Lots of clicking and clank!

[spectorbass83]

I can't seem to get rid of the click and clank in my bass tone.
I play a Spector Euro 5.

When playing through my amp, I don't get the click/clank. But as soon as I run my bass direct into the board you can really hear it.

Is this a common characteristic of Spector Basses?
Is it also very common to have a lot of bright clanking when recording direct?

My action is a little bit higher than average, but not much.
I also tune 1/2 step down. I've had the bass adjusted by a technician. I've also adjusted the neck several times.

What to do?

[Jake the Bass]

It can be a technique issue such as, angle of attack, how hard you play etc. or it could be set up of the bass but most of as it is too much treble. When you run direct you get all the high freq but when played through an amp, the cab gets is designed to be fuller in the bass and mid freq. Just cut the highs a tad.

I had this problem for ages and it got to the point where I would hate my bass. I now just cut the highs as they are not part of a good tone and get lost anyways. I also play with overdrive now and it makes each note more..."absolute" rather than a thud and a click at the same time. Mids are very important too and mids make up most of my tonal character, so if you scoop, you are poop lol

[spectorbass83]

I thought it was a technique issue too, but its not.
I've tried other basses and didn't get this issue. Which leads me to believe its a set up problem.
I like this bass and don't want to get rid of it, but when I hear the click and clank I am reminded why I want to trade the bass for something else sometimes.

I never scoop my mids.
I boost mids, keep the bass flat and scoop treble a bit.

[hunta]

It's likely something that can be "fixed" by recording through a nice compressor or doing EQ/compression during mixing. Some basses need more attention during the recording process to sound good. Most amps will cover up the deficiencies (to some extent) in your bass's tone, a DI box won't. You're probably just being exposed to the true sound of your bass and you're not liking it. If you don't want to deal with having to troubleshoot your sound every time you record, getting a more "plug and play" bass might be the best choice.

Another option is to mic your amp.

[Tim669]

You should also look at the EQ on your channel in the board. If there are more mids and highs it will accentuate the frequecies of the clicks and clacks due to the character of the electronics of your bass. Reducing the high and boosting the low (not extremely, mind you) can reduce these effects. This isn't necessarily a guaranteed solution, but just something else to look into.

[anderbass]

Good advice already, I'll just add that flatwound strings would most likely help your situation.

[mothmonsterman]

play softer and tune the high mids down a bit, I noticed on my amp with my basses with very low action and my sloppy playing i get the clicks. My solution: cut the high mids a bit, turn the amp up and play softer.

if you don't get it out of your amp have you though about just micing the amp, or using a direct box?

Just my ideas, not exactly a sound producers here.

[Vanceman]

I think it is a set up issue. I have found that the click came from my finger striking the string next to the one I plucked, which in turn hit a fret. To cure this on my Fender Jazz, I took out relief from the neck, making it straighter, and raised the saddles. The action is a little high, but clank free.

[spectorbass83]

Originally Posted by mothmonsterman

play softer and tune the high mids down a bit, I noticed on my amp with my basses with very low action and my sloppy playing i get the clicks. My solution: cut the high mids a bit, turn the amp up and play softer.

if you don't get it out of your amp have you though about just micing the amp, or using a direct box?

Just my ideas, not exactly a sound producers here.

Yes I've miced up my cab before, but I was hoping to get a DI signal without as much clank and click. Usually thats taken care of by the producer, but it takes some work.

I was actually looking for a good "plug and play" bass. I figured that a higher end model like the Spector Euro 5 would be the answer to that. Guess not. Oh well, each bass is different.

[spectorbass83]

I've considered flats, I want to try Half Rounds before I fully commit to flats but I've read mixed revues about them. I've heard they're tacky and actually rather bright at first.

The more I think about it, the more I am starting to feel like I need a bass which is more plug and play.

[BoomSTICK]

Heavy flats and watch your action rise

Eliminates that clicky clack every time.

