The Low B

[Leftybass12]

So I'm working on The Glass Prison by Dream Theater excerpts, my band wants to do a medley of DT songs.....my problem is the main riff in before the verse (If anyone of you know what I'm talking about). If you don't that's okay...you can still help me. A lot of the song is played on the low B string and my problem is that it is too clanky I think. The bass I'm using it on is an Ibanez SR506, it has a 34" long neck. I've been plucking more towards the bridge to reduce the clanking. However I really think that I just need to get my fingers up to speed. Either way though, I would like to pluck a little bit in front of the bridge pickup...any tips to reduce the clanking?

Here is a link to the bass for specs

http://www.ibanez.com/BassGuitars/model-SR506

[yeggi]

i had this problem but it turned out the tuner i was using was on the fritz. some things to check into are thicker strings, make sure ur tuner is working right. but i think the strings might be your problem

[chokeslam512]

Use a lighter touch and let your amp do the work.

[73jbass]

Pluck further back where the string tension is a bit tighter. My favorite DT album!!!

[JimmyM]

you have to baby the B string sometimes. just the way it is unless you get at least a 36" scale bass. very few 5's or 6's with 34" scale have a B that doesn't need babying to keep it from clanking.

[Leftybass12]

Well, I switched to lighter strings because I found that for me a .135 B string is too much for me, so I went down to a .130 so I don't think it's a string problem. Although, I do see what you mean, I just find it easier to play on a .130 B string. The tuners are okay also. So, I do have to "baby" it....I do admit I do play at bit hard sometimes, but it's also about accuracy and speed. My fingers aren't up to speed for the song anyway, therefore I've got to focus and accuracy and speed regardless. Thank you very much everyone!

[20db pad]

String noise, fret noise, and clack aren't necessarily bad. Myung actually plays with a little clack, as seen in this video. It isn't really heard in the context of the band, as it gets covered over by other instruments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCBKmH8dQjg

[Leftybass12]

Originally Posted by 20db pad

String noise, fret noise, and clack aren't necessarily bad. Myung actually plays with a little clack, as seen in this video. It isn't really heard in the context of the band, as it gets covered over by other instruments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCBKmH8dQjg

Very true. I have this video too, it's helped out for a lot of theory stuff. Even when I play during songs I do like a little bit of clack, but it's really back for this song. Additionally, I've listened to JMs isolated basslines off of their latest album....it's no wonder that he is buried so deep in the mix...there's not a lot of mids and not enough low end. I hate the tone that he has now....I loved his tone from When Dream and Day Unite through Scenes From A Memory.