Distorted pop on low string/low frets

[johnvic]

I recently started doing my own setup on my Fender P-bass, bought the Fender bass book, got info here, etc. It's mostly good. My intonation is excellent and tuning is a breeze. I keep my string height at the recommended values. I have a slight arch in my neck after doing a truss rod adjustment. My goal is to continue doing my own setups because I live in NYC and don't want to pay for a setup when the weather changes several times a year. Plus I like the idea of doing my own setup to help me understand my instrument better.

Here is my issue and perhaps someone can point me in a direction. Sometimes if I am playing loudly I will get a distorted pop. I can see the overload LED on the amp light up. This happens on different amp, not just one. It only happens on the E string and seems to happen on the 2nd thru 4th fret. If I try to make it happen it seems less likely to happen, if that makes sense. I tried taping the string against the pickup and it sounds like that. But I find it hard to believe that I could play that aggressively.

If I play super carefully I don't have the problem. I've had this bass for close to 10 years and have never had to be so careful. So I doubt if my technique is that bad. Any thoughts on stuff to look for? I did not check or adjust pickup height. I did adjust action, truss rod and intonation.

Thanks!

[johnvic]

I spoke to a friend of a friend who does repairs at a shop in town. Based on my description he thinks the pickups are too close to the string. I had lowered the action when I did this setup, my old setup had pretty high action. So, since I lowered my action the pickups could be too high.

[Mushroo]

I think you already know the answer to your question. Try lowering the pickup on the E-string side.

I whack the E string against the pickup all the time when I get excited and dig in too hard, it is not a nice sound as you know.

[johnvic]

I prefer growls to pops!