Bass doesn't like me, what the hell happened!?

Jereth · #1 07-30-2006, 06:06 PM

Right well. About three weeks ago I obtained a Warwick Corvette $$. And it's being playing away like a dream since, very versatile and comfortable. A few days after I got it, we lowered the pick-ups a bit to get rid of a click we thought was the strings hitting the pole-pieces. However, when I was looking fro a tone with a bit more growl and balls, I brought them a bit higher the other day. I practiced a few time with the pick-ups like that, and it sounded great.

But when I got onstage with it today, the neck pick-up was on a slant with the E-String side almost touching the string. I asked the sound guy and a stage hand (both very helpful and nice guys) if they had a screwdriver(the one time I didn't bring to a gig

) but no dice. So I managed through four songs with the bass set low in the mix by the sound guy. After numerous requests by the crowd and my guitarist to put the bass louder it the mix, he replied no until we got rid of the click. For our own instrumental song, I actually spent the six minutes of it pushing down on the pick-up and only being able to play with one finger(I usually play with three!), which resulted in me trying the less is more style of playing.
After that song though, I said that I just couldn't play with the bass, so i had to take a loan of B.C. Rich Warlock from another band we're friendly with. This was also a challenge because I play my bass up high, with a low reaction. The guy the B.C. Rich bleonged to played very low(typical rockers, eh

)with a very high reaction.

What the hell happened though?! We still got great feed back and the crowd enjoyed it as did the other members of the band. I was distracted for the whole set though, which led to me not being able to enjoy the set, interact with the crowd and play some of my favourite licks ect.

What happened and how do prevent it from happening again? I will surely have an arsenal of screwdrivers with me next time, amongst other safety measures!

Kudos to the sound guy though. I saw footage of the gig later, and he had to put me low in the mix, but I still cut through. He was a very patient, nice guy. Gave me tips on where I'll get the best sounds in my monitors at the start of out gig and all...

Poop-Loops · #2 07-30-2006, 08:40 PM

Just roll with the click, like Steve Harris.

I sometimes get a click sound when I just touch the string with my picking hand. I don't know why. It's very random, as in it'll happen for a while, then go away.

Joe Nerve · #3 07-30-2006, 08:51 PM

Interesting that I felt my corvette didnt like me for a long time, and it also had to do with clicking, but I think for different reasons. It sounds like you're saying your pickup is rising, which is a problem I also had - only with my Bongo. If that's the problem you'll be happy to know there's a simple, safe solution - it's called threadlocker blue (medium strength) and it can be bought in any car parts store. I think they also make one called locktite. I put a little on the screws, rubbed it in with my fingers, put the screws back in and all was fine. Just tightens them up a bit. You can still move them though. Didn't make this up, it came as a suggestion from the top tech guy at Ernie Ball.

If the clicking is coming from somthing other than that, well... in my case, I dig in, and my slyle just made the warwick click. On certain amps with the right frequency choices I could dial out the clicking, but it was a chore and a half. I think it's a mixture of the fret material, and the super hot hi EQ. Eventually I wound up selling the corvette cuz as much as I loved a lot of things about it, ultimately the bass too dangerous for me to use live. With a soft touch those things sing. On a recording, the sound phenomenal. With adrenalin pumping through my veins I got mud and click.

PilbaraBass · #4 07-30-2006, 09:07 PM

the click happens when the string touches and is "grabbed" by the pole piece creating a sharp transient "pop"...

lowering the pickups is the first option, but that involves a bit of sacrifice as to getting the best "punch" from your pickups...

In a pinch, put masking tape over the poles...I've found that I need to put several layers to get it from stopping...one won't do it...

for a permanent solution, I think the only option is to cover your pickups...of course that will wreck the look of a double-buck...

Personally, I drive my bass now days with two layers of masking tape and a slightly lighter touch...when I feel that I have to dig in more, my right hand moves back more toward the bridge, instinctively...

Techmonkey · #5 07-31-2006, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

If the clicking is coming from somthing other than that, well... in my case, I dig in, and my slyle just made the warwick click. On certain amps with the right frequency choices I could dial out the clicking, but it was a chore and a half.

+1... I have exactly the same thing with my Corvette. I really really really dig in whilst play (think Flea style attack) and though it sounds fine in recordings and even at rehearsals, and gigging levels it's all click. At a battle of the bands I played a few weeks ago, one of the judges was giving tips to each band member... "Try not to click so much... we're not talking heavy metal here!"

Raising the action helped somewhat... but since I've had my Stingray, I've only used the Corvette for playing things which need thump (the reggae/dub songs, and motown stylee)... and my band doesn't do a whole lot of that...

