Does the noise cancellation Troy explain when we play other strings only work in tube amps?
This is the video I am talking about.
This is the video I am talking about.
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No, it applies to any compressed signal. The signal to noise ratio he talks about happens through any type of gain stage or limiting device - it doesn’t need to have TOOBS.
I also think Troy is using left hand muting unconsciously here, which has a big part to play in noise control with a flexed picking hand.
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Sorry to revive this old thread, but I’ve been struggling with this issue. I’m working on my USX technique. Playing on the low strings is fine because the pinky side of my hand mutes the high strings. But I have tons of noise control issues when I play on the high strings because nothing is muting the low strings. Lots of noise from the low E and other strings while I’m playing. I don’t experience the compression phenomenon Troy described in the video.
Is it because I’m playing on a modeler?
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I invite you to look up some videos of Marty Friedman 
I’m not even doing the Friedman technique per se. It’s just that to maintain USX pick motion/angle on the higher strings, I have to move my hand down the bridge (toward the high E) and don’t have any contact with the bridge at the E-A-D strings and probably the G string too.
What about the clips at 0:57 of MAB? Sounds super clean to me
Is the issue that you’re getting sympathetic vibrations from undamped strings? Or that you’re hitting strings you don’t mean to?
My personal solution was to change my form, but horses for courses and I don’t want to imply you should up and change your whole technique when a tiny tweak somewhere might help.
Sympathetic vibrations from undamped strings. I don’t have this issue with my normal technique or DSX — my right hand does sufficient noise control with both of those.
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Interesting. How high is your gain?
Like Van Halen/Whitesnake territory. 6.5 on the blue channel of a 5153 50w.
This is probably one for Troy since he actually uses this technique, but I would guess the other variable is how hard you’re actually hitting the strings?
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Certainly possible. But I thought the point of Troy’s video was that the amp itself would hide the sympathetic vibrations (in favor of the stronger signal from the strings you’re actually playing)?
I’ve spoken to you before about your tone. It’s way off base here again. We are an evidence-based community and shutting down opinions by declaring things “wrong” is not how we do it.
The things you are saying simply don’t square with observation. I’ve played this way for years when I want to. I get great performance with it as demonstrated extensively in the posted video and in many other instances. Further, playing this way has not “sunk” me or made it difficult in any way to learn other playing styles. It’s just another tool in the toolbox. It won’t be right for every occasion but will be great for many. Use it when it suits.
Please check your negativity and stop spreading misinformation.
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The only thing I think I will add here since this thread isn’t quite necro, but is heading towards rigor mortis at this point is that noise control, no matter how you play, can be one of the toughest techniques to learn and of course the mechanism in order to facilitate it will change depending on what you are trying to do. IMHO, I don’t think I would count on the loudness of the picked note to mask a lower level noise signal. It may just superimpose itself on to the picked note, even causing you to experience the noise differently in some cases even leading to funky out of tune harmonics that clashes with the intended note. Now I know this isn’t specific guidance to your issue at hand, and may not be directly helpful but mostly just serves as a message of support and that it is possible, you are not alone!
In all my years of playing I would say this is one area I still work on frequently. It can be tough because it can seem to lead to compromises at times and can be directly related to hand synchronization and picking control even if they may seem like disparate concepts.