The truth about fret noise, clank, buzz, etc

[big_z_in_miami]

Newbie here, been reading dozens a posts about clank, buzz, etc. but still would like to get the "truth" about it all from those with experience.

1) Is fret buzz a bad thing, or does it enter the amplified signal and add to the "sound" in a good or bad way?

2) Is fret clank really a problem, or once you are amplifed to gig levels, no one can really hear it anyway, so it is only a problem when you practice or go un-amped.

3) Are string noise a sign of poor playing technique, or just a reality with electric instruments as compared to acoustic ones?

4) Finger noise, particularly on slide moves.....just turn down the tone pot to eliminate if you don't want to hear it?


I really just want to know if string noise is a reality of electric bass and don't worry about it, or if I should really work hard to avoid any of them.

[Lurker79]

The answer to the first three is it depends. The last one is yes. The direction you head depends on where you want to go.

[mongo2]

IMO, they're all mostly technique issues. But once you get the technique sussed out some of those "imperfections" may be useful accents for effect. Do you have a teacher yet?

I sometimes hit a muted note fairly hard and use the resultant "fret clank" as a percussive accent when I play in a duo.

[wideyes]

FWIW, I switched to fretless because I hated 'fret clack'. I decided I'd rather invest that extra technique training in developing something I liked, rather than minimizing something I didn't like.

[Rodger Bryan]

Good question. The short answer would be to trust what your ears tell you about your tone in the context of a group.

When I had the time to teach private electric bass, I had my students concentrate on producing a clean tone in practice when refining different articulation techniques- but when performing, loosen up and don't think about it. Playing repeated long tones, explore how much dynamic range you have before fret noise creeps in.

If you are getting excessive noise, buzzing frets and clanking, you may need to have your bass professionally set up with your preferred string gauge- If you play with a heavy hand, you may need to play a thicker string. The heavier gauge will also pull more forward bow into the neck, giving your strings more room to swing. If your strings are all set, have a tech adjust the relief and bridge height.- (If this is stuff you already know, I apologize. I like to ramble)

My preference is to hear a performance that is not all "vanilla", with an occasional click- clack- buzz, when things get loud or need punctuation. Check out Anthony Jackson's performances - 1994 Live recording The Suitcase or the YouTube performance with Michel Camilo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sw-4zYkhW0

If the mix is quiet and you are playing a ballad, that's a different story. Trust your ears- If it is offensive in the mix, then adjust.

Finger noise from shifting all but disappears when playing live, unless that region of the treble is boosted and/or the volume of the band is low.

[walterw]

to me, if the instrument is easy to play, has no rattle when played gently, and rattles a little when played really hard, it has a good set-up.

after that, the rest is technique.

and yes, when the band is crankin', buzzes and squeaks cease to matter.

[cnltb]

Originally Posted by big_z_in_miami

Newbie here, been reading dozens a posts about clank, buzz, etc. but still would like to get the "truth" about it all from those with experience.

1) Is fret buzz a bad thing, or does it enter the amplified signal and add to the "sound" in a good or bad way?

2) Is fret clank really a problem, or once you are amplifed to gig levels, no one can really hear it anyway, so it is only a problem when you practice or go un-amped.

3) Are string noise a sign of poor playing technique, or just a reality with electric instruments as compared to acoustic ones?

4) Finger noise, particularly on slide moves.....just turn down the tone pot to eliminate if you don't want to hear it?


I really just want to know if string noise is a reality of electric bass and don't worry about it, or if I should really work hard to avoid any of them.

IMO it's a mix of set up and technique.

I personally try avoid fret noise etc as I don't like it .
It doesn't help in any situation IMO.

There's quite some fret noise on the suitcase cd mentioned above which I find rather out of place and unpleasant.
Not a good bass sound to my ear for much of that cd.
Sounds like extremely low action...?
He makes more than up for it with his playing though-I very much like that cd.
That was also the first time I ever saw Anthony jackson live...memories...

[BassBrass]

These sounds are percussive if used with intent, that can be valuable. Technique is to be able to choose a clean sound or adding a certain sound if you want. In studio with a heavy band we called it "clank", and it was often the perfect frequency to get some bass part presence through the noise (eh-hem, I mean distorted guitar music and drum reverb) Using effects like bass distortion & delay, fret buzzes and clanks are just another way to articulate. Bass Is a percussion instrument as well as a melodic/harmonic instrument...that's half why it's so cool

[ProfGumby]

Originally Posted by BassBrass

These sounds are percussive if used with intent, that can be valuable. Technique is to be able to choose a clean sound or adding a certain sound if you want. In studio with a heavy band we called it "clank", and it was often the perfect frequency to get some bass part presence through the noise (eh-hem, I mean distorted guitar music and drum reverb) Using effects like bass distortion & delay, fret buzzes and clanks are just another way to articulate. Bass Is a percussion instrument as well as a melodic/harmonic instrument...that's half why it's so cool

Agreed! I also learned that the bass, especially in a rock context is a noisy beast. I watched an interview with Geddy Lee and he played one of his basses through a small combo amp and the clank, fret noise and finger slides were very evident. But not through the amp.

You have to find a balance or level that is acceptable to you. And FWIW, the quieter your amp is the more this will bug you. So aside from practice really loud and use a distortion pedal.... you have to work on your technique.

BTW, fret noise never happens on a fretless..