Fingerpicking amplified string noise question

strumsilly · Jul 13, 2015

I like to fingerpick [Travis] certain songs, but when amplified, both my uke with pickups, one with Baggs undersaddle and one with an undersoundboard piezo , sound terrible because of the scratchy sound of my fingers. both sound fine strummed amped or fingerpicked unamped. I've tried lubricating fingers using nose oil [yuk].No help there.
The strings are pretty smooth, southcoast on one and worth on the other. I guess I could use a mic, but that cuts down on the usefullness of the pickups. Or fingerpicks, but those are a hassle.
advice?

SailingUke · Jul 13, 2015

Make sure your finger nails are smooth. I use a finger nail file with a polishing/buffing surface.

strumsilly · Jul 14, 2015

unfortunately the rest of my life precludes me from having nails I can play with so I fingerpick with the pads, hence the noise.

Booli · Jul 14, 2015

Have you tried to adjust the treble control on your amp by turning it down (a little, or a lot) and see how that works?

I find that doing a bit of EQ can typically reduce the finger/string noise that occurs from both/or right and left hands.

If your amp tone controls are not effective, you can get a

Behringer EQ700 7-band eq pedal for $25
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EQ700

or

Danelectro Fish'N'Chips 7-band eq pedal for $30
http://www.amazon.com/Danelectro-DJ-14C-Chips-Effects-Pedal/dp/B0002D0Q2W/

Which will allow for more tone shaping than simple bass. mid, treble controls.

Otherwise a parametric eq may be required with allows you to set the actual frequency that you wish to adjust.

phil hague · Jul 14, 2015

Yes I sympathise as when I fingerpick I get a sort of thud when picking with my fingernails. If I adjust the way I pick it seems to lessen the thud. No one else has comented on it, so perhaps we players notice these things more than the people listening.
For picking with your finger pads I suggest talc might reduce the scratchy noise.
Don't be disheartened, I bet your playing is way better than you think.

strumsilly · Jul 14, 2015

Booli said:
Have you tried to adjust the treble control on your amp by turning it down (a little, or a lot) and see how that works?

I find that doing a bit of EQ can typically reduce the finger/string noise that occurs from both/or right and left hands.

If your amp tone controls are not effective, you can get a

Behringer EQ700 7-band eq pedal for $25
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EQ700

or

Danelectro Fish'N'Chips 7-band eq pedal for $30
http://www.amazon.com/Danelectro-DJ-14C-Chips-Effects-Pedal/dp/B0002D0Q2W/

Which will allow for more tone shaping than simple bass. mid, treble controls.

Otherwise a parametric eq may be required with allows you to set the actual frequency that you wish to adjust.

thanks. yes, I've tried to eq it out with my amp tone controls [Fishman loudbox mini]. didn't help much, I dohave a Fish & Chips. I'll run it through that & see if it helps.

Booli · Jul 14, 2015

strumsilly said:
thanks. yes, I've tried to eq it out with my amp tone controls [Fishman loudbox mini]. didn't help much, I dohave a Fish & Chips. I'll run it through that & see if it helps.

That's great. So no money to spend since you already have an eq pedal to test with!

I've often had to reduce some of the treble frequencies to cut down on string noise.

Please report back to tell if it works for you or not, and maybe we can troubleshoot further if necessary.

Fingerpicking amplified string noise question

strumsilly

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SailingUke

Uke legend in my own mind

strumsilly

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Booli

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phil hague

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strumsilly

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Booli

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