String Clicking

bassbully43 · #1 02-12-2007, 09:20 AM

I am not sure if this goes here but what the heck.

I was an advid user of SIT silencer strings...they give you a ground type feel ,low noise and a pretty bright round wound sound...but not as bright as true rounds. since i am now in a mod/rock band i want more growl and tone that true round wound strings bring. So i went back to SIT rounds(nickel).

I play pretty aggresive and have a plucking fingerstyle and a typewritter slapping finger kinda like John Entwisle from the who...i have developed a clicking sound on the stirngs i cant seem to EQ out. Setup including pickup highth changes and string high has helped some but not alot. I have more problems on my passive Jazz 5 then my passive jazz 4. Sorry about the ramble but any ideas...is it purely my tech on my string attack or is their an EQ or set up im not doing...i hate the clicking noise but like my mids to punch and some growl.

molsen · #2 02-12-2007, 03:27 PM

you need to make sure you pluck the string parallel to the body. it's easy, especially once you get going fast, to strat plucking towards the body a bit. that's where the clicking usually comes from. add in your aggressive style, and the problem gets louder....i know, i do the same exact thing when i get carried away or really into a song.

you can a) use a compressor and not have to pluck the strings so hard, but you will of course not get the same tone as you would with hard plucking.

or you can b) raise the action more

or c) change your technique!

bassbully43 · #3 02-12-2007, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molsen

you need to make sure you pluck the string parallel to the body. it's easy, especially once you get going fast, to strat plucking towards the body a bit. that's where the clicking usually comes from. add in your aggressive style, and the problem gets louder....i know, i do the same exact thing when i get carried away or really into a song.

you can a) use a compressor and not have to pluck the strings so hard, but you will of course not get the same tone as you would with hard plucking.

or you can b) raise the action more

or c) change your technique!

Thanks
i know what you are saying...i did raise the action to crazy highth it helps but its too high. Compression...humm this could do it...great tip..thanks. Change technique...you know if i wasnt for the click its a wicked tone...i love it and i play really well this typewriter style..but your right im striking the string to the body not down i see what your saying...thanks.

Bassguy87564 · #4 02-12-2007, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molsen

you need to make sure you pluck the string parallel to the body. it's easy, especially once you get going fast, to strat plucking towards the body a bit. that's where the clicking usually comes from. add in your aggressive style, and the problem gets louder....i know, i do the same exact thing when i get carried away or really into a song.

you can a) use a compressor and not have to pluck the strings so hard, but you will of course not get the same tone as you would with hard plucking.

or you can b) raise the action more

or c) change your technique!

+1

molsen · #5 02-13-2007, 12:03 AM

for a compressor, try one with seperate low and high compression controls. if you turn down the attack or level of the highs, it will help make the clicking less noticeable.

bassbully43 · #6 02-13-2007, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by molsen

for a compressor, try one with seperate low and high compression controls. if you turn down the attack or level of the highs, it will help make the clicking less noticeable.

Im glad i posted this now. I do not run compression in my rig at all and have been thinking of doing so after working on a CD in the studio and loving the compression they ran me thru there. Thanks for the help!

BassMan250 · #7 02-13-2007, 05:38 PM

I had the same problem for a long time, and changed my technique to pluck parallel to the body. It takes awhile to get the speed back that plucking downwards gives you, but plucking parallel not only eliminated clicking for me but also made my tone clearer and more powerful while still allowing me to keep my action nice and low.

pretaanluxis · #8 02-14-2007, 12:54 AM

To pluck parallel to the body, do you pull more on the strings(rather than push), or just bend your picking wrist more?

BassMan250 · #9 02-14-2007, 08:53 AM

I don't know how other people do it, but I just bend my wrist more, usually until my hand's parallel to the body and my fingers pluck at a 90 degree angle to my hand. That seems to work best for me; even though I'm still a bit slower than I was while plucking downwards, my tone's so much better.

the_fooj · #10 02-17-2007, 11:19 PM

I was having trouble with this a little while ago too, and this is what I've noticed myself doing to reduce the clicking. Its still there if I REALLY get into it and play more aggressively than normal (I already play pretty hard) but now its mostly gone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMan250

I don't know how other people do it, but I just bend my wrist more, usually until my hand's parallel to the body and my fingers pluck at a 90 degree angle to my hand. That seems to work best for me; even though I'm still a bit slower than I was while plucking downwards, my tone's so much better.

Also, I plan on getting a compressor in the next couple of weeks anyway, so that should help as well.