excess noise

Practice much slower.

 

For one thing - have you tinkered with your action? I have a bass that was full of clicks and clacks when I received it. The high profile frets caused mettallic clicks and the crystal clear single coil pickup always let them ring out.

I adjusted my action, (made the fingerboard/neck flatter), and adjusted my technique a little by not digging in so much, letting my controls get the volume. They're not totally gone, but they're not noticeable any longer.

 

There is a lesson at harmonycentral to get used to using four fingers good. Click here to get to it.

Also my ring finger used to kinda get caught up on the string, if you try to use the very tip, it should be less clanky but youll have to even out how hard you hit the strings with your other fingers.

 

I was never able to get a good tone either with three fingers. It also never felt right to me.
Not to say it doesnt work for some people but if two works better for you why not just use two? Some of the most amazing players only use two fingers.