Fret clank

[higgi]

I'm just the last of a dieing breed.

I am sorry to hear that.

But seriously, I work at reducing the clank with proper plucking hand angle and stuff. Sometimes I clank, so I just turn the tone knob down on songs where clank would be bothersome.

 

[JimmyM]

How about Fret Clank's ill mannered cousin, String Noise? This is often a bigger problem for me, especially in the studio with rounds and an active bass.

I've played a lot for many years, so as a result have really hard calluses, especially the entire length of my left index finger. When playing fast passages or sliding it's tough to keep that "whisk" sound out of the track.

Anyone else with the same problem have any suggestions?

Yes. Ignore it. String noise is inevitable at times. Even the best players have it. It always sounds great to me...it's what makes it sound like a bass instead of samples. About the only thing I can think of to minimize it is to not do slides.

 

[Byzcat]

Most of my fret clank comes from my left-hand technique, especially higher up where the neck is wider. I have small hands and when I'm trying to reach the E and A strings, I tend to "dive bomb" them, because it's difficult to reach them using proper fingering technique.

It's annoying, but I've learned to live with it.

 

[Kgoodrich]

thankfully my clank goes away when it's live but during practice it comes and goes, when I sit and think about it I try my best to eliminate too much clank but live I'm in a completely different world so I never think/care about my clank.

 

[higgi]

The bass electronics affects clank a lot. I changed my p bass from 500k pots to 250k pots and most of the clank disappeared. That's the same as turning the tone down.

So my clanky brothers you may have modern electronics.

 

[All_¥our_Bass]

I voted it's part of my style/technique

I seek out fret clank because I love it soooo much!!

I use stainless steel rotosound roundwound strings (95 75 60 40) tuned DGCF, play with low action, use a pick and pluck hard.

I really enjoy hearing some clank and buzz mixed in with the sound of the notes themselves.
All of my gear is set for a bright sound so it comes through.

The clank DOES go through my amp, btw, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Inersphobia]

I have a question about this. Does anyone put their plucking finger on the string before they press down w/ the fretting finger to reduce the clank?

 

[deeptubes]

I love fret slap. Consider it to be part of my sound. I hit my strings pretty hard, typically hitting them perpendicular to the body. If I want to avoid it, I will roll back the tone and/or change the angle of may attack so that I'm hitting the strings parallel to the body.

 

[PlungerModerno]

Love the clank, when it suits it's really unbeatable, but like muting or a pick I like to be able to dial it in or out as desired.

It's a balancing act with the setup and the strings.

 

[sammyp]

Fret clank drives me nuts. I like really, really low action, and play very lightly. I've got a good technique that avoids the clank for the most part.

I never had a problem with it really until I bought a P bass. I've re-vamped my technique and changed the strings to Compressors. Problem solved.

i with ya Cap! i hate it too and forwhatever reason am very prone to it on a P Bass .....my Warwick doesn't clank at all and i can hit it pretty hard ....have to be more reserved and careful on my jazz .....

When i first got my jazz in may, i was clanking a bit more than i could stand so i just spent more and more time on the jazz and sidelined the warwick a bit this summer ....somehow my hands adjusted technique wise in a month or two of staying on the jazz.

 

[quickfix]

I'm not too troubled by a bit of clank now and then. I like to use whatever technique avoids the effect, but in the end I still clank occasionally.
My action is rather low, and strung with Labella Low Tension Flats on a maple board Fender Precision.

If the style of music allows, I'll roll off just a smidgeon of mids on my VT Bass DI (always on, amp and venue PA). Just a smidge mind you, and the clank disappears enabling me to play sloppily, and still sound clean.

But, as I prefer the mids to be flat or higher, I tend to adjust my technique in favour of no clank.

 

[1stnamebassist]

On my Rick I use stainless rounds set low so not only does it clank it buzzes. If I play light over the bridge pickup I can smooth it out with no clank or buzz. I like that overdriven Squire type sound from the buzz, but also have the ability to clean it up if needed. My Pbass and my Jack Casady are a bit higher with flats currently for a cleaner non clanking, nonbuzzing sound.

 

[keyofnight]

I don't get much clank. I don't seek it out, but I don't avoid it either. I guess my fingers just don't play that way.

Maybe I should mess around with fret clank and see if I like the way it sounds.

 

[IconBasser]

• Avoid at all costs. I hate the sound. It's the main reason why I don't enjoy listening to Wooten play: there's always so much squeeking, buzzing, and clanking that his notes don't come through half the time. Phenomenal player, very tasteful songwriter. If only he'd raise his action a little bit...

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I keep my action just a bit higher than the Fender setup guide because I like a little room to dig in when I want.
If I want it, I can make it happen by hooking under the string and pulling out instead of up.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

All of the answers are questions.

 

[bearfoot]

I like it more now than the previous 20yrs of playing. I have a lot of treble boost on my amp these days, and slight bass boost, flat mids. Love all the J harmonic ring the P-pickup dulls off when turned much past 3 on my bass. But even with the treble boost, the P pickup turned up or solo'd makes a fat tone that masks the clank.

 

[Mechayoshi]

I don't like the sound of nothing but clank. I want to hear the bass, not your metal frets. That being said it like when it's used at certain times for dynamics. Overall though Ill take clank any day over fret buzz.

Fret buzz is NEVER okay with me.

 

[Photobassist]

I think it's annoying so I play fretless.

 

[musomark]

I have a question about this. Does anyone put their plucking finger on the string before they press down w/ the fretting finger to reduce the clank?

YES!!

This is the "secret" technique that many not many bass players seem to know about. I learned the technique from my classical teacher many years ago and applied it to the bass to get a full and sweet tone out of the string - the side-effect is that you can get a lot of volume out of the string (even near the fingerboard) without any clank at all!