bass string clicking

[philcan]

I have been trying to record some bass recently. I have a 5 string Peavy Grind bass. I know it is not the best but it is ok. The problem I have is as i am recording it is also picking up a clicking sound as the strings hit the frets. This mainly happens on the B & e low strings. Any suggestions for making it stop?

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by philcan

I have been trying to record some bass recently. I have a 5 string Peavy Grind bass. I know it is not the best but it is ok. The problem I have is as i am recording it is also picking up a clicking sound as the strings hit the frets. This mainly happens on the B & e low strings. Any suggestions for making it stop?

One thing I can suggest is to fret the strings up as close behind the frets as you can.

Another is to hit the fret as late as possible so the the click is masked by the attack of the note.

One more is to fret with as little force as you can and still make the notes happen.

Another is to EQ the highs down a bit so that the sound is not so noticeable.

Still one more (if you are recording digitally - isn't everybody?) is to do a search-and-destroy of the most noticeable clicks with your editing tools.

[Jouni]

I'm heavy-fingered and a hard picker... All my basses click. I like it that way...

Of course, you can also raise the action...

[HangDawg]

Originally Posted by philcan

I have been trying to record some bass recently. I have a 5 string Peavy Grind bass. I know it is not the best but it is ok. The problem I have is as i am recording it is also picking up a clicking sound as the strings hit the frets. This mainly happens on the B & e low strings. Any suggestions for making it stop?

Clicking sucks and IMO is totally unacceptable. It's either caused by a shitty bass, a good bass not set up properly, a shitty player or a combination of these. I'd say, raise the bridge up a tad.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by HangDawg

Clicking sucks and IMO is totally unacceptable. It's either caused by a shitty bass, a good bass not set up properly, a shitty player or a combination of these. I'd say, raise the bridge up a tad.

How is raising the bridge going to help? As I understand it, it's not fret buzz he is talking about, it's the noise when the string he is fretting hits the fret when he pushes it down. It seems to me that raising the action would make it worse, not better, since he'll have to push the string farther and harder to hit the fret.

[metalhead28]

If that thing is set up anything like the Peavy Grind 5 strings that I have checked out at some local shops, the set up is fucking wretched. The "fret buzz" was so bad you couldn't even call it buzz anymore. It was like fret smack. If the strings weren't so heavy I think they would have been totally muted...I think their sheer mass allowed them to overcome the fret smack and actually sound out a little. Without it plugged in, I could hear the smack all the way down the fret board when I fretted the low notes.

Just based on that, I'm inclined to think it's a set-up related problem. I could be wrong.

[GONZO-X]

then it's a technique issue, and you can practice your way right out of bad habits.

slapping the fingers down on the fretboard can make a good aggressive sound...
when you want it..

but when you don't, you gotta work on the 'feel' aspect of fingering.

put all the energy in the right hand, and keep the left hand floating (assuming you're a right handed player)

higher action, will calm down fret buzz click...

[Jouni]

Yea... is it clicking while fretting or picking should be known here..

...Never run in clicking probs while fretting though.....
Get a fretless..
Also, sliding along the string helps some I'd think.

but if it is on picking....And you're not trying to get that "Korn"-sound or that funky thumb-hammered sound... soften the touch... Or raise the bridge.

Once had an unwanted clicking when the neck-pickup was too high, and touched the string.

[HangDawg]

Originally Posted by ggunn

How is raising the bridge going to help? As I understand it, it's not fret buzz he is talking about, it's the noise when the string he is fretting hits the fret when he pushes it down. It seems to me that raising the action would make it worse, not better, since he'll have to push the string farther and harder to hit the fret.

I've never heard clicking from just fretting a note. You would have to really be slamming your finger down. Not sure that would be much of a problem because your hand would be tired out after 30 secs. I have heard it from the action being too low or the pickups too high. Or just being a crappy player like I said.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by HangDawg

I've never heard clicking from just fretting a note. You would have to really be slamming your finger down. Not sure that would be much of a problem because your hand would be tired out after 30 secs. I have heard it from the action being too low or the pickups too high. Or just being a crappy player like I said.

I have heard it in my own playing, and it doesn't take a lot of effort or strength. Just fret a note a little sloppily but don't play it. You'll hear it, too.

[HangDawg]

Originally Posted by ggunn

I have heard it in my own playing, and it doesn't take a lot of effort or strength. Just fret a note a little sloppily but don't play it. You'll hear it, too.

So then that relates to the shitty playing part. Easily fixed for him then.



PRACTICE.

[Jouni]

Hangdawg there is such a virtuoso he'd be predisposed to say: Practise...
The NTB-5 Peavey I've got has individul string height adjustment at the bridge.. If your's is similar, it'd be VERY easy to lift the B and E strings a bit.

NO need to lift those strings you don't need to practice on, just the B and E.

[HangDawg]

Originally Posted by Jouni

Hangdawg there is such a virtuoso he'd be predisposed to say: Practise...
The NTB-5 Peavey I've got has individul string height adjustment at the bridge.. If your's is similar, it'd be VERY easy to lift the B and E strings a bit.

NO need to lift those strings you don't need to practice on, just the B and E.

If you read the other posts there sparky, I mentioned raising the bridge. And while I don't play bass all the time, when I do track my really shitty $125 Ibanez bass I can do it without it clicking all over the place. So

[Supercreep]

Originally Posted by HangDawg

Clicking sucks and IMO is totally unacceptable. It's either caused by a shitty bass, a good bass not set up properly, a shitty player or a combination of these. I'd say, raise the bridge up a tad.

Deal in absolutes much?

It can be a matter of taste, IMNSHO, and isn't always an indicator of a shitty player.

