Soundclip Rattling

[Nathan Parker]

Okay, so I got this-a-here soundclip pickup for the one gig I have to use a pickup on. I've been playing a school instrument, because it has a pickup, and am tired of doing so. I got the soundclip so I could slap it on my bass and plug in.

The problem is, I went to rehearsal today, slapped said pickup on and the thing rattled like the dickens. Has anyone else had this problem? It was temporarily cured by jamming some packing foam between the clamp and the body of the pickup. I'm puzzled. Any thoughts?

Oh, and why does it sound like ****? Damn pickups.

[Mark Gollihur]

How tightly do you have it clamped? Gage recommends that you actually clamp it tighter than you think you need to - that will likely help with the tone (as will experimenting with placement; IME lower on the bridge is better). As for the rattle, that's a surprise - there aren't too many moving pieces, and the ones that move are pretty tight tolerances. Is the rattle in the amplified sound, or is it acoustic? Does it happen when the pickup is plugged in? Have you tried a different cable?

[Nathan Parker]

The rattle is definitely the pickup itself. Maybe I just didn't tighten it enough. I thought that the literature said not to get it too tight, but I had been sniffing glue all night, so who knows what I was reading. I'll give that a whirl.

[Chris Symer]

Originally Posted by Nathan Parker

Oh, and why does it sound like ****? Damn pickups.

Cuzz it makes your sound louder?

[Nathan Parker]

Originally Posted by Chris Symer

Cuzz it makes your sound louder?

Touche', *******.

I didn't think you'd be at the libraries computer this early. I thought these were prime dumpster diving hours.

[Nathan Parker]

Originally Posted by Mark Gollihur

How tightly do you have it clamped? Gage recommends that you actually clamp it tighter than you think you need to - that will likely help with the tone (as will experimenting with placement; IME lower on the bridge is better). As for the rattle, that's a surprise - there aren't too many moving pieces, and the ones that move are pretty tight tolerances. Is the rattle in the amplified sound, or is it acoustic? Does it happen when the pickup is plugged in? Have you tried a different cable?

Thanks for the tips, Mark. I tightened the hell out of it, and it rattles no more. I don't know about the sound at the moment, as I don't have an amp to test it with. That will have to wait until later. I appreciate you taking the time.

[Chris Symer]

Sorry if my post came off as rude Nate. I was hungry and a little cold. After a half slice of cold pizza and part of what I think was once a roast beef sandwich, I am feeling much better. Just want you to know that making enough sound and having people finally able to hear what you play is a slippery slope. You may end up losing what little work you already have.

[Nathan Parker]

I liked it better when you were starving.

[Nuggulux]

Call the folks at David Gage, they know this is a problem and will happily fix it for you.

[Treyzer]

Man...Chris and Nathan, you can almost feel the love!

[Treyzer]

Originally Posted by Chris Symer

Just want you to know that making enough sound and having people finally able to hear what you play is a slippery slope. You may end up losing what little work you already have.

Talk about "truth in humor"

[Champagne]

Originally Posted by Nathan Parker

I liked it better when you were starving.

Yeah, why were Chris so hungry anyway?

[beobass]

I had the same issue. I spoke with David Gage himself and they swapped the pickup out for a newer designed one. There was a defect in the manufacturing of the clap on the first generation model on SOME of the pickups. This is what Dave told me. So he swapped it out. I'm sure they can help you!