I hope someone can help with this. I have a nice Ibanez AGB200 that I'm pretty happy with, however when playing with a pick, and it hits/scrapes one of the pickups, I get a pretty loud clicking noise (please refer to attached video). What say you? (other than repositioning my hand), is there any remedy for this? Thanks!
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Annoying Pickup Click
- Thread starter Jaycat
- Start date
Hello. Offhand thoughts on this:
As you demonstrated, any pickup that is engaged, singly or as a pair, exhibits the clicking behavior.
Sadly I own no basses with metal pickup shells (I won't say "covers" since that could be mistaken for the over-the-string "ashtray" covers), and I can't recall how my past ones behaved in this regard.
Do you have another bass whose pickups have metal shells? If so, does it behave differently from this one?
My intuition is that this is inherent in the design and construction of these pickups and their shells, wherein the behavior is simply physical, like tapping on a microphone.
But it might be a grounding problem. Hopefully someone knowledgable will comment on this.
Meanwhile, here are some search results:
=1&c[node]=38"]Search Results for Query: pickup click | TalkBass.com
=1&c[node]=38"]Search Results for Query: pickup touch | TalkBass.com
=1&c[node]=38"]Search Results for Query: clicking noise | TalkBass.com
=1&c[node]=38"]Search Results for Query: pickup clicking | TalkBass.com
Good Luck!
Likely not a grounding issue as the pick is not conductive, so touching it to the cover isn't changing the circuit at all.
It's common for pickups to make some degree of noise microphonically when they're tapped. Metal cases will always be worse than plastic, since tapping them can cause eddy currents as they vibrate in the magnetic field. Tapping them with something hard like a pick is a worst case scenario, compared to something soft like your finger. It's not super surprising to me that you get that sound when you do that.
Mounting can influence the result - if they're mounted on springs or foam try adding or removing pressure. Sometimes you have to play with how solidly they're mounted to get the noise reduced. Really solid mounting on a pickup that is very microphonic can make the problem worse since it'll pick up vibrations from the body. But very loose mounting can be bad too since the pickup will move more when you tap it. Usually, you want the mounting to be well damped but not loose and not totally solid.
Potting the coils will also make a difference. Most modern pickups are potted but not all are. If you're not comfortable determining if yours are, a pickup tech can let you know (and also pot them if they aren't already).
It's common for pickups to make some degree of noise microphonically when they're tapped. Metal cases will always be worse than plastic, since tapping them can cause eddy currents as they vibrate in the magnetic field. Tapping them with something hard like a pick is a worst case scenario, compared to something soft like your finger. It's not super surprising to me that you get that sound when you do that.
Mounting can influence the result - if they're mounted on springs or foam try adding or removing pressure. Sometimes you have to play with how solidly they're mounted to get the noise reduced. Really solid mounting on a pickup that is very microphonic can make the problem worse since it'll pick up vibrations from the body. But very loose mounting can be bad too since the pickup will move more when you tap it. Usually, you want the mounting to be well damped but not loose and not totally solid.
Potting the coils will also make a difference. Most modern pickups are potted but not all are. If you're not comfortable determining if yours are, a pickup tech can let you know (and also pot them if they aren't already).
Possibly, if they're a standard size. You could take measurements and check places like mojotone, Philadelphia Luthier Supply, or allparts.
That may introduce other problems, though. Metal covers act like built in shielding. If those are single coil pickups, switching to a plastic case can result in more noise. Humbuckers usually don't need the extra help though.
That may introduce other problems, though. Metal covers act like built in shielding. If those are single coil pickups, switching to a plastic case can result in more noise. Humbuckers usually don't need the extra help though.
When you tap the pickup (which is where from the magnetic field is emanating) you are moving the magnetic field relative to the strings which then manipulates the field then moving the electrons in the wire of the pickup coils.
Tapping the pickup equals playing the pickup instead of the strings.
Don’t play the pickup.
Just play the strings.
Tapping the pickup equals playing the pickup instead of the strings.
Don’t play the pickup.
Just play the strings.
How 'bout lowering the pickups so your pick/fingers/strings don't hit them?
Is it a magnetic klick like when you hit the polepieces of a Fender style bass with the string? Then try putting some scotch tape over the cover to get magnetic insulation between strings and pickup.
Possible workarounds:
Lower the pickups
Pluck in a different area/modify technique
Remove metal pickup covers
Nylon strings
Good luck!
Lower the pickups
Pluck in a different area/modify technique
Remove metal pickup covers
Nylon strings
Good luck!
Is it possible the cover/shell of the pickup is not snug against the pickup? The pole pieces (or rail, or whatever) are the functional part of the pickup and chrome is just a layer of awesome coolness that isn't functional. But it is metal, is (I assume) grounded, and is in a position to make constant or intermittent contact with the poles. If the cover isn't snug each time you touch it there could be a pop as it makes contact with the pole(s). It happens on Telecaster neck pickups sometimes. You could make sure the cover isn't loose, secure it better. You could remove the cover and place a piece of tape on the inside of the cover. While you are under the hood see if there is a ground wire connected to the steel cover. Metal pickup covers typically grounded, connected by a wire to the base of the pickup or to the grounding loop, soldered to a pot. Just random thoughts about what I would check if it were mine.
This may be another case of TONE IS IN THE FINGERS.
When I downtuned my 5 string recently for a band I joined, the B and E strings were clicking like mad. I had to change my playing technique and lower the pickups to compensate. It worked.
When I downtuned my 5 string recently for a band I joined, the B and E strings were clicking like mad. I had to change my playing technique and lower the pickups to compensate. It worked.
When either or both pickups are engaged, they will respond to physical taps since all pickups are to some extent microphonic. The best fix would be to just pick in the middle, between the pickups so your pick doesn't strike the pickup. You could also look into getting some other pickups that are less microphonic by design.
Other than that, the easiest fix would probably be lowering the pickups a bit (by way of the height adjustment screws on either side of the pickup) and putting some electrical tape on the face of the pickup. Lowering would make it less likely to make contact with the face of the pickup and the tape would dampen any contact that still does occur. Regardless though, the pickup will click if you hit it with the pick, maybe just not as loudly.
Sidenote, changing strings will not fix your issue since it has nothing to do with the strings. It's just the pick and the pickup. The pickup will click if the string hits it (and nylon wound strings would help with that just like the electrical tape) but that's not the issue here.
Other than that, the easiest fix would probably be lowering the pickups a bit (by way of the height adjustment screws on either side of the pickup) and putting some electrical tape on the face of the pickup. Lowering would make it less likely to make contact with the face of the pickup and the tape would dampen any contact that still does occur. Regardless though, the pickup will click if you hit it with the pick, maybe just not as loudly.
Sidenote, changing strings will not fix your issue since it has nothing to do with the strings. It's just the pick and the pickup. The pickup will click if the string hits it (and nylon wound strings would help with that just like the electrical tape) but that's not the issue here.
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You could cover the pickup with some material like neoprene that would prevent the click when hitting it with your pick. Covering a pickup with some non-magnetic material won’t affect the sound. Several high-end bass makers cover them with wood or ramps.
