Reducing pick noise

[Transcend]

Hey guys i wasn't really sure where to post this at all as it doesn't fit in any of the forums really.

On the RGA with the MM i dont have this problem at all.

But with the RGD with the AM i am getting a lot of pick noise.

Is there anyway to reduce it i know its not my technique as i dont get it with other guitars i guess the pickup is just more sensitive to it or i notice it more with the voicing of the pup.

its that horrible scratchy sound im not bothered on the higher strings as i like it there but when im alt picking low notes it drives me mad.

What are factors that cause it?

I'm thinking possibly string guage/tightness

and the thickness of the plectrum?

Im currently using 10s in EB which is slacker than using 10s in standard on the RGA due to the extended scale.

Should i maybe move up to 11s? and get some thicker picks as im using .86 atm

thanks

[Roobubba]

I'm using the thickest ultex I could fine, but it's only 1.14. I prefer 3mm stubby triangles, but had to change away from those as a combination of my strings and how hard I hit them was decimating them and they didn't last very long!

I know our scale lengths, tunings and gauges are all different, but I find the AM does have a prominent pick attack - but on my guitar and to my ears, it's not bad in any way. The pick will make a BIG difference to this - I find the difference between the picks I've tried so far quite remarkable. Might be worth getting a few different picks in to test this out!

Roo

[JDC]

I used to be absolutely paranoid about pick noise and tried everything to get rid of it.

I can't say anything on string gauge but picks make a lot of difference, what is the exact pick your using? Shape and material are a big influence.

I find pointy ones are best as there is less pick to drag across the string, I think thicker is better too but I can't remember why, might have made the scratch less bright but I need to recheck this.

Best picks ever for reducing the pick noise are the V-picks that I keep telling Roo about ;) Not sure how much of it is down to the material but on the edges are slightly rounded, really nice on the palm mutes, although now I'm playing around with picks against trying to get the right balance between playability and tone.

[Transcend]

I have gone out today to buy a lot of different picks.

before i was using a .73 actually it was the yellow dunlop tortex.

I also ended up coming home with a tanglewood warrior II bass as i do need one for recordings and it was a steal second hand at £130.

Aren't V picks those metal ones?

I used one of those years ago and went through them like nobodys business they wore down really fast leaving my guitar covered with metal filings.

I have been recording bass today so i didn't actually get around to checking the picks which i should've but ill let you know tomorrow.

I'm not usually bothered about Pick noise its just this particular one is very scratchy and loud and turning the treble down doesnt do much other than mess my tone up

[JDC]

I still have a yellow dunlop tortex somewhere, might be best trying a jazz III first as it's the standard for pointy picks

V-picks are not metal, I'm refering to these things http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/accessories/picks/v-picks kind of expensive, medium pointy is best one to start with, last forever, wanted to try some of there other ones so I had to get them imported using the official site, gone back to Jazz IIIs now though

[Transcend]

I still have a yellow dunlop tortex somewhere, might be best trying a jazz III first as it's the standard for pointy picks

V-picks are not metal, I'm refering to these things http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/accessories/picks/v-picks kind of expensive, medium pointy is best one to start with, last forever, wanted to try some of there other ones so I had to get them imported using the official site, gone back to Jazz IIIs now though

ahh i was thinking of the dunlop tek picks.

I'll look into both the Jazz III and the V picks if these ones dont work out for me.

I won't ever order from strings direct again after the last twice ive ordered from them the items havent arrived and ive had to get a refund.

[JDC]

just had a thought, from an old thread I think forth feline is probably the best guy on here for pick noise

[Transcend]

just had a thought, from an old thread I think forth feline is probably the best guy on here for pick noise

Why do you say that?

[MDV]

Strong defined pick attack is pretty much a feature of the AM. Youre never going to get rid of it.

But, yes, different picks will make it sound different. Try a softer, smoother material like Black Ice picks or something.

[Transcend]

Strong defined pick attack is pretty much a feature of the AM. Youre never going to get rid of it.

But, yes, different picks will make it sound different. Try a softer, smoother material like Black Ice picks or something.

I dont want to get rid of it.

Just to tame it a bit as its a bit scratchy with the pick i had.

I do like it to a certain degree its just overkill for a song that im about to record

[MDV]

Well then I recommend black ice picks.

Of all the ones I've tried lately they probably had the least pronounced pick attack. I can send you some actuall, if you want. I ordered a bunch, I tried them, dont like them. Not enough pick attack :lol:

[JJretroTONEGOD]

when you mix the sound try sending the guitar track to a bus with a compressor on it that does sidechaining. Adjust the sidechain high and low pass filters so it only compresses the picking sound, eg from 7khz-11khz, find the exact frequency where it sticks out too much, make the ratio around 4.1-8.1 so you can clearly hear the compression, fast release, fast attack, threshold set so it only just compresses the loudest parts BOOM,

the rest of the sound is unaffected by the compressor so it will sound very natural without ruining your tone, be carefull though not to take out too much or it will take out some important harmonics

[Transcend]

when you mix the sound try sending the guitar track to a bus with a compressor on it that does sidechaining. Adjust the sidechain high and low pass filters so it only compresses the picking sound, eg from 7khz-11khz, find the exact frequency where it sticks out too much, make the ratio around 4.1-8.1 so you can clearly hear the compression, fast release, fast attack, threshold set so it only just compresses the loudest parts BOOM,

the rest of the sound is unaffected by the compressor so it will sound very natural without ruining your tone, be carefull though not to take out too much or it will take out some important harmonics

Thanks ill try this. I'm a bit wary though as i don't want to remove it all i just want to reduce it a bit.

Thanks for the info though im pretty sure it will come in very handy

[MDV]

Bear in mind the sidechaining trick will reduce the volume and mutate the envelope of the pick attack, but it wont change its character in any great detail. If it sounds 'scr@pey', its going to be quieter scr@py with a less strong front to it.

[MDV]

And try 2-4k first, and move up from there. Then home in on it as much as you need to (reduce Q of your bandpass for the sidechain trigger track).