Awful noise when slapping the E string

#101
andres3195 said:
... so I started to think that the noise comes from the string hitting the last fret or frets.
Click to expand...
But isn't that rather normal when slapping? Or at least a valid method/desired sound of slapping (clack and different harmonic content). Why would it be so pronounced (in a bad way) on this particular bass and sound so much like the string hitting a pole piece?

- John
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Korladis
#105
I also have an SX jazz bass, and of course noticed the same thing...its the strings touching the pole pieces. the pickups are just terribly designed. toss them in the garbage and get some good pickups in there and it'll sound amazing.
 
#107
ScrewDevil said:
I wonder if covered pole pieces would help.
Click to expand...
I covered them with tape as someone suggested but it didn't help, unfortunately.

symbolic_acts said:
I also have an SX jazz bass, and of course noticed the same thing...its the strings touching the pole pieces. the pickups are just terribly designed. toss them in the garbage and get some good pickups in there and it'll sound amazing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I think that even the samples I shared don't get to describe the problem completely, you should all play it with your own hands to fully get it lol.
I guess I'll try that when I have the money. I always knew the pickups are crap but didn't want to spend that money if I wasn't sure. Not that I'm too sure about it now, but it's my main theory now.




...And no, that noise is not "just slap sound". I own another bass and played many different basses in my life, and never I got such an awful slapping sound from any of them.
 
#108
andres3195 said:
I covered them with tape as someone suggested but it didn't help, unfortunately.



Yeah, I think that even the samples I shared don't get to describe the problem completely, you should all play it with your own hands to fully get it lol.
I guess I'll try that when I have the money. I always knew the pickups are crap but didn't want to spend that money if I wasn't sure. Not that I'm too sure about it now, but it's my main theory now.




...And no, that noise is not "just slap sound". I own another bass and played many different basses in my life, and never I got such an awful slapping sound from any of them.
Click to expand...
Whst about pickup covers with no pole piece holes?
 
#109
andres3195 said:
...And no, that noise is not "just slap sound". I own another bass and played many different basses in my life, and never I got such an awful slapping sound from any of them.
Click to expand...
Exactly. And why it would be neat to figure out exactly why this one bass does it.

What happens if you tap on the body of the bass? On the pickups? On the saddle of the E-string?

- John
 
#110
andres3195 said:
Here is a "before and after" I lowered the pick ups, and it clearly got better (no more clipping noise) but it still doesn't sound right to me... I know the strings are old and all that, but my SUB doesn't sound like that with old strings. I'm thinking that the string is hitting the last frets. Any suggestion on how to solve that?



Click to expand...


It's a combination of not-very-good but high output pickups and perhaps a bit microphonic too. That's EXACTLY how the pickups in the J&D Jazz I had sounded. It's not the set up, I'm convinced... in my case, using another pair of pickups removed the issue entirely.
 
  • Like
Reactions: andres3195
#111
mcnach said:
It's a combination of not-very-good but high output pickups and perhaps a bit microphonic too. That's EXACTLY how the pickups in the J&D Jazz I had sounded. It's not the set up, I'm convinced... in my case, using another pair of pickups removed the issue entirely.
Click to expand...

I guess we may have a solution here then :) i'll try to buy new pickups for this bass and update it (even if it's within weeks lol). Which pickups do you guys suggest?
 
#113
andres3195 said:
I guess we may have a solution here then :) i'll try to buy new pickups for this bass and update it (even if it's within weeks lol). Which pickups do you guys suggest?
Click to expand...

There's a million pickups out there, at all price points and with different kinds of sound. I favour the DiMarzio Area J, because they're not very expensive, and they're humbucking but they still sound much like a traditional Jazz pickup. The DiMarzio Model J are very different in sound but also pretty good, and very common... so you might be able to find a pair of those used for not much money.

If budget is low... Entwistle pickups are pretty cool. Their neodymium ones are pretty crazy, and very very high output but they don't produce that ugly noise. They sound good. Their ceramic pickups are even cheaper and they're still very good.
 
#115
Just out of curiosity, how did this end? Did the new pick ups solve the issue? I have a Precision MIJ from the late 80's that also makes this noise when slapping, although the E string does not touch the poles. I'm considering replacing the pick ups and would be nice to know if your problem was solved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bass V
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back