Unpleasant buzz when playing with a pick

[lexxmexx]

I attempted to try out pickstyle for the first time. I have to say that the notes can be heard clearly even when my bass is not plugged into an amp. However, I noticed some unpleasant buzzes all over the bass when plucking the strings with a pick. The buzz seems to come from the bridge area but everything was fine when I switched back to fingerstyle.

Was it because I had picked too hard (my first attempt) or is it normal to get such buzzes when playing pickstyle? Or perhaps due to an improper setup of my bass?

[wilsonNC]

Originally Posted by lexxmexx

...Was it because I had picked too hard (my first attempt) or is it normal to get such buzzes when playing pickstyle? Or perhaps due to an improper setup of my bass?

Yes, no, and maybe. I get way more buzz at end of fretboard when using my thumb as opposed to fingerstyle. The thumb just vibrates string harder. I have to setup bass for worst case and compromise. With pick, I feel you should be able to develop a lighter touch and eliminate most of buzz. Most guitar players I know who play bass with pick get little string/fret noise due to their light touch.

[Tim Skaggs]

As a general rule, playing with a pick requires a little more neck relief that playing fingerstyle. Pickstyle creates the larger string excursion. You may be getting some spring rattle (springs that apply pressure to the saddles to keep them forward) just because you are vibrating the strings / bridge so much more with a pick. The easy advise; lose the pick. The more complex advise; back off the truss rod about 1/4 turn and try it again.

[Siegy]

+1 to the above advice. You might also need to make sure that your pick is parallel to the strings when you hit them.