Other than that, i've often found that a heavier gauge string often helps as does technique adjustments as the song dictates.

IE: Recently did a gig with heavy flats, treble all the way up, bass full on, the bass was a fender jazz active, and palm muting with a pick for that crisp attack without the clicky clanky stuff.

Great results.

[oyobass]

Been through this one before quite recently. Lowering the PU helped a lot. Lowering the treble on my 3-band active EQ helped as well. Rolls off the clank without destroying my tone. As a previous poster said, all that high end gets lost in the mix anyway.

Just a thought: Behringer makes a cheap active DI box with a speaker emulator. It is the red, single channel box, a very nice tool to keep around for fixing problems. Can't beat it for 40 bucks.

oyo

[jaebee]

my first bass had open pole pickups and the strings hitting them was a pretty bad click, much worse than hitting the fretboard. get some new covers if this is the case, fixed my problem

[edwinhurwitz]

Or, you could just stick a mic in front of your amp, if that sound is really what you want anyway.

Edwin

[pjmuck]

All good suggestions here. Sometimes you have to compensate in your playing a little in the recording studio to get a good clean bass tone, so as much as you'd like to comfortably play the way you'd normally play in a live setting it doesn't always work when recording because you're under a microscope. Having said that some basses by design are seemingly more prone to clicking/clacking (A Precision or Rick, IMO). A few suggestions (some already mentioned): if you're a pick player record your lines with a pick instead, or try plucking back near the bridge; Raise action a bit and/or lower pickup height; Play with a lighter touch; lower your highs; change strings, etc.

But above all, DO NOT let some engineer or producer give you some rushed crappy mix in your cans that you have to fight with your tone/sound to play comfortably and smoothly, because ultimately you'll feel restricted and stiff in your playing, which can defeat the purpose of capturing a solid performance. Ask (politely) that they spend a few minutes EQ'ing and/or compressing your tone (if needed) in your headphones so that they can get your best performance. They take the time for vocalists and guitarists, right? Well bassists deserve the same respect.

[spectorbass83]

*Update
I lowered my pick ups, they were very high. This helped.

I want to try Flats. But I'm a little concerned about them not being the best choice if I am going for a distorted tone with some grind and grit.

[BoomSTICK]

Originally Posted by pjmuck

All good suggestions here. Sometimes you have to compensate in your playing a little in the recording studio to get a good clean bass tone, so as much as you'd like to comfortably play the way you'd normally play in a live setting it doesn't always work when recording because you're under a microscope. Having said that some basses by design are seemingly more prone to clicking/clacking (A Precision or Rick, IMO). A few suggestions (some already mentioned): if you're a pick player record your lines with a pick instead, or try plucking back near the bridge; Raise action a bit and/or lower pickup height; Play with a lighter touch; lower your highs; change strings, etc.

But above all, DO NOT let some engineer or producer give you some rushed crappy mix in your cans that you have to fight with your tone/sound to play comfortably and smoothly, because ultimately you'll feel restricted and stiff in your playing, which can defeat the purpose of capturing a solid performance. Ask (politely) that they spend a few minutes EQ'ing and/or compressing your tone (if needed) in your headphones so that they can get your best performance. They take the time for vocalists and guitarists, right? Well bassists deserve the same respect.

+1 Excellent Advice here

[pretaanluxis]

I think you should figure out exactly what is causing the clank. e.g. is it when you press down on a fret or when you pluck a string? where is it coming from?

[spectorbass83]

Originally Posted by pretaanluxis

I think you should figure out exactly what is causing the clank. e.g. is it when you press down on a fret or when you pluck a string? where is it coming from?

It happens when I am fretting, pressing down on the strings.

[chjohnst]

I notice this when I am recording, I do hit my strings pretty hard and my action is already a little higher then I like. My suspicion here was that my mids and treble were too high. I should consider looking into that next time.

PS how will compression help with the clanking?