Lakland Decade Fingerpicking

[fuzen]

Hi,

First post, I'm a newbie, though I've been lurking around for a little while. I'm also teaching myself how to play bass. Fell in love with the Lakland Skyline Decade when I saw it and bought one a couple of months ago.

I'd been fingerpicking on a cheap p-style bass before, and the Lakland is obviously a world apart, sounds great and everything, but I'm having this issue where the E string keeps hitting the neck pickup (the chrome edges) when I'm plucking it and you get this metallic noise that comes through the amp. This is if I plant my thumb on top of the neck pickup. If I move down to the bridge pickup, everything's fine, but it's not the tone I'm looking for.

If I use a pick, I don't really get that issue.

So, I guess the question is, am I striking the E string too hard? I tried softening the plucking, but it gets kind of ridiculous, how quietly I'm doing it. Or is this a quirk of the Lakland Decade? Has anyone else run into this issue? Will it go away once I get better with it?

Thanks for any advice/suggestions.

 

[JimmyM]

you culd lower it. not a hard job. just make sure you lower each side of the pickup as well to compensate.

or it's possible you're playing too hard and need to lighten up when you're closer to the neck.

 

[pacojas]

conquer all obstacles one by one!

step one,... get a teacher,... (even if just for technique)
step two.... practice everyday,.. (even if you can't)
step three & keep steppin'
the beauty will be revealed in time. BUT PLEASE, don't practice bad form!!! (it takes years to correct, sometimes)
IMHO

 

[One Drop]

Are you plucking down or more across the string? Maybe you can try adjusting your RH angle so you are playing across more than hammering down on the strings, in other words playing through the string so you fingers come to rest on the one below.

That is assuming the PUP isn't simply too high as Jimmy says.

 

[fuzen]

Hmmm... I set the pickup height at factory spec, 1/10 of an inch. Will see if I can do more picking across than down, yeah. Thanks folks...

 

[prd004]

Even high end guitars aren't always set up properly when new. Especially if you mail ordered it things can settle/shift alot during shipping.

It's possible your pickup is too high. It's possible your E string is too low. And its also possible your technique is off!

 

[prd004]

PS, also possible that the strings on your P were higher tension than the strings on the Lakeland. You want to look into that as well and decide on strings that suit your playing style.

Good luck

PSS, a little jealous the Decade is a sweet looking bass!!!!!!!