Strings for 35" scale 5-string, through-the-bridge bass

[fourstringbliss]

I'm going to be getting an Ibanez BTB555 sometime this week or next. It's a 35" scale 5-string and the strings go through the bridge. It comes strung with Elixirs, but what other round-wound strings would fit?

[Triclops]

D'adario extra long scales,and peavey cirrus strings are great!

[KJung]

DR's work great. I use Hi Beams on my 'through the body' 35" scale Celinder. They are very brite and aggressive. If you are looking for more mid punch, the Lakland strings (SS and Nickel) are great and designed for 35" through the body basses. You can buy them off the Lakland site for a VERY good price IMO.

[vyse933]

your getting the 555 sometime this week too? haha sweet. me too. are you getting the natural finish?

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by vyse933

your getting the 555 sometime this week too? haha sweet. me too. are you getting the natural finish?

Well...it turns out I might not be getting a 555 this week. My current bass and amp have to sell. I thought my bass would sell today, but the guy backed out. I'm still hoping, though. I'll be getting a BTB of some kind, even if it's an older 405. I could get a brand new blue BTB405QM for $380 at Zzounds. It looks pretty good, but I'd rather have a natural 555.

[vyse933]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

Well...it turns out I might not be getting a 555 this week. My current bass and amp have to sell. I thought my bass would sell today, but the guy backed out. I'm still hoping, though. I'll be getting a BTB of some kind, even if it's an older 405. I could get a brand new blue BTB405QM for $380 at Zzounds. It looks pretty good, but I'd rather have a natural 555.

that's a shame on the guy backing out. the 405 looks pretty good as well. i personaly decided that i had to save up the money to get a natural 555 though. my choice was kinda between a sr505 and the BTB555. i chose the 555 due to the better looks, the bridge, the electronics, locking input jack...and did i say the looks? haha the 555 is beautifull.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by vyse933

that's a shame on the guy backing out. the 405 looks pretty good as well. i personaly decided that i had to save up the money to get a natural 555 though. my choice was kinda between a sr505 and the BTB555. i chose the 555 due to the better looks, the bridge, the electronics, locking input jack...and did i say the looks? haha the 555 is beautifull.

There's actually a guy who does want to buy it, but he wants me to hold it for him until the end of the month. I will have my BTB555! The natural is the only way to go. If there's one criticism I have of the BTB line is a lack of good color choices! The original BTB405 came in black (okay) and a deep plum (?). What, no amber?? No red?? No natural??

I used to own a BTB405 and it's a great bass. I'm really excited about the 555 - man, it's a great looking bass! I'm sure it's going to sound great, with the Bart electronics and the mahogany/maple combo. Warmth with clarity, and the MK-1's have a nice growl to them. Plus, where else can you get a concentric mid control/mid frequency knob? If you have mid frequency control it's usually a switch. I've been looking at a lot of 35" scale basses (Cirrus, Lakland) and I keep coming back to that mid frequency knob.

[vyse933]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

There's actually a guy who does want to buy it, but he wants me to hold it for him until the end of the month. I will have my BTB555! The natural is the only way to go. If there's one criticism I have of the BTB line is a lack of good color choices! The original BTB405 came in black (okay) and a deep plum (?). What, no amber?? No red?? No natural??

I used to own a BTB405 and it's a great bass. I'm really excited about the 555 - man, it's a great looking bass! I'm sure it's going to sound great, with the Bart electronics and the mahogany/maple combo. Warmth with clarity, and the MK-1's have a nice growl to them. Plus, where else can you get a concentric mid control/mid frequency knob? If you have mid frequency control it's usually a switch. I've been looking at a lot of 35" scale basses (Cirrus, Lakland) and I keep coming back to that mid frequency knob.

i forgot about the frequency control and the 35"! haha, also a reason i decided on BTB555. it just seems like a great choice. if not the perfect choice. i also agree with you on the color choices. the color was a reason to shell out the extra cash for the 555. all the other colors just kinda...suck, unless you go with the 1205. How do you feel about the wethered brown look on the 555? i think it doesn't compare to the natural at all.

Right now i'm waiting for my local guitar store to get the btb555 in. it's ordered..and i CAN"T wait. it should be in today..or tomorow...or thursday or friday. are you also getting the hardshell case? and also, what tuning do you plan on using. once i get the bass i'm going to see if i like B E A D G..or if i'd like to try E A D G C

[XtraLongScale]

I play a BTB 405QM recently modded w/Bart MK P/U's and soon, Sperzel tuners (I love that mid sweep, too). I've had it for almost 5 years now and I really can't imagine a better stage bass for my needs (same w/my MTD Kingston, just a different tone). String choice through my local retailers is pretty limited, though. DR's are readily available but only with a 125 B string which is too light for me since I always tune down a 1/2 step. I never really liked GHS boomers after getting a dead E or B string (or both) with every purchase which led me to online purchasing through JustStrings.com. The D'addario EXL Superlongs sound really good and are consistently bright package after package. And at $23 bucks a pop, they may be the best value out there for my needs. I may check out the Laklands soon out of curiosity as well.

[God of Rapture]

My BTB405QM with the stock pickups is my main recording bass. The Spector Euro just has to learn to take a back seat to it in the studio.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by vyse933

i forgot about the frequency control and the 35"! haha, also a reason i decided on BTB555. it just seems like a great choice. if not the perfect choice. i also agree with you on the color choices. the color was a reason to shell out the extra cash for the 555. all the other colors just kinda...suck, unless you go with the 1205. How do you feel about the wethered brown look on the 555? i think it doesn't compare to the natural at all.

Right now i'm waiting for my local guitar store to get the btb555 in. it's ordered..and i CAN"T wait. it should be in today..or tomorow...or thursday or friday. are you also getting the hardshell case? and also, what tuning do you plan on using. once i get the bass i'm going to see if i like B E A D G..or if i'd like to try E A D G C

The "weathered brown" finish is another one that makes me shake my head. So, you've got a combination of contrasting laminated woods (maple and mahogany), and you stain it all brown??? I can see maybe staining the maple an amber or something else that would still look good with the mahogany center.

I'm going to stick with BEADG. I'm missing the B-string. I never played it that much when I had a 5-string, but when I need that D or Eb it just isn't there on my 4-string. I'm really looking forward to it! In the black, blue, or purple of the 405/455 the hooky look of the horns looks really 80's rocker to me, but I just think it looks elegant with the natural woods.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by God of Rapture

My BTB405QM with the stock pickups is my main recording bass. The Spector Euro just has to learn to take a back seat to it in the studio.

If the bass sale deal of mine doesn't work out I'll probably buy a 405, or try to score a 455 on Ebay, but I'd rather have the 555 with those woods and the Barts. I know the 405 sounded good, though.

[vyse933]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

The "weathered brown" finish is another one that makes me shake my head. So, you've got a combination of contrasting laminated woods (maple and mahogany), and you stain it all brown??? I can see maybe staining the maple an amber or something else that would still look good with the mahogany center.

I'm going to stick with BEADG. I'm missing the B-string. I never played it that much when I had a 5-string, but when I need that D or Eb it just isn't there on my 4-string. I'm really looking forward to it! In the black, blue, or purple of the 405/455 the hooky look of the horns looks really 80's rocker to me, but I just think it looks elegant with the natural woods.

i finnally got it today, and the natural looks amazing. such a great bass, i hope you will be able to get it. i'm very happy with mine. just sounds AWESOME

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by vyse933

i finnally got it today, and the natural looks amazing. such a great bass, i hope you will be able to get it. i'm very happy with mine. just sounds AWESOME

That's great! I will have one sooner or later. How heavy is it?