What factors contribute to a good B?

[KingRazor]

Some 5-string basses have excellent low B strings. Some have terrible ones.

What I want to know is, what factors do you think contribute to this?

I think the obvious one is scale length. The general consensus is that longer scale lengths provide a more solid B. Hence the multi-scale idea ala Dingwall.

After that I would figure the string itself has a lot to do with it. Construction, material, taper-core/untapered, etc

I think the only other things that can contribute would be the bridge, nut and tuners.

Also, for you Luthiers here, what do you do to make sure your ERBs can properly handle the extra low strings?

[spade2you]

A lot of things. Some is also in the eye of the beholder. I've heard some bassists who tune to B with a .105 on a junky bass and, of course, they think it's pure gold.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by spade2you

A lot of things. Some is also in the eye of the beholder. I've heard some bassists who tune to B with a .105 on a junky bass and, of course, they think it's pure gold.

I've learned, on my bass at least, that the thicker the better when it comes to the low B. I have a .136 gauge on it now and I get less rattle from it than I ever did before. I'm tempted to go all the way to .142 but I think I like it where it is.

[roadkill2309]

Originally Posted by spade2you

A lot of things. Some is also in the eye of the beholder. I've heard some bassists who tune to B with a .105 on a junky bass and, of course, they think it's pure gold.

Yes, and you forgot to mention that their SXes could *totally* outplay your Sadowsky.

EDIT: I find that, in my experience, a 35" scale is a good way to get a wicked B string. You kinda end up with a zingier sounding bass, though, as the higher strings can get pretty taut. On my 34" Fender, I just got rid of the included taperwound strings and went with a heavier gauge. The B sounds great.

[madmatt]

Take your B to church...

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by madmatt

Take your B to church...

My church only has a 4-string bass, lol.

[bubinga5]

scale length, construction, EQ, string type ...hex core being stiffer.. lots of variables are in play..

i really dont think that the bridge, tuners (especially) or nut can make any difference on a good B string... of course this is all a mute point when YOUR ear is listening to it..

[mowburger]

Originally Posted by bubinga5

scale length, construction, EQ, string type ...hex core being stiffer.. lots of variables are in play..

i really dont think that the bridge, tuners (especially) or nut can make any difference on a good B string..

+1

scale length and string type being the biggest contributing factors-IMO

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by mowburger

+1

scale length and string type being the biggest contributing factors-IMO

Also, neck fit, construction.
Wood, compatibility,
I've played a 33" scale bass with a great B-string. (JP)
I have a 34.5" Jazz Bass 5-string with a great B-string.
And a Roscoe 35" Bass, with a great B-string.
It's everything=Great b-string.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by roadkill2309

Yes, and you forgot to mention that their SXes could *totally* outplay your Sadowsky.

They're totally better than Fedora's, too.

IMHO, IME, etc, everything plays a role. How much does each variable play a role? Impossible to quantify.

For the longest time, 35" scale was mandatory for me as my Peavey Cirrus 5 was the first bass I had played that sounded good to my ears. To be honest, I almost thought the low B was pointless, because a lot of local basses simply didn't have a solid sounding B.

I now have a 34" scale Cliff Bordwell that absolutely kills. It sounds so good that I'm going to order a 32" scale bass from him.

[KingRazor]

I think it would be interesting to compare a bass that you thought had a crappy B string and one that you thought had a great B string and compare what was different about them.

[KJung]

IMO, in this order:

1) Stiffness of neck/quality of neck wood

2) The string itself (design and gauge as it interacts with the instrument)

3) Pickup placement

4) Technique... playing a B string cleanly is more difficult than many players realize... it takes a bit of a different touch in some cases.

5) (and a VERY distant 5th)...scale length (again, as it interacts with the above 4).


It is the interaction of all these issues that results in no simple answer to 'what makes a great B string', and why 'obvious' things like scale length have a very low correlation with B string performance.

[Donny Bassman]

Did anyone mention a 15 inch cab? I dont think a B sounds good threw anything but a 15. At least most of the time. And pickups make a big defference, at least to me, but i sapose alot of that is prefference. But as previously stated the extra inch makes a world of defference. (thats what she said)

[DwaynieAD]

I don't get the want for a stiffer B string

[Fuzzbass]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

Some 5-string basses have excellent low B strings. Some have terrible ones.

It's complicated. There's a lot of misinformation out there, and in here for that matter. I've seen a lot of posts saying "I auditioned some fivers at GC and here's what I thought of the B strings ...." Unfortunately, basses in a music shop are probably not intonated well, and a poorly intonated B string will sound awful. It's also more difficult to intonate the thicker strings like E and B.

Also... what's the first thing most players do when auditioning a fiver? Answer: thwack the B string. Thicker strings tend to go dead faster anyway, so the end result is that you have a lot of dead B strings on those shop basses.

I once got a used fiver and freaked out that the B string was floppy, but a fresh set of strings and proper intonation cured that. I guess my point is that the better reviews come from those who have owned the bass for awhile, and made sure it was properly set up.

Not a specific answer, I know... just something important to keep in mind.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by Donny Bassman

Did anyone mention a 15 inch cab? I dont think a B sounds good threw anything but a 15. At least most of the time. And pickups make a big defference, at least to me, but i sapose alot of that is prefference. But as previously stated the extra inch makes a world of defference. (thats what she said)

I think that's another issue altogether. I'm thinking more along the lines of "what factors contribute to a B string that doesn't rattle or have unnatural overtones, or play floppy"

When it comes to the tone produced by the B string, the number of factors multiplies.

[KingRazor]

Originally Posted by DwaynieAD

I don't get the want for a stiffer B string

Who wants a floppy B string? I was about ready to chuck my 5er in the trash because the B string was floppy and always rattled and just didn't sound good. Then I put a nice fat high tension B on it and now I actually want to use it.

[Headless Llama]

It is important to note that red basses sound better.

[Fuzzbass]

As for specifics: I've already mentioned proper intonation and fresh strings. Also, I think tapered B strings often (but not always) work better than non-tapered: better tone, easier to intonate properly.

The best B I've ever heard is on the Modulus Quantum 5, which has 35" scale and a carbon composite neck. But after owning a few 35" scale basses, I've decided I prefer the slightly more traditional tone of 34". The Sadowsky B string is my second favorite, but I also had good luck with my Fender RB5s, and Benavente 51 Model. None of these have slim necks, but I have no idea whether neck thickness is at all relevant.

[spade2you]

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I think it would be interesting to compare a bass that you thought had a crappy B string and one that you thought had a great B string and compare what was different about them.

Cheap to intermediate 5-6ers vs. boutique? Lots of differences.