"Clack"ing sound when slapping

[WCF]

I've searched the boards, google, slap tutorials, everything and couldn't find a mention of this, so I thought I should try here. I'm just starting to try slap/pop style on my bass, being a beginner in general. I've noticed a "clack" though whenever I slap, the sound of the string hitting the fretboard. It's really annoying. I've never heard from anyone else, but for all I know this could be normal or perhaps I'm doing something wrong. I'm using a left-handed Ibanez GSR200.

Any ideas?

[fenderhutz]

If you touch your string to your last fret and you are close to your pickups you are hitting the actual pickup. Try lowering your pickup.

[WCF]

Originally Posted by WCF

I've searched the boards, google, slap tutorials, everything and couldn't find a mention of this, so I thought I should try here. I'm just starting to try slap/pop style on my bass, being a beginner in general. I've noticed a "clack" though whenever I slap, the sound of the string hitting the fretboard. It's really annoying. I've never heard from anyone else, but for all I know this could be normal or perhaps I'm doing something wrong. I'm using a left-handed Ibanez GSR200.

Any ideas?

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

If you touch your string to your last fret and you are close to your pickups you are hitting the actual pickup. Try lowering your pickup.

I don't think it's the pickup. I tried just pushing the string down and then slapping and listening for the "clack". It seems to me like it's hitting the bottom of the neck, around the last fret. It's really audible when your slapping, I mean isn't the string supposed to hit the neck?

[headfound]

This was happening with my new Ibanez gsr180. I used a little alan key and raised the saddle mount of the offending string a little and its ok now.

[Chili]

i also have this problem on my MM Stingray, when i slap light i dont get that horrible harsh clacky sound, but slaping to light doesnt work to well, also, when i turn the treble down or the high end on the amp, it solves the problem, is slap just not meant to be played with treble? or could it be the pickups or the string being to low or something?

[JimmyM]

You do realize that when the string hits the fretboard, the sound it makes is usually referred to as "clacking," right? From what you're saying, it sounds to me like it's doing what it's supposed to be doing when you slap.

But if it's too intense, don't goose the treble so much and see how that does. The current popular slap sound is trebly, but I prefer a more 70's sound with a deeper bottom end and less clank. More like the Commodores than Primus.

[WCF]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

You do realize that when the string hits the fretboard, the sound it makes is usually referred to as "clacking," right? From what you're saying, it sounds to me like it's doing what it's supposed to be doing when you slap.

But if it's too intense, don't goose the treble so much and see how that does. The current popular slap sound is trebly, but I prefer a more 70's sound with a deeper bottom end and less clank. More like the Commodores than Primus.

Oh it's perfectly possible that this is normal, I'm not sure myself, that's why I asked. The sound does bug me though, as I never hear it on videos or recording I hear of other people. I should try to be more specific about this "clack". It's almost (but not exactly) like a flyswatter, only shaky, or a "crack". I don't think it has anything to do with the treble or anything, 'cause the sound is there even when not plugged into an amp.

[Chili]

oh, with me its only when plugged in, its not really a click, its hard to describe, but i also dont hear from other people slapping, but when i turn down the treble it goes away

[T-zone]

Slap above the highest frets on your fretboard. If you don't want to do that, just raise the action bit by bit until the sound stops.

[tswd]

It's normal. The clacking your hear is the metal on metal sound of the string hitting the frets. Go to your local music store and slap on a fretless for a little while. You'll notice an amazing lack of clacking going on. :-)