How to minimize fret clack noise with 2 hand tapping

[Flatwoundround]

I love two hand tapping and have played a lot of it for solo bass.

Problem is I notice on recordings too much of that fret clack noise which to my ears sounds horrible and ruins the music (I fear that others hear this as a repulsive mechanical sounding noise but don't want to tell me for fear of me losing my Stu Hamm Junior on the bass fantasy).

I cannot use rounds because I do not like the finger noise etc.. So I am using Labella gold copper tape wounds and the bass is a hollow body short scale. Playing finger style on this bass string combo sounds really rich and warm but when I tap you hear the clanky noise and don't like it one bit.

I can play with my technique and or eq settings to try to minimize this noise but wondering if Flats might make less of the clack noise since the tapes are covered in plastic and therefore possibly louder as the plastic smacks against the frets when I tap. Probably there is an ideal balance of EQ and tapping softer that would minimize all this but wondering what others thoughts are. I get this clack on my long scale bass too which have the same tapes on them so I know it is not all due to more floppy short scale bass.

This problem makes me want to completely abandon two hand tapping (been doing it for over a year now) but then what is a fella to do when playing solo bass? Admittedly chord melody techniques sound great but they don't have that rhythmic drive that tapping will allow since you essentially have an independent baseline and melody.

Thanks.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Gold copper tape makes a lot more fret noise than any rounds IMHO.
Compression and proper eq should be enough to get rid of fret noise with any strings.

For a broader view, I think it takes extraordinary talent to keep an audience interested in solo bass for more than a couple tunes.
Doing it for a full set takes Renaud Garcia Fons or Michael Manring.

 

[MrLenny1]

Have you tried a neck wrap ?
Helps minimize noise.

 

[Flatwoundround]

Gold copper tape makes a lot more fret noise than any rounds IMHO.
Compression and proper eq should be enough to get rid of fret noise with any strings.

For a broader view, I think it takes extraordinary talent to keep an audience interested in solo bass for more than a couple tunes.
Doing it for a full set takes Renaud Garcia Fons or Michael Manring.

Thanks.

Right on about the solo bass and losing the audience, not easy at all.

 

[Flatwoundround]

Have you tried a neck wrap ?
Helps minimize noise.

Did you mean a the fret wrap? I have a gruv gear one and will try it out. I know they minimize ringing of strings but did not know they would reduce fret clack. I will try it out. Thanks.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I wouldn't expect your fretwraps to minimize clank, they are more for muting ringing strings in my experience. What is your setup like? How hard do you have to tap?

 

[Flatwoundround]

I wouldn't expect your fretwraps to minimize clank, they are more for muting ringing strings in my experience. What is your setup like? How hard do you have to tap?

I have a short scale hollow body ibanez 4 string. I have labella copper tape wounds on. The tension is pretty low due to short scale and tapes are low tension so it is a little floppy. The plastic coating on the tapes probably makes the clack noise worse too. I am thinking maybe some chrome flats might help this a lot. Also I would really have to work hard on technique and then eq better.

But all things being equal I am wondering if the chrome flats would not be as harsh with the fret clack. I cannot do rounds.

Thanks.

 

[Flatwoundround]

I wouldn't expect your fretwraps to minimize clank, they are more for muting ringing strings in my experience. What is your setup like? How hard do you have to tap?

I have a short scale hollow body ibanez 4 string. I have labella copper tape wounds on. The tension is pretty low due to short scale and tapes are low tension so it is a little floppy. The plastic coating on the tapes probably makes the clack noise worse too. I am thinking maybe some chrome flats might help this a lot. Also I would really have to work hard on technique and then eq better.

But all things being equal I am wondering if the chrome flats would not be as harsh with the fret clack. I cannot do rounds.

Thanks.

 

[Jazz Ad]

Flats really sound to me like an ill choice for tapping.
The wide surface of metal clicking on the strings has to be noisy.
Since you're set on them, you should try some good old nickels, they're less prone to noise.
I agree that fretwraps and similar devices will reduce fret noises when tapping.
Compression is essential though. Don't forget it.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Your first mistake is to use flatwound to do tapping ...

Compression, strings close to the fretboard, roundwound !!!

