distorted sound

[rickdees]

any advice....

when I play the bass I get a distorted, sound - mainly from bottom e... the harder I pluck the string the more distorted it sounds

when I slap it it hs a sort of clack clack sound, not the nice thump I'm used to

and yes I have just changed the battery to a new one

 

[Aussie Mark]

Pickup could be too high, with the distortion and clack sound being from the string contacting the pole pieces.

 

[silverburst]

Agreed. Probably needs a set-up.

 

[Jim_F]

agreed - sounds like easily resolved with a set up if you have changed your batteries ...

 

[mynan]

Have you tried a different amp, or at least turned the input gain on the amp down a smidge?

 

[Duarte]

Mine sounds like that if I put all the knobs up full...

 

[Bass Control]

I'd check both the preamp on my bass along with the eq section and input gain on the amplifier. Sometimes putting too much bass on both the amp and the bass will create undesired distortion by pushing the speakers too much. At least that what the bass tech at my local shop has told me.

 

[rickdees]

Thanks!!

All, thank you for these replies and tips,

I have tried the bass with some different amps and different amp set ups and batteries are new so I will have a go with the 'set up'. I think because it is most prevalent on the bottom e and I don’t get it on the G for example the string may be contacting the pickup when I am playing - plucking hard or slapping

I have-not done this before but I’m guesses the simplest thing to try would be marginally lowering the pick up and/or marginally raising the height of the bottom E.

 

[oli@bass]

Just lower the pickup. It's the simplest adjustment, easy to convert back, and it's not extremely important to have it exactly to specs. (some will argue against this, but I always adjust pickups to feel and sound rather than distance measurements).