bass strings touching pick ups

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sandwiches

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lately i've been trying to record bass. i've tried using a mixer or going straight in.

the problem i find is i get this loud click when the strings accidentally touch the pickups. it usually causes an ugly loud click noise that suaully clips.

now this problem could be me becuase im not a bass player and have the wrong technique or it could be the bass, as i don't have another to try.

but is this a common thing? and is there really any solution to this problem? any idea on how to avoid it? i mean, i've basically just been recording my tracks and if it clicks, i'll rerecord. but it just seems i'm scared to play the bass as hard or as passionately, as i want to be able to play it.
 
It sounds like the action is set too low for your playing technique. This causes the strings to make contact with the pickups too easily, creating the nasty "pop" you are talking about.

My suggestion would be to take the bass to a local music shop and have them raise the action on it slightly, so that you don't have to worry about this problem when you are playing. Or, you can do it yourself, if you know how to.
 
If fretted notes aren't buzzing, then the action isn't to low. What is your playing technique?Sounds like an uneven playing technique, which many begining bassists have trouble with or the pickups are adjusted too high.
 
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The pickups may be adjusted too high - if they're adjustable back them off. You should be able to slap any string anywhere on the fretboard without it hitting a pickup.

Also it has to be tuned the correct pitch other wise if it's a 1/2 step or 1 step too low the strings could flop around too much and hit a pickup. A bass tuner or keyboard should work ok for tuning.

Those are the 2 things I think of when you mention strings touching the pickups.

kylen :)
 
There's a third thing, if you're playing fingerstyle and don't have much experience of it - that is try to make sure you're hitting the strings parallel to the body (pickups) , not coming down on them and driving them onto the pick up. Easy mistake to make.

Also experiment with moving your right (left if you're a leftie) hand nearer the bridge. Will give you a different tone but might help.

Finally, most experienced bass players let the pickups do the work - they play gently and don't dig in as much as less experienced players.
 
Garry Sharp said:
There's a third thing, if you're playing fingerstyle and don't have much experience of it - that is try to make sure you're hitting the strings parallel to the body (pickups) , not coming down on them and driving them onto the pick up. Easy mistake to make.

Also experiment with moving your right (left if you're a leftie) hand nearer the bridge. Will give you a different tone but might help.

Finally, most experienced bass players let the pickups do the work - they play gently and don't dig in as much as less experienced players.
Click to expand...

That's what I was gettin' at. You explained it better.
 
a common bass playing fault for a novice, as explained abpve it finger picking or finger PULLING towards the pickups. Try moving your picking hand further down the body of the bass and picking the strings UPWARDS instead of inwards towards the pickups. Slight compression during the recording may help too.

Good luck

Alec
 
Another beginners' mistake is that people tend to pluck the bass strings instead of more 'raking' them ... the movement your plucking finger makes should be more parallel with the bass, rather than away from it, if you see what I mean... this'll help smoothing out notes .


Herwig
 
You sure it is from string touching the pickups and not just the buzzing you get from the strings snapping on the fret and fretboard?
Because it is really hard to have your strings snap on the pickup for most bass unless your are slapping

If that's really the case, most pickups are height adjustable, there are usually 2 screw at the top and bottom on the pickup, just tighten them and it will push the pickup down.

You will have to turn the volume up more tho because of the added distance between the pickup and the string.
 
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