Gauge/Tension/Action/Technique

[DavC]

i play a bit to hard myself quite often ...

i'll make several setup adjustments with a particular set of strings , nut , relief , saddle height ... until i can get a variety of sounds/attacks from varying how hard i play and the angle of attack ... wanna play hard/fast/kinda clean = gotta pluck much closer to the bridge ..

strings ... finding the right sound and feel takes a while ... i agree that GHS pressurewounds might be a good fit ..!?
used them for the last decade ...

now trying Ti flats and Rounds ... very flexible , unique sound ... still getting used to the feel of them , and working on setup , including adjusting pickup heights

and maybe some EQ adjustments ..? finding the right notch to remove some of the clank freqs ..! making it less annoying for all ..

gotta go at it from a few angles

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

I also prefer low action and hit the strings pretty hard. Try changing the angle of attack and what part of your finger hits the string. Angle can be measured parallel and perpendicular to the strings. Try more of the pad or the tip of your finger. You'll eventually figure out what you like best.

 

[Dragan]

Clank is certain thing if you hit roundwounds hard on fretted bass and low action. If you ( obviously you do ) want to stay with low action, try ernie ball with heavier gauge and bit lighter touch.

 

[Valvehead]

Hi beams are round core strings. They will always clank on low action. Switch to hexacores like the DR Low Riders, those allow lower action without fretbuzz.

Throw your instrument through a PLEK machine - an absolute must for perfect low action.

When I play my Zon Legacy or Warwick bass that both have ultra low action, there is no unwanted fret clank no matter how hard I play.

It is not in your technique, you just need better tools for the job.

 

[Outbush]

Probably a dumb sounding question, but does a Plek machine flatten the frets along the neck or make each fret the perfect height off and shape of the neck at that point?

 

[Funky Phantom]

If you hit the strings hard, you need a higher action. Low action’s for the guys with a soft touch. I’m a beater.

 

[TreySonagras]

I used to practice without an amp. This caused me to naturally play harder so I could hear what I was playing. Big mistake. I also kept my string action too low. Also a big mistake.
I changed those two things and it improved my sound.

 

[jkazam]

I have a heavy touch too. I use fairly heavy gauge strings on my 5 string, which is a 35 inch scale. Specifically, I used the Kalium balanced set with the .150 B string. This allows me to play closer to the neck with low action and generate a fuller sound without clank in most situations. When I do find myself clanking, it’s almost always because I’m not being mixed correctly and can’t hear myself properly, so I’m digging in extra hard to try to compensate. In these cases, solving the problem requires an adjustment to the mix. It may not always be your fault.

Agree. If I can't hear myself well I end up digging in more. Sometimes I'll maintain contact with the amp so I can at least feel the sound of myself playing.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

Could also help if you always make sure you hear your bass well, whether on rehearsal or on stage. Whatever you're using to hear yourself (amp+cab, IEM, venue monitors), it is better if your sound is even a little too loud for you. Let a sound engineer sort out the amount of bass that goes to the crowd.
I think all of us played not hearing ourselves once or twice, and noticed how it inevitably leads to heavier plucking, which is bad for our sound, technique, and hands.
P.S. Just noticed that other posters already mentioned this. Well, it's probably the right thing then.