So, I get this "clicking" noise when I play

[mikeswals]

Fartripper

nice username!

 

[Pako]

Seems like the lower the action, the lighter your touch needs to be to avoid this clacking noise. The more you dig in, the higher your action needs to be to avoid this noise. That would be my guess....

 

[stflbn]

Whatever you do, don't do anything to your rig or setup immediately. Investigate your technique first.

Are your strings hitting the frets or the pickups? Does your finger hit the lower string when you've struck through the string above it?

A couple years ago when I returned to playing after 15 years hiatus I was determined to change my style into a lighter touch/less noise style. I found that it wasn't my attack on the string, but my follow through was hitting the string next to it and causing the click click click. Lightening up my attack and readjusting what I was doing after my attack fixed my problem.

... heh... or at least THAT problem.




.

 

[Solarmist]

I get a "clicking" sound too off my low C [E] string too. It comes from the string "hitting" the next fret up when you initially strike the string. Its way more apparent if you have your horn, and treble way up.

 

[Stumpy]

it could also be strings touching the pickup magnets...

+1

 

[Jim Carr]

For a minute, let's assume it is not a defect in your gear. Play unplugged, and if possible play more than one instrument. Listen for the noise.

...I found that it wasn't my attack on the string, but my follow through was hitting the string next to it and causing the click click click. Lightening up my attack and readjusting what I was doing after my attack fixed my problem...

I get a "clicking" sound too off my low C [E] string too. It comes from the string "hitting" the next fret up when you initially strike the string. Its way more apparent if you have your horn, and treble way up.

These guys are wise. I would bet that they each spent a fair amount of time playing unplugged and LISTENING and WATCHING in order to be able to reliably reproduce the unwanted noise. Ya' gotta find it. Only then does it become possible to really fix it. It has happened to me.

 

[KPAX]

+1
Crank your treble, crank your HF horn, raise your pickup, lower your action and slap your strings with a seal-flipper motion towards the pickup.


Naw, JK too. If it really bugs ya, do the opposite of all that.
One thing though, do you hear it when you play with your band? A lot of stuff you hear by yourself is no problemo with the band. I used to be bothered by fret buzz but then I realized it's a non issues and I even LIKE the sound of it in the mix. I have a Rush dvd where Geddy is warming up without an amp and you can hear his frets buzzing like a mutherf*cker. You don't want it so bad that the note craps out but short of that, I think it adds a cool edge. Anyways, just a thought. I really listen to my sound IN THE MIX.

Maybe you just stink?

Jk man, just need a good setup, that's all.

 

[Lucky Henry]

I had an issue with my Peavey Brian Bromberg Signature bass a long time ago. There was a "clicking" or "ticking" sound and nobody could fix it. I even sent it to Peavey in Tennesee and they replaced the electronics and guess what? That's right , the problem was still there! So I rolled up my sleeves and really tried to find out what was causing this noise. I noticed it only made the noise when I was standing and playing. When I really got into a groove and swayed my body there would be this clicking. My co-worker(Phil) determined it was the BACK PANEL which covers the batteries and electronics WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY SCREWED TO THE BODY. My belly would touch the area that was kind of floating and when it made contact there would be this grounding tick. So we drilled another hole and put a screw where the panel was kind of bubbled out and Ta-Dah! Problem solved.

 

[ggunn]

One thing I don't think anyone else has mentioned, technique-wise, is the point at which you are fretting the notes. We need to fret as close up behind the fret as possible, even to the point where some of the "meat" of our fingers is on the string past the fret. That will mute some of the fret noise and keep the string from bouncing on the fret when we pluck a note. Guitarists can get away with fretting midway between the frets, but we can't.

Another thing is plucking closer to the bridge when you dig in. This will diminish the amount of "swing" that the string goes though and will help keep the string from contacting the next fret up.

 

[Fartripper67]

Sorry guys, forgot about this for a few days.

Anyway, I don't think it has anything to do with the electronics, because I hear it unplugged, and I'm playing a MIM Fender P.


I guess I'll try raising the action, but it already feels pretty high to me.

 

[Jim Carr]

If you don't bother to analyze exactly where and when it happens, you will never be free of it. Sorry.