What low to mid priced basses have the best B?

baddarryl · #1 08-24-2010, 12:41 PM

Thanks.

groovaholic · #2 08-24-2010, 12:44 PM

Look for a Dingwall Combustion series bass.

Failing that, a Lakland Syline series
(Laklands are only basses with a B that's impressed me without fan-fretted necks )

Dr. Cheese · #3 08-24-2010, 01:00 PM

How low priced? At the very bottom, both the Squier Affinity J-bass and the Squier Jazz Deluxe V have great B-strings. The Deluxe actually has 19mm spacing at the bridge like a Lakland or Sadowsky too.

I think the Ray35 has a great B string, and the Skyline (Lakland) 55-01 is killer! Used, look for MIA Peavey Millenniums. They have monstrous 35' B strings and can be often be found for under $500.

LiamR · #4 08-24-2010, 01:02 PM

The whole Ibanez BTB thread states that the B strings are fantastic quality for the price of the instrument.

mmbongo · #5 08-24-2010, 01:02 PM

G&L Tribute L2500, or Peavey USA Millennium as mentioned above. Either will be well under $500 used.

zachoff · #6 08-24-2010, 01:03 PM

The cheaper Ibanez BTBs have a nice B as well. You might be able to find a used Peavey Cirrus for under $500 too and if you do you'll be super happy.

Dragan · #7 08-24-2010, 01:03 PM

Yamaha, B or TRB series and lakland skyline

Ewo · #8 08-24-2010, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

<snip>... and the Skyline (Lakland) 55-01 is killer!

I'll second the good Doctor on that one. I've got a 55-01 and a 55-02, and they have the most piano-like B strings in my stable.

I've seen 'em go for quite reasonable prices in the TB classifieds--which is where I bought mine.

fullrangebass · #9 08-24-2010, 01:09 PM

Dingwall Combustion without a question

BigOldHarry · #10 08-24-2010, 01:09 PM

I played a used EBMM SUB a while back that was quite reasonable. $500 for a US made 5 string? Gotta like that!

j.kernodle · #11 08-24-2010, 01:10 PM

The Spector Legend 5 bolt on is also worth consideration. 35" scale neck, and you can probably find one used for around 350. I had one strung with Hi Beams that had a great strong B. Great construction quality too. An underrated bass.

**Lazarus.Bird** · #12 08-24-2010, 01:10 PM

Antares · #13 08-24-2010, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

The Spector Legend 5 bolt on is also worth consideration. 35" scale neck, and you can probably find one used for around 350. I had one strung with Hi Beams that had a great strong B. Great construction quality too. An underrated bass.

+1

My Spector legend 6 has the best B of all my basses except maybe my dingwall combustion. But thats still a maybe. i love the way the B rings on the spector.

My 7 string Roscoe has a nasty low B as well, but i string it to low F# ,so i feel its cheating to count that since its not even the lowest string on it.

phillipkregg · #14 08-24-2010, 01:16 PM

I have a Lakland 55-02 and a Lakland Joe Osborn 5. Both are 35" scale and have fantastic B-strings.

You should be able to find either of these basses used for right at, or under, 1000 dollars.

The Dingwall Combustion has been a very intriguing bass to me. They have a very long scale B string and I've heard good things, I'm just not sure how the fanned fret thing would work out for me. It may not be an issue to most, but I tend to play chords quite a bit too.

spade2you · #15 08-24-2010, 01:43 PM

By scale length alone, it's hard to imagine the Dingwall Combustion wouldn't have a leading edge on the competition.

As for the best B in mid priced, everyone will want to name their bass of choice, but a lot depends on your hands and ears on what you like. I've heard people playing Epiphone SG type short scales and seemed to think they had a good B or someone tuning a .105 from E to B.

For mid priced, I'll give a nod to Peavey USA's 35" scale basses like the G-V, Cirrus, and Millennium. Good value used. Not a bad value new, but poor resale.

My ears prefer 35" scale in this price range, but that's all I'll say regarding that. Be sure the bass is comfortable.

progrmr · #16 08-24-2010, 01:45 PM

Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Deluxe V - great guitar, great price and a very nice B string. Or even on OLP MM3 has an "OK" B.

Snipper! · #17 08-24-2010, 03:12 PM

All the Yamaha B's I've played are cool, Stingray 5 is great.......

Time Consumer · #18 08-24-2010, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.kernodle

The Spector Legend 5 bolt on is also worth consideration. 35" scale neck, and you can probably find one used for around 350. I had one strung with Hi Beams that had a great strong B. Great construction quality too. An underrated bass.

Dont know about that, I upgraded from a legend 5 to a lakland 5501 and found the legends B floppy in comparison but yeah, its still better than most.

AgIdoc · #19 08-24-2010, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by progrmr

Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Deluxe V - great guitar, great price and a very nice B string.

I could be wrong but I don't think this exists. the vm jazz is 4-only & the 5-er is a "deluxe active"...not a "vintage modified".

I owned a vm jazz & traded it for a deluxe active V. I shoulda kept 'em both, dangit.

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0300575500

oh, and the B is decent on the deluxe active V. i wouldn't say "GREAT"...its a tad floppier-feeling & not as much volume, no matter how I adjust the knobs. but it sounds pretty good. its my 1st 5 so maybe all B's are like that...but i kinda doubt it. its not a "BAD" B. pretty good, not great.

i love that ebonol fretboard, tho...it'll spoil ya.

**lowfreqgeek** · #20 08-24-2010, 03:49 PM

My brother-in-law sent me a live-jam track we did about 3 years ago with an all stock OLP 5-string I had just purchased recorded direct into his Yamaha Motif. He played keys, I played bass.

I hadn't heard it for a couple years and when I did, I was blown away at how great the bass sounded - including the B-string. Tight, focused, fat, clear...

I sold that bass cause I was (was...) a 19mm guy and it was a 16mm bass. For the $160 I spent, it was one of the best B-strings I've had - and I've had some really, really good ones.