Amps for 5 string bass?

[EatADeadGoat]

So - quick question. I'm considering buying a 5 string bass. I've heard that there are amps specifically designed for a 5er, and that other amps won't be able to handle the frequency of the low B string. That doesn't make sense, since a "normal" amp can handle a 4 stringer set to B tuning, but I really don't know that much about amps. Myth or Fact?

[KsToaDangr]

myth

[MysticMichael]

Myth...

MM

[LiquidMidnight]

Myth...though an amp and speaker system are going to need a certain amount of headroom/power handling. The notes on the low B require higher amounts of power to reproduce than notes elsewhere on the bass. Therefore, at performance volumes, it's possible to more easily clip an amp with less headroom with a low B than an amp with more headroom (all things equal, such as sensitivity, roll-off, etc.).

[Munjibunga]

The amp will be fine. It's the cab that can make the difference.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

The amp will be fine. It's the cab that can make the difference.

rare is the bass cab that can't handle a 5. maybe your tiniest cabs out there can't handle it, but that's about it. like everyone's so fond of saying an svt 810 can't handle it, yet when i was using a 5, i used an svt and 810 and it handled it great.

[Sartori]

Lots of bassists I've seen tune nearly as, or exactly as low as the B on a five. Triptykon's bassist, most recently did. The cab was an Ampeg 810. The sound was just fine. Sleep's bassist tunes almost that low. The rig he had when I saw them, as far as cabs go, consisted of two Ampeg 810's and a Marshall full stack (overkill? yeah, but it's doom metal). Sounded great.

[MNAirHead]

semi myth.. Most cabs choke out on an F#.. if tuning F#BEA

The overall cabinet qualtiy/size is affected by a B.. but then the rest of the notes are too.

Air moving boxes seem to work better