Play that popping sound, white boy

[Possum Willy]

First off, I play aggressively, mainly because I either get into the music or I don't play it. When I set the tone to ring rather than be fuzzy and I play my usual style of fingering the Bass, I get a popping sound, that I really don't care for.

Any ideas? Is my attack too forceful? Am I not pulling the strings properly? Am I being sloppy in the way I'm playing? Thanks to any that answer!

 

[ricknote]

It could be a few of things. You may need to provide a little more relief in your neck neck by adjusting the truss today. This would give the STRINGS a little bit more room to vibrate. if you do have the correct relief for your style of playing. You could try to raise the action a bit at the bridge. Thirdly, you could go with a heavier gauge of STRINGS.

 

[Bassist4Eris]

I'm not sure how to word this but: is it more of an "electronic" pop (like a loud glitch in the sound), or more of a "mechanical" pop (like a bassist playing slap-and-pop)? I'm wondering if your pickups might be too high, and your strings might be hitting them.

 

[And I]

Sounds like strings touching the pickups. I get this a lot with my B string on a bass I installed Aguilar pickups with raised pole pieces. I have to go easy on the B or it touches the pole pieces and clacks / pops.

 

[Possum Willy]

It could be a few of things. You may need to provide a little more relief in your neck neck by adjusting the truss today. This would give the STRINGS a little bit more room to vibrate. if you do have the correct relief for your style of playing. You could try to raise the action a bit at the bridge. Thirdly, you could go with a heavier gauge of STRINGS.

First off, let me say thanks for your reply!
I do the set ups on all of my Basses and yes, I always put a slight relief in the neck, found I can go with lighter action that way.
I've got about as heavy of strings as I can find for this guitar and I went with flat wounds cause the control the oscillation on the "B" string way better. There's not a huge selection for the Ibanez Mikros, but I've been doing my research and found some really nice offerings out there, just have to put in the time to find.
Again, thanks for the inputs!

 

[Possum Willy]

I'm not sure how to word this but: is it more of an "electronic" pop (like a loud glitch in the sound), or more of a "mechanical" pop (like a bassist playing slap-and-pop)? I'm wondering if your pickups might be too high, and your strings might be hitting them.

Yes, it is very much like an electric pop I don't think it's mechanical. I have the "P" and "J" pickups set at 8mm with the string fretted at the last fret.
I didn't state my opening question as well as I should have. I'm only having the issue when I go brite on the tone control trying to get that "twang" like Geddy Lee does at times. The duller I have the tone setting, the less I get it, but then, the "twang" is impossible to get. On This particular Bass, I have installed an EMG PJ-HZ passive pickup set.

 

[Possum Willy]

Sounds like strings touching the pickups. I get this a lot with my B string on a bass I installed Aguilar pickups with raised pole pieces. I have to go easy on the B or it touches the pole pieces and clacks / pops.

Yes, it is very much like an electric pop I don't think it's mechanical. I have the "P" and "J" pickups set at 8mm with the string fretted at the last fret.
I didn't state my opening question as well as I should have. I'm only having the issue when I go brite on the tone control trying to get that "twang" like Geddy Lee does at times. The duller I have the tone setting, the less I get it, but then, the "twang" is impossible to get. On This particular Bass, I have installed an EMG PJ-HZ passive pickup set.

Thank you for your reply as well.
Interesting, pop/clack is very much like the sound I'm getting. I might be getting a handle on where the issues are now.
Thanks again!

 

[Possum Willy]

Yes, it is very much like an electric pop I don't think it's mechanical. I have the "P" and "J" pickups set at 8mm with the string fretted at the last fret.
I didn't state my opening question as well as I should have. I'm only having the issue when I go brite on the tone control trying to get that "twang" like Geddy Lee does at times. The duller I have the tone setting, the less I get it, but then, the "twang" is impossible to get. On This particular Bass, I have installed an EMG PJ-HZ passive pickup set.

I meant to say thank you to you as well, appreciate your ideas!

 

[Possum Willy]

It could be a few of things. You may need to provide a little more relief in your neck neck by adjusting the truss today. This would give the STRINGS a little bit more room to vibrate. if you do have the correct relief for your style of playing. You could try to raise the action a bit at the bridge. Thirdly, you could go with a heavier gauge of STRINGS.

By the way, I raised the bridge about 2mm and it helped quit a bit. Since I have the pickups buried, seemed like a good suggestion, THANKS!