String clatter when doing volume or tone swells

tboneberry

Since most of the great tone swells that Jim gets involve bending the strings, I'm have trouble totally eliminating clatter from the D/A strings when bending the G, especially with a clean amp setting.
Resting my index finger across the strings behind the 3rd and 2nd fingers performing the bend doesn't do it entirely. Any thoughts on this one? Thanks.

JimCampilongo

Hi T-Bone. I'm glad you like my tone swells ...
Assuming you are a right hander...
When bending, use ALL available left hand fingers in their respective positions to assist the bend.
Additionally, When bending on strings 1,2,3 ... I prefer bending towards the ceiling. This gives the player more fretboard bending real estate.
If you are doing this already, keep practicing. You'll learn by feel, how to athletically maneuver the string you're bending under the string "above" it.
I think there is detailed help on this "Playing the Blues" one and two.
Any other opinions?
Take care buddy -Jim

elreclusa

Hard telling without knowing anything about your particular instrument, but do you have any issues with bends ”choking out” or clattering when you're not doing swells? You may have a high (or low) fret or two somewhere, or maybe your saddles are set up in a way that they aren't quite matching your fretboard's radius? I've had similar issues before when my saddles' height screws had vibrated themselves loose, causing the saddles to lower themselves...a little Loc-Tite solved that problem. Could be time for a fret dress and level maybe?

tboneberry

Thanks a lot. Will have a look at both those approaches. Much appreciated.