Pick Click

[Si600]

I'm listening to and sorting out the recordings from our last session and there is a lot of pick click on there.  I know it's me and not the guitarist.  Any ideas how I reduce it, (without playing fingers!)? 

I'm using .6 Dunlops, too thick do you think?

[charic]

Thicker picks click less in my experience.

Try a Dunlop pro III or anything around 1.14mm (my personal preference)

[rOB]

3 minutes ago, charic said:

Thicker picks click less in my experience.

Yep, that's my experience too. I use a 3mm pick most of the time.

[bertbass]

I use dunlop 1mm, the black nylon ones, they work well.  It's amazing what a difference different picks make to the sound.

[Si600]

Cheers, I'll get a selection and see how it goes.

[MoonBassAlpha]

You might be able to do something about the recording with a compressor. If you use a slow attack, you might just get the sound you want without re tracking it.

[ivansc]

I also recommend nylon ones, either herco or dunlop.

I use 1mm mostly, but hold the pick with 2 fingers and thumb, which adds controllable rigidity once you get used to it.

[CameronJ]

Dunlop Big Stubby?

[Chris2112]

Roll off just a touch of high end or roll back the tone control slightly in future. If done judiciously, it should smooth off the worst excesses of your technique. Some pick noise is all but inevitable in some circumstances, particularly when recording direct to desk. 

A thicker, less flexible pick will help - notice that Anthony Jackson's stunning technique, thick picks and muted high end produce near flawless picking with an absolute minimum of unwanted noise.

[ezbass]

I find the thicker the pick the thicker the tone. I use a 2mm when using a pick. Turning the pick around and using the wide part will reduce the attack, something I discovered Robben Ford does on guitar.

[Bolo]

Is the pick the real problem?

[Si600]

On 09/12/2017 at 21:16, Bolo said:

Is the pick the real problem?

I don't know, how do I find out?  I've not had anyone study my playing and make suggestions of where to make changes.  Maybe videoing myself and posting it is the next step?

[Bolo]

Could be that I don't understand the problem, are you recording from a direct line or micing you amp, or using a single overhead nice to capture your rehearsal?

Are you hearing the pick click when you are playing? Are you hitting a pickup maybe? 

[Si600]

It's a Zoom H4N in the corner just to capture anything we do for improvement in playing or any new ideas that pop out.

 

It's a P-Bass and I play between the pickup and the bridge.  I don't *think* I'm hitting the pickup, I'll have a look for scratches later

[Dad3353]

Any chance of posting an mp3 or similar, so that we can hear what you're hearing..? 

Edited December 11, 2017 by Dad3353

[Dan Dare]

Thick picks will help, as others suggest. If you're playing with a very loose wrist and slapping the strings with the pick (especially if it's thin), that will increase the noise, too.

[Skybone]

Try using nylons. They do flex, so have a slightly softer attack, but they don't click. I used to use the Dunlop 0.73's, maybe should have gone up to the 1mm instead. Prefer to use my fingers these days.

[Dan Dare]

Turn the tweeter down, too, if your cab has one.

[Lozz196]

I also find that the thinner the pick the less low-end and more mids/highs there are. I prefer the 1.14mm Dunlop Tortex Triangle ones, mainly cos that way you get 3 picks in one.

[miles'tone]

On 12/12/2017 at 17:46, Dan Dare said:

Turn the tweeter down, too, if your cab has one.

Had the same issue last rehearsal with a new combo. Solved it by switching the tweeter completely off. 

Edited December 13, 2017 by miles'tone

[FuNkShUi]

Its just ghost notes .....man

[steve-bbb]

felt or leather pick

[SpondonBassed]

Never mind pick click.  What about knacker clack?  How do you control it while playing commando?