For instance, if you removed all the click and string noise from an acoustic double bass track, you wouldn't have much left.

For the types of dirty nasty proggy bass sounds I prefer (with prefer being the operative word here), string buzz and clicking are a big part of the sound.

In fact, we sometimes mic the strings on an electric bass just to get some of those sounds back in. I like my bass to sound like there's a human playing it, after all.

Just my $.02

[HangDawg]

Originally Posted by Supercreep

Deal in absolutes much?

It can be a matter of taste, IMNSHO, and isn't always an indicator of a shitty player.

For instance, if you removed all the click and string noise from an acoustic double bass track, you wouldn't have much left.

For the types of dirty nasty proggy bass sounds I prefer (with prefer being the operative word here), string buzz and clicking are a big part of the sound.

In fact, we sometimes mic the strings on an electric bass just to get some of those sounds back in. I like my bass to sound like there's a human playing it, after all.

Just my $.02

I guess I just made the assumption that these are BAD clicking sounds or the OP wouldn't be asking how to get rid of them.

[dubs duces]

I've been playing bass for 7 years and I happen to play a 6-string and I know all too well about fret buzz and clicking and I have been able to eliminate.

looking at the other replies I can see theres talk of "fret buzz" and "fret clicking" which are slightly different problems.

From a technical problem standpoint the clicking on the low B and E strings can be due to 3 things

1- string contact on the fret a half step up from where your fretting your note. this is due to the size of the strings and the fact that they do not have the tension that lighter strings have so they need extra space to vibrate unlike lighter strings.

2- your strings are smaking against the pickup. this problem is pretty obvious because you can feel your string making contact with the pick up as your plucking the string.

3- warped neck creating a slight concave across the fret board. This isn't the problem your having but its something to keep in mind when dealing with older or poorly maintained basses.

Solutions: raise your B and E string bridge saddles (the place where the string rests on the bridge). I wouldn't opt for raising all your strings given they're not all having the problem.

Some people were talking about controlling your dynamics. when playing with your fingers this is an important thing to do given you can have the best bass in the world but still have clicking if your dynamics are too strong.

Also try playing with a pick and see if its still a problem.

[philcan]

Thanks for the input. I guess i should give a little more info. I'm not playing Korn or anything like that. Manily just rock classic style if you will. The lower strings do click aginst frets when playing. It is not fret buzz cut clicking. I'm not really heavy handed & on 4 string basses I do not hear it. I do admidt I am a guitar player playing bass.

I will try raising ther b & e strings with the individual adjustments. If that will not fix it then it is time to take it in for a set up. Even when playing an open B I get the click & I can see it hitting or clicking on the lower frets. It is not hitting the pickups. I think it has a lot to do with their size & that they looser than the higher strings.

[ggunn]

Originally Posted by philcan

Thanks for the input. I guess i should give a little more info. I'm not playing Korn or anything like that. Manily just rock classic style if you will. The lower strings do click aginst frets when playing. It is not fret buzz cut clicking. I'm not really heavy handed & on 4 string basses I do not hear it. I do admidt I am a guitar player playing bass.

I will try raising ther b & e strings with the individual adjustments. If that will not fix it then it is time to take it in for a set up. Even when playing an open B I get the click & I can see it hitting or clicking on the lower frets. It is not hitting the pickups. I think it has a lot to do with their size & that they looser than the higher strings.

Most new bass players pluck the strings too hard. Try turning up the volume and using a lighter touch. If that gives you too much unevenness in volume, you might try running through some compression. Also, play closer to the bridge; that will cut down on how far the string moves.

[boingoman]

Originally Posted by ggunn

Most new bass players pluck the strings too hard..

They also hold their hands so that when they pluck the string moves in and out, instead of back and forth across the fretboard. That is responsible for pretty much all the clicking.

[Lt. Bob]

Originally Posted by boingoman

They also hold their hands so that when they pluck the string moves in and out, instead of back and forth across the fretboard. That is responsible for pretty much all the clicking.

Bingo! .......... uh, I mean boingo!

[philcan]

I raised the sadles on those strings a little & the clicking went away. 2 turns on the B & one on the E thanks for the help.

[ez_willis]

Originally Posted by dubs duces

I've been playing bass for 7 years and I happen to play a 6-string

That's two too many strings. The OP has one too many strings. The optimum number of strings for a bass guitar is 4. Every string over that number is one more too many.

Back to the question at hand. The problem is an ever-so-slight backward bow on the neck that holds one too many strings. Don't ask me how I know this, I just do. You need relief, my friend.

[KaveKong]

You might be playing too hard. Let the equipment do the volume for you.

If you can hear your bass when it's unplugged, you're whacking it too hard.

You're also probably plucking the strings in a way that propels them toward the fretboard. Instead of hitting them vertically, hit them horizontally.

Play it differently. You don't need to raise the action or mess with the bridge. These guys are fickin crazy.

Play softly and turn it up.

[Jouni]

I still want to say this.....

These dudes obviously never heard of Stu Hamm, Flea, the bassist of Primus or a style called "slapping" in general...
Maybe these belong to the above mentioned "new bassists playing too hard" group??.. They tend to have clicking there up to percussive levels. In anycase, I differ from opinions here.

The bass, just as a guitar is ment to be a resonant instrument, and to be played so that the mother gets it!.. If you're gonna pet the strings with your pinky and let the amplifier do the job, You could put the strings on any plank of wood, iron or plastic with a pickup.
If you're gonna get the body and neck to count for shit in the sound, you pluck it so that they vibrate.
What is it you want to give out?..
The man and the bass, or the amplifier???


end rant.

[dubs duces]

Originally Posted by ez_willis

That's two too many strings.

think 6 strings is too much. try 11

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UJSEaxJalco