How thick is your B string?

Lowner · #1 12-28-2006, 02:25 PM

I have a set of d'addarios on my 5 string. I forget what the guage on the B string is but is somewhere around 120 or 125 I think. I would like to find a B string that is a bit thicker maybe around 130 or 135. Do they make B stings that thick. I ahve been told they dont in a set I have to buy a 4 string set and get the 5th seperate if I want it thicker. I think the one that comes in daddarios is too thin.

How thick is your B do you like you B thicker so its tighter or do you like what comes with the 5 string set you use?

Lowner · #2 12-28-2006, 02:46 PM

DUUUUUUUH!!!!

Never mind this post. I just read the thread called "tighter B". And I think I have some ideas now as to how to correct that floppy B.

Stumpy · #3 12-28-2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowner

I have a set of d'addarios on my 5 string. I forget what the guage on the B string is but is somewhere around 120 or 125 I think. I would like to find a B string that is a bit thicker maybe around 130 or 135. Do they make B stings that thick. I ahve been told they dont in a set I have to buy a 4 string set and get the 5th seperate if I want it thicker. I think the one that comes in daddarios is too thin.

How thick is your B do you like you B thicker so its tighter or do you like what comes with the 5 string set you use?

I had the .130's on my TRB5. The Mchael Tobias sent me the 135x setnd I haven't looked back since.

ibz · #4 12-28-2006, 09:43 PM

130+ all the time .128 is about as thin as I've ever gone

Lokire · #5 12-28-2006, 09:59 PM

.118

From the TI Jazz Rounds set. Works fine for me and it sounds great!

SLaPiNFuNK · #6 12-28-2006, 11:45 PM

Ken Smith 125 Taper Core

dragoon419 · #7 12-29-2006, 07:33 PM

I'd go for a 160 B string, but they don't make 'em. So, I settle for a 135 when I can get it, or a 130.

Basshole · #8 12-29-2006, 08:22 PM

130-145 depending on the instrument (some of my basses "prefer" a thicker string)

Oza · #9 12-29-2006, 08:48 PM

sunbeast · #10 12-29-2006, 08:53 PM

I find that a thicker B string sounds really boomy on some basses- both of my 5 stringers sound better with the "standard" 45 65 85 105 125 gauges of strings. I used to think that a thicker B string would make for a "tighter" sound, but now I think that it has more to do with how the strings are made combined with limitations of your basses design- I've had really good luck with DR strings and .125 gauge Bs.

Karl

Arthur U. Poon · #11 12-29-2006, 11:22 PM

I used a 130 for the last few years. I switched to a 128 for a couple of months, now I'm back to a 130.

Crabby · #12 12-31-2006, 02:38 AM

It depends so much on the bass. The 130 B on the Ernie Ball Slinky set sounds great on an SR5.

Going from a 130 to a 128 for me made a slight difference but wasn't a night and day thing.

bassplayer2106 · #13 12-31-2006, 06:03 AM

120, I find them too boomy if you get any bigger.

The 120 'B' from my Status set on my Sei bass, has depth and definition, but everyones ears are different, what one person percieves as being the 'perfect' sound, someone else would probably dislike.
Martin Peterson, builder of Sei basses has said to me that he doesn't see any need to go bigger than a 120, maybe he's found that they work well on his instruments.

Maybe different gauges work better on different instruments.

Flintc · #14 12-31-2006, 12:13 PM

130 on my 6-string, 135 on my 5-string. After some trial and error. I think a lot may depend on the bass or even the amp.

Figjam · #15 12-31-2006, 01:01 PM

130 soon to be 135, not because its too slim, but because the E and A strings of the set are too thin. (going from eb reg slinkies to powers)

XtraLongScale · #16 01-01-2007, 10:16 AM

130 (DR Hi Beam) on my BTB405 and 135 (MTD strings) on my MTD Kingston 5. They're both tuned the same, a 1/2 step down flat tuning, but for reasons beyond my comprehension, the Ibby feels best with the 130 and the MTD with the 135, but not the other way around. B tension (and clarity) heaven on both basses

janek65 · #17 01-01-2007, 11:17 AM

130. Thicker won't fit in the bridge of my LX5. Pity really cos i would like to try a 135 for the heck of it

mobax · #18 01-01-2007, 11:20 AM

.128 LaBella HRS or Deep Talkin' Bass.

CamMcIntyre · #19 01-01-2007, 11:43 AM

I've gone as light as .118 and am currently using a .135. The 118 was when i was playing LaBella Hard Rockin Steels (extra light) and now i'm back to playing Ernie Ball Power Slinkys. I like the tighter feel of the 135 compared to the 118. However, i've played Bs that were in the middle of that range too. DRs served me well, D'Addario's i felt were really similar to the EBs, Ken Smith Burners were a staple of mine in the middle of high school-i think i used their set w/the 125. I've played Blue Steels-the feel of those felt really different compared to the rest [even the other steel sets].