Author Topic: Finger noise (Read 798 times)

811952 · « **Reply #30 on:** May 18, 2004, 02:10:56 PM »

I play hard with the action relatively high and the pickups a bit low. When I'm banging on it, I tend to do it near the end of the fingerboard, so it really sounds more like I'm slapping it (a la Entwistle). I love the ringing highs that happen. Hey You off The Wall has some very tasteful strings-against-the-pickup noise during the nice fretless solo section...
John

jazzyvee · « **Reply #31 on:** May 20, 2004, 06:59:27 AM »

I sometimes get this clicking noise when i'm playing my bass as well. I did post a message about it a while back. Anyway when I really concentrated on what I was acutally doing. It reminded me of some similar problems I had when I first went touring with a reggae band and having to play guitar at high volumes.

Forgive the digression here as there is a point to it.

There is a crucial point in playing the chop in the rhythm guitar for reggae which is that the timing between when you place your fingers on the strings for the chord, when you push the strings to the frets and when you actually strike the chord with the plectrum.

Now the problem i had there was that when playing at high volumes the mere action of putting the strings to the frets made the chord ring out before you actually strike the strings with the pick. I had to work really hard so that the timing between those two events were negligible so that now there is no ring of the chord before i play it.

Now I noticed that when playing the alembic bass that when you fret the note the action of the right hand finger, pressing the string to sound the note causes the string to touch the fretboard/fret before you actully complete the pluck of the string, hence giving the clicking sound.

Just to prove it i played something by curling the fingers on my right hand so they were just underneath the string rather than over the top ( a bit like classical guitar playing)_, and i had no clicking sound at all even when playing hard and at high volumes.

I have now modified my playing to a lighter touch to reduce the chance of that clicking and have even lowered the action which has improved the playability.

That said it's much less noticeable if you roll some of the top end off your sound. Also i love the clicking sound when i'm playing hard like Clarkee does... it adds a nice percussive edge.

David Houck · « **Reply #32 on:** May 20, 2004, 07:41:11 AM »

Thanks JV for an illustrative post. So, if the click occurs when the plucking finger first touches the string and before the note is actually played, then Hasse's suggestion of running the high frequencies to a compressor and adjusting the settings for quick attack and release might indeed help.

David Houck · « **Reply #33 on:** May 26, 2004, 08:28:00 AM »

Hasse; about your suggestion to try a crossover with the high-pass set at 8000-10000 and running the high signal to a compressor. I tried using the crossover on the F-1X; the highest setting on the F-1X being 3.3kHz. At that setting the results were inconclusive. I set the compressor up as you suggested with quick attack and release times; but with the high-pass setting at 3.3 the compressor was reducing tone as well as clicks. I have a Rane three way crossover that I used with my PA, but the highest high-pass setting on the Rane is 3.5kHz; so I don't think it would work any better.

I think your idea is a good one; but I just don't have a crossover that goes that high.

88persuader · « **Reply #34 on:** June 01, 2004, 10:47:25 PM »

I had this problem and solved it by going to a heavy gage string. I was also able to lower my string action at the same time making slapping more easy and accurate. Took just a little left hand adjustment to the added string tension but it totally solved the problem. And it CAN BE a real problem if you go through a good front end 3 or 4 way system. Every click of the string against the neck of the bass can sound like a hammer on metal if you're sound man has you jacked up. Try heavy gage strings ... I love the Freedom they gave me.

David Houck · « **Reply #35 on:** June 02, 2004, 06:09:34 AM »

I think heavier gauge strings will probably be the best solution; but I would hate to give up the Thomastik Jazz Rounds I'm using now. I've been gradually raising the action on my Spoiler, but it's just too high now; I'm experiencing an increase in left hand fingering errors. I've also been experimenting with my settings on the F-1X and SF-2, and keeping my eyes open for a good parametric EQ. When my Essence gets back from California it will have a new set of Thomastiks on it. I'll play it for a while before making a decision to try a different set of strings.

adriaan · « **Reply #36 on:** June 02, 2004, 07:30:25 AM »

I think I can confirm the string guage factor: my Spoiler came with a 40-95 set of roundwounds, low action and a lot of fret clicking. I've put on an old set of long scale TI Jazz Flats (43-89), with a slightly higher action that took care of the clicking with the roundwounds, but the sound has gotten a bit dark so it's hard to tell if there's any clicking going on.

Next up on the Spoiler, some nickel D'Addario Slowounds 45-100. I once wanted to put a set of long scale Slowounds on my 34 Epic, but the A string barely reached the post of the tuner. So the Spoiler is getting a long scale set. Will try if I can set the action lower again.

son_of_magni · « **Reply #37 on:** June 02, 2004, 07:59:47 AM »

Well I have to say your biggest problem is probably those pesky frets. Why not remove them and be done with it? ;-)

David Houck · « **Reply #38 on:** June 02, 2004, 08:08:51 AM »

Adriaan; let us know the results of the string change.

Magni; Ha!! Somehow I'm thinking that might affect the tone just a little .