That "Clank" sound!!

[Joe Bananas]

Don't know if this thread belongs in here but here I go:
Have been heavily studying and practicing for the last two and half months. Before I had absolutely no idea about bass.
A Rickenbacker 4003 is where I am developing my chops and have realized that when I play on the E string I often produce a "clank" sound that seems to come from the string hitting somewhere. I have never heard that sound in recordings. Is that common or am I doing something the wrong way? Does it is relatyed to an unpropper string height or anything set up related?
Please, help!

 

[Barbaric.Eric]

Do you play with your fingers or a pick? This clank could possibly be your E string clipping the highest fret when you pluck with your fingers. I am no professional (so take this all with a grain of salt) but I noticed some clanking in my tone once my previous band dropped our tuning a half step to match the vocalists range. And even more so now that I've been playing in a new band that primarily uses drop C (super floppy strings).

Not sure if this will help or not but I found stepping up to a thicker string size will cause it to be less floppy, and therefore less clicking off of those top frets.

There are other ways to fix this as well if you really like your current string gauge, by cutting your highest frequencies in your EQ or adjusting the height of your E string at the bridge for slightly higher action.

Hopefully some TBers with some Ric experience can chime in as well, these are just some thoughts

 

[Atshen]

Your fingers should pluck the strings in a parallel motion relatively to the fingerboard, as opposed to perpendicular. What happens if you don't is that the string hits the highest fret (like Eric said above), which can be a desired effect (listen to Iron Maiden, Cannibal Corpse or old Black Sabbath), but you should be able to control it so you can play "normally" too. Good luck and keep at it!

 

[Barbaric.Eric]

^ That's a really good point, and this completely explains why it is only happening on the E string and not A, D and G.

 

[hintz]

^ That's a really good point, and this completely explains why it is only happening on the E string and not A, D and G.

Keep in mind you *can* get this sound on the other strings other than E or a B, listen to Stanley Clarke's bass solo's, he would play into the string to get a sound often mistaken for slap, with the right setup(low action) and your plucking hand angle, the exact opposite was Jaco pastorius (who also preferred low action)....almost forgot, John entwhistle did the clank too

 

[Clef_de_fa]

It could also because his wrist angle change between the A and E strings and thus make his finger attack the string at a different point and it make the E strings clack again the frets.

 

[hintz]

Yeah, this too/\... I have the opposite thing going, because I always rest my thumb on the pickup or E string, my hand angle changes on the D and G strings where I get more clank on those, so I compensate by playing lighter on the 2 highest strings...also, I've never been able to do the floating thumb technique which would probably solve this...oh well

 

[Atshen]

It could also because his wrist angle change between the A and E strings and thus make his finger attack the string at a different point and it make the E strings clack again the frets.

Which is why we should use floating thumb!

 

[hintz]

Which is why we should use floating thumb!

Easier said than done!! For me that'd be like reinventing the wheel

 

[254 stringer]

If your Rickenbacker doesn't clank you're doing it wrong.

 

[hintz]

And I did try, believe me, but it was like being a complete beginner, after 21 years of playing its hard to change up 95% of your playing, I just do all my muting with my left hand..

 

[hintz]

If your Rickenbacker doesn't clank your doing it wrong.

Yeah, those were made for clank!! Get on that neck pup and dig in

 

[Gravy4001]

Your fingers should pluck the strings in a parallel motion relatively to the fingerboard, as opposed to perpendicular. What happens if you don't is that the string hits the highest fret (like Eric said above)

This. And also try turning your amp up and playing with a very light touch. Or raise the action and keep digging in!

 

[hintz]

What is really cool are the cats who can do smooth and clanky, I find for hard rock or metal it is desirable ... I've been working on the clank after years of only playing smooth, it slows me down considerably but sounds so right as an alternative to using a pick...of course I am way better with the light touch, but I think its good to have both in your arsenal

 

[hintz]

This. And also try turning your amp up and playing with a very light touch. Or raise the action and keep digging in!

I'd vote for the lighter touch part, *maybe* raise the action as a last resort if you cannot control the clanky sound

 

[Reptileroundabo]

The string could also be tapping the pole piece on your pickup. If you are running both pickups, or the top pickup when you notice this, switch to the bridge pickup and see if it still happens. if it doesnt, that is most likely the issue. Could be a pickup height issue at that point.

 

[Kamrin]

Easier said than done!! For me that'd be like reinventing the wheel

Have you ever gave "floating anchor" a try?
It's a nice medium!

 

[chaosMK]

Depends on how you feel about clank. Works great in metal when you need some cut and percussion. Probably does not work great if you are a smooth jazz "cat." I have actually had to master both styles- I have played the br00ts almost exclusively for many years but jammed in a hip hop and other light bands in recent years and had to completely restrain the aggression in my RH, saving my clanky attacks only for appropriate/desired effect. It was definitely a transition but awesome as it expanded my range and control quite a bit.

Clank management is a whole topic in itself, touching on your touch itself (manual clank control) and your amp configuration (do you want to use some approach to control peak clank transients a bit, etc). Using fretboard impact "musically."

 

[hintz]

Have you ever gave "floating anchor" a try?
It's a nice medium!

No, but ill check it out...

 

[friendlybass]

grab you a heavy, stiff pick. I use those Dunlop X-H ones, and give your amp/preamp some treble boost. New strings helps, but for me 90% is the stiff pick. I also (stay with me here) come off the string a little once I've picked instead of playing through the string if that makes sense. Like striking a drum or a good gut punch. I hold my pick pretty loose and let it dance a little. Hope this helps!