 

[unbrokenchain]

Try turning the tone knob down and mic the speaker instead of going direct. I also find that setting the action slightly higher than as-low-as-possible-without-buzzing gives me better tone and less clack, though of course it's slightly harder in terms of dexterity.

 

[lz4005]

I cannot use rounds because I do not like the finger noise etc..

String noise is a technique issue, not a hardware issue.

But speaking of hardware, you are using the wrong bass for two handed tapping.
A hollow body will have poor sustain, be prone to feedback at higher volumes and the body will amplify the sounds of the strings hitting the frets.
Those are all the opposite of what you want for this kind of playing. That's why you never see anyone using a hollow body bass that way.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Flats really sound to me like an ill choice for tapping.
The wide surface of metal clicking on the strings has to be noisy.
Since you're set on them, you should try some good old nickels, they're less prone to noise.
I agree that fretwraps and similar devices will reduce fret noises when tapping.
Compression is essential though. Don't forget it.

Your first mistake is to use flatwound to do tapping ...

Compression, strings close to the fretboard, roundwound !!!

He's actually using tapewounds, not flatwounds.

Tapes sometimes have fret clack depending on tension, technique, and the setup of the bass. Mine did, but that's what i was looking for so it didn't bother me

 

[Jrussblues]

Have you tried isolating listening on headphones or recording it and listening to it. I find that a lot of times it is easy to hear that clacking sound even when plugged into an amp because you are very close to the instrument but it doesn't actually make it through the output of the instrument.

 

[Flatwoundround]

Flats really sound to me like an ill choice for tapping.
The wide surface of metal clicking on the strings has to be noisy.
Since you're set on them, you should try some good old nickels, they're less prone to noise.
I agree that fretwraps and similar devices will reduce fret noises when tapping.
Compression is essential though. Don't forget it.

I was using copper tapes and I just tried on Ernie Ball slinkys. I think the slinkys reduce the noise a little bit since they have a little more tension compared to the tapes. I agree rounds don't fret clack as much but I don't like the other noises rounds make. I also have some black tapes that I might try out. Its a tough battle as I have been playing keyboards the last few months so got so used to such a clean sound without any of the extraneous noises that comes with the bass. Technique is something for to work on as I can reduce how hard I am tapping to reduce some. I guess you are always gonna have some of those noises no matter what you do.

 

[lz4005]

I find that a lot of times it is easy to hear that clacking sound even when plugged into an amp because you are very close to the instrument but it doesn't actually make it through the output of the instrument.

Particularly on a hollow body, like OP is using.

 

[rwkeating]

Tapping works best with very low action and low tensions strings. The low tension is usually achieved by using lighter gauge strings The frets need to be very level and the neck set with almost no relief. This is how dedicated tapping instruments are set up. Obviously trade-offs can be made with varying results.

My guess is that you are tapping too hard and that not enough energy is going into making the string vibrate and more energy than is needed is making a clanking (string hitting fret) sound.

I'd start with a proper setup for tapping and if that doesn't work, experimenting with different strings.

 

[Flatwoundround]

Tapping works best with very low action and low tensions strings. The low tension is usually achieved by using lighter gauge strings The frets need to be very level and the neck set with almost no relief. This is how dedicated tapping instruments are set up. Obviously trade-offs can be made with varying results.

My guess is that you are tapping too hard and that not enough energy is going into making the string vibrate and more energy than is needed is making a clanking (string hitting fret) sound.

I'd start with a proper setup for tapping and if that doesn't work, experimenting with different strings.

Believe it or not but the black d'addario tapes sound fantastic compared to the labella copper tapes, and the labella white tapes, and the ernie ball slinkies. The black tapes have minimal fret clack and the difference is very noticeable. I thought I might be hearing things but I have tested it out and even took a long break and tested more.

 

[Salem6127]

Believe it or not but the black d'addario tapes sound fantastic compared to the labella copper tapes, and the labella white tapes, and the ernie ball slinkies. The black tapes have minimal fret clack and the difference is very noticeable. I thought I might be hearing things but I have tested it out and even took a long break and tested more.

Old thread, but I was just asking about tapping on nylons yesterday. I'll take it from this thread that D'add tapes are the way to go.

I had a feeling the Labella's weren't the best choice, given the wrapping is more of a plastic material compared to other tapewounds. It would totally make sense that they have more of a clacky sound when fret tapping.