lose the "twack"

fr0me0 · #1 07-04-2006, 08:32 AM

Sorry I didn't know where to put this it aplies to recording and playing live and it could be setup or amp related or even technique related I don't know thats why I'm asking.

I play fingerstlye (on the bridge pickup on my jazzes and closer to the bridge on my P's)

I play with a lighter touch but dig in a little when I'm accenting something. I play through either a 2X15 Ampeg Stack or a 1X18 big Ben with a 200 watt SWR head. Neither Rig has a horn anywhere.

I keep getting the sound of strings clicking on the fingerboard. I switched from medium to heavy gauge strings thinking it would help but it didn't. Would light gauge strings possibly be better? I don't wanna go out and buy a new set of strings unless theres a good chance it will rectify the problem.

My action is pretty high to the point where I don't think it could go any higher without it getting seriously uncomfortable to play. I try to play with a light tough but it's like I have to play with kids gloves to avoid the twack. I've also managed to avoid the twack by seriously killing the mid's and highs and tone but then I sit really bad in the Mix and its more just feeling the bass not really hearing it. I have to crank it to be heard and its not pleasant.

I'm really at a loss for what to do. It happens on all 4 of my basses So I doubt its totally set up related. Like I said I'm contemplating a lighther guage string if anyone thinks that will help. I used to have an instuctor and he didn't have any beefs with my riht hand technique but I could try to get a second opinion. What I'm really hope is someone has some suggestions on how to EQ it so It will cut through nice but minimize any fingerboard click

any suggestions would be welcomed

thanks

vindy500 · #2 07-04-2006, 08:41 AM

hows yer truss rod

fr0me0 · #3 07-04-2006, 08:53 AM

truss rod looks to be good on the bases I don't get any fret buzz at all and there seems to be a light I guess you'd call it bow in. Its not flat theres a slight dip.

DemoEtc · #4 07-04-2006, 09:46 AM

If there's a slight dip, then the higher frets would be close to the strings; that's maybe where they're striking together? You might try a bow on one of your basses to compare; so the neck ramps away from the strings toward the high end.

Other than that, you might have a second look at your picking fingers - whether they are moving inward toward the face of the instrument, making the initial string movement away and toward the neck and pickups, rather than parallel to the plane of the fretboard/body.

Another thing might be to play more towards the bridge, like an inch or inch and a half in front of it, to minimize the movement of the string. You can compensate for a lessening of volume and a thinning of tone with the amp controls.

Steve · #5 07-04-2006, 12:28 PM

Hmm..if the action is high and you play light, it should be pretty dang difficult to get fret noise. The only thing I can think of would be finger nail length or, and this is hard to explain,

If your plucking finger is coming to rest on a string that is fretted it's a lot easier to get clack. If you have a root- 5th line going you have to lift the root finger a little when you hit the 5. If you know what I mean.