👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
Majesty Premium Select

What the 'clack'!?

pattiejay

pattiejay

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 24, 2004
Messages
268
After recently getting my SUB4 serviced, i noticed a weird 'clack' sound on my A-string. it doesn't sound like fret buzz, but more of a 'clack' - a very short string-to-fret sound...very weird... What's more annoying is the fact that the 'clack' is quite noticeable when amplified, even with a fairly light touch

my neck seems straight, and the guitar shop hasn't touched my string height (it didn't make the sound before service). i tried raising/lowering the saddles on the A-string to no avail - adjustments only changed fret buzzes, but the 'clack' remained

what the 'clack'!? :(
 
Aussie Mark said:
Try lowering your pickup. Sounds like the pole pieces are too close to the strings.
Click to expand...
my strings are nowhere near the pickup pole pieces.
the 'clack' is definitely from the frets, but its not fret buzz...its kinda like the string, when struck, is hitting the closest fret with a 'clack' (as opposed to a 'buzz') as if i'm not holding the note properly, only i'm not!!

what could it be? my bass was fine before the service...
 
JB1 said:
Also check the 'gap' for the string in the nut..
Click to expand...
the clack only sounds on fretted notes, not the open A - so i'm thinking its not to do with the nut
 
just reading a previous thread...
mike not fat said:
I also wanted to point out, that I found heavier gauge strings (50/110) better than the stock ones(45/100) to bring the neck in the proper relief. I could really get a low action without excessive buzz or fret snap, which I couldn't really find with the 45/100.
Click to expand...
what's "fret snap"?? could this possibly be the 'clack'?
 
pattiejay said:
my bass was fine before the service...
Click to expand...

If it was fine, why did you give it to somebody to tinker with (and presumably pay them)? Basses don't have moving parts that wear out or require lubrication, so stores that offer a "service" are fleecing buyers who don't know any better.
 
pattiejay said:
my strings are nowhere near the pickup pole pieces.
the 'clack' is definitely from the frets, but its not fret buzz...its kinda like the string, when struck, is hitting the closest fret with a 'clack' (as opposed to a 'buzz') as if i'm not holding the note properly, only i'm not!!

what could it be? my bass was fine before the service...
Click to expand...


is your action alot lower now than it was before it was serviced ?
if the guy straightened your neck & lowered the strings .....you may need more string height from the neck to gain some right hand attack clearence.
 
Pattiejay:

Before you do anything else, do this: raise the E string saddle slightly and see if that solves it. You don't have to raise it enough to really change your action, just a hair.

I had the same situation once, and one of the older boys in the neighborhood came over (jazz bassist for like 45 years now), watched while I played and said, "It's your finger striking the E string slightly when you follow through on plucking the A string, which is normal, but if you raise the E saddle a bit, I think it will stop."

He was right.

Later, because this is what older boys do, he let me see a naked picture of a girl.

Jack
 
My E string developed that clack and per Bovine's aforementioned instruction I raised the B saddle just a very little and bye bye clack.

Jack must not be older than me cuz he didn't let me see no pictures of naked girls afterwards.


tk
 
wow - you guys are SPOT ON!
it never occurred to me that the sound was from the E...

all i need now is a picture of a naked girl :) and 'thy process will be complete...'
 
pattiejay said:
wow - you guys are SPOT ON!
it never occurred to me that the sound was from the E...

all i need now is a picture of a naked girl :) and 'thy process will be complete...'
Click to expand...


You have to be carded before such pictures. If you are the same age or older no pictures. LOL that is what happened to me. If younger hey Jack do what old guys do.


Still felt good to loose the clack.


tk
 
You going to charge the people that actually listen to you Jack? You take paypal?


tk
 
Nice to see this one got resolved with some good 'old time' advice :D

Now show me the T&A!
 
Pattie, what i called fret snap and what you call 'clack' are obviously the same noise. But on my bass it occured mainly on the E string while playing it, so it was not what Bovine described (I often rest my thumb on the E string while playing the A, so I don't have amplified noise coming from the hited E string). I just had to get heavier gauge string to keep low action without excessive clacking. I think it's mostly because i have a "hard" touch and long fingers so the strings have a hard life...

MNF
 
Bonk it on the floor a few times and ditch your metronome...it's a bass..it makes boom boom...what color you want??
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Baritone Ukulele Strings
Back
Top