Joe Nerve · #6 07-31-2006, 09:32 AM

Yet another Warwick (almost) KOed by a MM.

Guess this one is a TKO.

Not dissing Warwick, I'm sure I have another in my future. I just feel a lot safer with MM basses - they do what I want them to, when I want them to, and I never sweat the things like in this post.

Jereth · #7 07-31-2006, 03:45 PM

I'll try the locktite stuff, sound slike a great idea. Luckily, the shop where I work also has petrol pumps and various bits 'n bobs you might find at a car parts store.

After a bit of fighting with my bass today, I'm after settling with a tone I'm happy with. After adjusting them again last night though, I noticed the same problem accured this morning.

I tend to play hard and fast with my (metal, check my sig)band. So we'll see how long the Corvette lasts. I'll probably go for a Thumb if I have to switch.

The click sounded terrible though, it was like a bit of overdrive was thrown in. At first I thought that some of the wierd sounds were coming from the D.I. or lead. But after switching leads and seeing that the first two bands had no such trouble, I settled that it was the bass. I fixed it as soon as I got home and when I plugged it, the problem had gone. But this morning, like I said, it occurred again...

Thanks for the tips guys, very muchy appreciated...

Joe Nerve · #8 07-31-2006, 04:00 PM

The locktitie suggestion was for if your pickup is rising. I'm not sure you're saying thats the case. If after you play for a while you notice the pickup is higher up on the screws than the way you adjusted it, then the locktite will help. If it's some other thing going on the locktite won't make any difference. Nor will a Thumb IMO. MM basses love to be abused though.

Techmonkey · #9 07-31-2006, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

MM basses love to be abused though.

+1... I still get that click when I play hard on my stingray, but it sounds like it should be there. it's that classic MM click - on my Corvette it was just a high pitched annoying clack.

PilbaraBass · #10 08-01-2006, 11:49 PM

that clicking isn't your bass..it's the drummer's kick...

ALWAYS BLAME THE DRUMMER

Metal Chuck · #11 08-01-2006, 11:57 PM

Drummers are evil.

JimmyM · #12 08-02-2006, 12:57 AM

Listen, if that happens again, just do your regular show and don't dwell on it. Nobody knows it's happening but you. Easier said than done, but you have to train yourself not to worry about it. Just do your show.

Jereth · #13 08-02-2006, 09:56 AM

Oddly, we got a great response from the crowd and both my drummer and guitarist were delighted with the gig. After seeing footage of it though, it didn't sound too bad, the soundman was excellent. But, we were told it was out best gig. So next time I'll just bring a screwdriver and check before I go onstage.

I like MM's but I love Warwicks!

jady · #14 08-07-2006, 08:37 PM

I had a much more drastic case on my Warwick Streamer STD. I was in the 2nd of a 3 set gig and I slapped the strings pretty hard and the pickup shot upwards and slammed against the strings!!!!

After a quick end to that set, I pulled everything apart and found that the metal ferrules that the screws screw in to had ripped out of the wood!!!! I had to use LOTS of gaffers tape to hold the P/Us in place to finish the gig.

Warwicks have pretty insane springs under the pickups......They have monsterous tension and no matter what glue I used, they kept ripping out of the wood.

I took out the springs and replaced them with foam strips to keep the pickups up and have had no problems since. That may be your problem.

BTW I had no problems with this until I started messing with the P/U height

PilbaraBass · #15 08-07-2006, 09:36 PM

here's a tip...Idea adapted from a hambone idea...

1) take pickup out

2) wax pickup screws lightly (bar soap will work)

3) a drop of superglue into the pickup screw holes...

4) put screws in hole

5) let dry...

6) reassemble

the theory...the superglue will soak into the wood and make a hard threaded surface...this will eliminate the screw holes from stripping out...

Silas Martinez · #16 02-21-2007, 02:24 PM

On a mostly unrelated note, I wanted to report yet another Warwick replaced by a MM - in this case, got rid of my Thumb BO and replaced it with a bongo.

vindy500 · #17 02-21-2007, 02:27 PM

why didnt you just rock with the bridge pup?

Liten · #18 02-22-2007, 02:37 AM

Just put a new set of Dimarzio UJ's in my old Jazz..
They were tricky to get in cus they were deeper than the prev PU's.. when I started thumpin the same click sound occored on the E string and it took 2 tries of switching damper materials below the PU's til I got it right.. The action is as low as possible and still no click.. so.. my tip.. lower the PU's until you get it right.... that can be alot on some basses!.. the volume is'nt effekted that much anyway..

Cheers