string contacts pickup magnet?

[qub]

I hope this is the right forum for the topic.

I'm a new player and I recently learned how to do right hand percussive slap(?) playing with fingers if you will.
The problem is that when I'm using the P pickup of my P/J bass, the clicking sound is really loud and bright on the E and A strings.

Here's a video to show you what I mean. The first part is using J pickup and the second part using P. (this was not recorded with proper software and it was kinda low volume, but when I use proper software and higher volume, the click almost becomes painful for ears :S)

At first I didn't even realize this because of the unplugged click sound was all over it (I don't play loud). But when I tried to record something it got really annoying. I thought it was the string making physical contact with the pickup magnet so I tried lowering the pickup height, but it didn't seem to have much effect. I can't see the contact happening with the naked eye. Lowering the pickup height any more would lose a lot of volume.
I also tried applying some tape on the magnets but this didn't help either..

I'm using DR Hi Beams and yamaha bb614. I don't know if it's the bass or my playing technique

Any suggestions?

 

[Jake of Bass]

I'd drop the pickup further into the bass and maybe raise the action ever so slightly. You can always compensate the loss of volume by turning the amp up a little.

 

[Jake of Bass]

btw I used to get the same problem on my Stingray, but after lowering the pickup I've never had any problems since. Part of it for me was playing hard and the low B hitting the pickup (it's actually taken some of the chrome off of the rod, but it hasn't affected tone to my ears).

 

[warnergt]

From my experience, those magnet poles can be pressed up and down within the pickup assembly (at least, on my P bass they can). If the pole extends up above the black plastic body of the pickup, maybe you can press it down until it is flush.

Another possibility is that you have an underpowered amp or just have the gain too low which, in turn, forces you to dig into those string harder than you probably should.

 

[Jake of Bass]

If you watch the video he's not digging in hard, it's when he taps the top of the strings to keep good time.

 

[David Jayne]

I watched the video, good idea. It is very clear to me that your pickup is MUCH too close to the strings. I just picked up my P bass and played it the same way- I would have to whack the strings VERY hard to get them to hit the pickup. I've got .020" space on the E side and .010" on the G side(open strings), no problem at all with output on my passive P-it's massive.

 

[SuperDuck]

Put electrical tape over the pole pieces on your pickups. No more clicking, no loss in output.

 

[beelzelboss]

how do you drop your pickups?

 

[Dave R]

There are adjusting screws about 1/2 from each end of the pup. You'll figure it out.

 

[202dy]

Fender spec on pickup height is 1/8" and 3/32" bass and treble respectively.

 

[Dave R]

Measured from what to what?

 

[202dy]

Measured from what to what?

When calibrating pickup height the measurement is taken from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string.

 

[Turnaround]

When calibrating pickup height the measurement is taken from the top of the pole piece to the bottom of the string.

... usually with the string held down at the last fret.

 

[202dy]

... usually with the string held down at the last fret.

Absolutely correct. Thank you, Turnaround.

Must be developing a case of early onset Alzheimer's.