felt strips or foam.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    I found some velcro wire ties that work nicely if I weave them through then strings and cut off the excess. And very decorative... come in some pleasing and fun colors.
    Jim

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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    There’s no skill involved in fitting them. The skill comes in finding them again if you break a string and the grommet pings off into the audience.

    There’s probbaly a market for some sort of device which joins them together and stops this happening; in fact some people rely on a leather bootlace which effectively does both jobs.

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  20. #11

    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    Both of my Webers had the Weber Wood Nymph on them. The tail peice had felt underneath, so I never could tell any difference, and took them off. Made a decent hand rest if one rests their hand there.

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  22. #12
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    Never used them.
    I like to hear harmonic overtones.
    David A. Gordon

  23. #13
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: Harmonic Overtone Supressors - great. So....

    I started using Weber wood nymphs after I noticed hand and string sounds on recordings, particularly at the sustain at the end of a song, if I lifted or wigged behind the bridge at all. If I ever loose a wood nymph I’ll switch to leather, which I use above the nut currently. The leather doesn’t fly off at string changes, but is particular about threading.
    2007 Weber Custom Elite "old wood"
    2017 Ratliff R5 Custom #1148
    Several nice old Fiddles
    2007 Martin 000-15S 12 fret Auditorium-slot head
    Deering Classic Open Back
    Too many microphones

    BridgerCreekBoys.com

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