Prague Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 I have my pickups (single coil) set to the right height as per the manufacturer (Fender). I am hearing way too much pick noise. It's enough to cause reverberations if reverb is on. My thinking is that the pickups should be closer to the strings. Their vibrations would be louder than the pick noise. Any further ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 Picks, in and of themselves, cannot be detected by a magnetic pickup. Even the stainless steel ones that I got from Def Leopard are magnetically invisible. You'll have to expand upon the discription of your problem. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 I try not to pick my nos...er...oh, that said "noIse"... Never mind. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prague Posted September 5, 2004 Author Share Posted September 5, 2004 Noise from picking is what I hear. I hear too much of the scrape and thud compared to the volume of the string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwestenberg Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 What style of music do you play? More distortion makes this more noticeable. Is your pick at an angle to the strings? A perpendicular attack will produce the least noise though picking speed most likely will be reduced. If you are using a pick made of something like Tortex it will make more noise if picked at an angle than one made of celluloid or whatever Fender mediums are made of nowadays. Its weird that the scrape would be louder than the note though Lyrics. Wasted space between solos. I can't tell you, but I can play it for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad Thorne Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 Might the pickups be microphonic for some reason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 you may be hearing notes that are from the natural reverb of the trem springs. i pack some foam under my trem springs to kill that after note ringing, it drives me nuts. http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverse the Curse Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 i know exactly what he is saying (i think) When I max out the distortion on my amp, I get the same thing you are talking about. The forumite formerly known as Cooper. "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." John Lennon "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will finally know peace." Jimi Hendrix "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens." Jimi Hendrix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted September 14, 2004 Share Posted September 14, 2004 Don't pick your nose. oh... NOISE! nevermind. Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarzan Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 exactly how high are those pickups? or i should say how close to the strings when the string is fretted at the last fret? http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=193274 rock it, i will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prague Posted September 15, 2004 Author Share Posted September 15, 2004 Originally posted by Guitarzan: how close to the strings when the string is fretted at the last fret?I can't remember the actual, but the rule of thumb is 2 stacked US quarters ($0.25) is the height of the strings. Canadian quarters are close, too! I'll measure it for an exact distance when I get to the studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raymar Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 I like pick noise myself, I have a few different size and thickness picks including an agate pick and a plastic bread bag pick(for extra pick noise just for the fun of it when using lots of distortion). I tend to hold it exposing the pointier edge as well as the rounded edge. The less pick you expose to the string the less noise! Its also cool to use your finger tips, and also to mash the strings with the middle of your index finger nail. Steve You shouldn't chase after the past or pin your hopes on the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 It probably has more to do with your picking technique than the string height. Particularly if you unintentionally slightly drag the pick across the wound strings on each stroke, it will make a lot of noise. Using a very thin or very thick pick can help... I don't know what type of tone you're going for but if you want a really rounded style like fingerpicking, try a felt pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave da Dude Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Originally posted by bpark@prorec.com: Picks, in and of themselves, cannot be detected by a magnetic pickup. Even the stainless steel ones that I got from Def Leopard are magnetically invisible.Factoid: most (except 1 or 2 very specific types of) Stainless Steels are non-magnetic. Gotta' geetar... got the amp. There must be SOMEthing else I... "need". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WornNeck Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 I read where Ritchie Blackmore cranks down the middle pup on his Strats to get it out of the way so he won't hit it. "I've been imitated so well I've heard people copy my mistakes." - Jimi Hendrix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 I have this problem on my strat style 3 pickup models but not my 2 humbucker guitars. I believe hitting the pickup cover on the center pickup makes a noise. The Blackmore story above may be accurate, I've heard similar tales. However, I really like the sound of the center pickup. Robin Trower said its his favorite too. Another thing is that the center pickup is DIRECTLY BENEATH where your pick hits the string, not a problem on a 2 humbucker model. Sooooo...do you like the center pickup? If yes, then adjust picking position; if no, then adjust pickup out of the way. Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billster Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Originally posted by Lee Flier: try a felt pick.They still make those??? Buy my CD on CD Baby! Bill Hartzell - the website MySpace?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prague Posted September 15, 2004 Author Share Posted September 15, 2004 Originally posted by chad: Might the pickups be microphonic for some reason?You may be on to something here. I've tried all that I can think off. I guess it's time to do some dis-assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 I have some Quad rails on a frankinstrat I built. They are very hot! They make pick noise. Is it louud enough for other people to notice? I thought it was pick nose at first! hehehe Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Flier Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 Originally posted by billster: Originally posted by Lee Flier: try a felt pick.They still make those???Yeah, mostly for bass players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillWelcome Home Studios Posted September 16, 2004 Share Posted September 16, 2004 Originally posted by Lee Flier: Originally posted by billster: Originally posted by Lee Flier: try a felt pick.They still make those???Yeah, mostly for bass players.They seem to prefer them over potatoe chips.... Bill "I believe that entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art you're an idiot." Steve Martin Show business: we're all here because we're not all there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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