Tuning question. Change from low B to high C

[GarethBull]

I'm still a newbie at playing bass but I bought a Yamaha RBX-375 a few days ago. It's my first 5 string and was set up with a low B but I'm already thinking of restringing it with a high C rather than a low B. I realise I'll need to reset the action and intonation, that's no drama.

I'm wondering which way people find more useful, B to G or E to C. I realise that we all have to make up our own minds in the end and go with what works best for each of us but I'd still like to hear other people's thoughts. My preferred styles of music are contemporary rock/blues/jazz.

[Lalabadie]

I won't say one is better than the other. If it can help you find what context you're looking for, I have an acoustic five-string for campfire situations, and a more all-rounder five which is electric. Since I tend to use the acoustic more in solo situations, I strung it with a high C, and I love it.

My electric five-string is strung with the standard low B, and I love it too. I use it more for "support" situations, i.e. a band setting.

Since I guess you don't have a very personal playing style developed yet, it would be a good idea to buy a six-string set and experiment with both (buying a six-string set is anyway the easy method of stringing with a high C).

[Fishbrain]

i'd say if you were already considering stringing it with a high c then you cant be finding the b all that useful, so i'd give it a go

I play low B and couldn't play with it out, not just the lower notes but also for playing things easier higher up the neck.

try it, u can always change back if you dont like it

[DocBop]

I have 5-strings strung both ways and finally have a 6-string. This is one of those "it depends" kind of answers.

If soloing a lot and playing chords, then the high-C is real nice.
If playing Funk or have to copy some synth parts the the low-B is the choice.
Also the spacing on 6-string can feel tight or I want to slap and solo then the 5-string with high-C is my choice.

For me since I like to practice improv and playing chords I like my 5-string with high-C a lot. Also a lot of 5-strings the low-B is not the clear or defined so I tend to only use it for the extra few notes. If the 5-string has a well defined clear B-string then I will use the B-string and real handy for reading to avoid having to shift down as much.

No one answer.