5-string bass: low-B or high-C

[CRBMoA]

Never needed to go higher than the 24th fret on the G.

 

[Tom Howland]

It seems almost as a rule of thumb that the high-C is better for a soloing setting, while the low-B is better for playing riffs with a band.

I found this 100% true.
For giging with a band.
I use BEADG more.
If I'm playing by myself, EADGC.

 

[CapnSev]

Playing with people in drop D/slack tuning/both, I need a low B. Couldn't live without it.

Plus I can fret a low E in 5th position, how cool/lazy is that?

 

[JLS]

Not just for the Eb to B, but the expanded fingering possibilities that open up on the fingerboard.

As an earlier poster said, it's a bass, not a guitar. Embrace the difference!

 

[JLS]

Even though it is technically a "bass" and not a guitar, it is a "musical instrument" and it expresses what YOU want from it. However you tune it, play it, or whatever, it's your music and soul that are the final outcome. Personally, I love the lower end for the fullness it gives in the music I put out. If I wanted it higher, I'd go to a 6-string, (which I've thought about doing. Then I'd have both!) To me a bass guitar plays for the foundation of the chord and it's me that lays down the "bassis" of the tonal finality of what's going on. I'm the meat to the sauce! Build on me!

That's my story and I'd stickin' to it....

Well said.

 

[Ric5]

What are your opinions (I know. You can have both on a six-string, but for the sake of this discussion, lets stick to 5-string).

I prefer the high-C because it gives you more dynamic range than a low B. For a standard five-string bass with 24 frets, addition of a low-B only adds about 10 Hz of bandwidth to the instrument, while a high-C adds about 128 Hz of bandwidth.

Now, in terms of percent bandwidth improvement as compared to a standard 24 fret 4-string bass, a low-B only adds about 2.8% more bandwidth, while a high-C will add about 36% more bandwidth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_guitar_tuning

Go with the low B anything above the high c on the G string is useless for a bass ... but the low notes add a lot to the bass ...

 

[JustDavid]

Now, in terms of percent bandwidth improvement as compared to a standard 24 fret 4-string bass, a low-B only adds about 2.8% more bandwidth, while a high-C will add about 36% more bandwidth.

How do you figure C gets you ANY more bandwidth than B? 5 more notes in both cases. Are you talking frequency? Keep in mind frequency should be assessed on a log scale not a linear one.



My view is a B gives you more usefulness because it's notes are in territory that's much less occupied than the higher ones a C gives you.

My taste is for deeper instead of higher.

 

[DreadyDiggs]

I don't have 5 string, but I'd definitely get one and tune BEADG. I play reggae, so I don't need a high C, out of the songs I can play 1 goes above 12th fret of the G string, and the frets on G are 12, 13, 14 haha. B would definitely give me that booming bottom during a drum & bass dub spot.

I have 2 four strings and am not gonna buy another bass for a minute, so I'm sticking with EADG now.

To each his own though, gotta do what works for you, not what everyone else doing seen?

 

[ROAR]

"As an earlier poster said, it's a bass, not a guitar. Embrace the difference!"---

as long as there are people thinking like that- i will hear a frase like - u r a bass player dont play solos or dont play nothing else then groove

 

[bassmanjla]

"As an earlier poster said, it's a bass, not a guitar. Embrace the difference!"---

as long as there are people thinking like that- i will hear a frase like - u r a bass player dont play solos or dont play nothing else then groove

amen to that.

I hate it when someone tells me what to play. Let me experiment, let me blow your mind. F*ck, let me blow mine!

 

[JtheJazzMan]

Let the development of your playing style dictate how you change your instrument(s).

The question is do you find yourself needing or wanting the lower range, or higher range? Or are you happy with standard tuning and 4 strings?

 

[Biggbass]

The music I play doesn't necessitate the addition of a high C or a low B. But I do occasionally need a low D. So I just drop the E down when needed. Have been thinking of adding a D tuner for the convenience. But if I ever end up with a 5 string
I'll go the low B route. For my needs it's more about keeping the bottom and groove than soloing.

 

[bunkaroo]

Low B without question.

 

[eddododo]

What are your opinions (I know. You can have both on a six-string, but for the sake of this discussion, lets stick to 5-string).

I prefer the high-C because it gives you more dynamic range than a low B. For a standard five-string bass with 24 frets, addition of a low-B only adds about 10 Hz of bandwidth to the instrument, while a high-C adds about 128 Hz of bandwidth.

Now, in terms of percent bandwidth improvement as compared to a standard 24 fret 4-string bass, a low-B only adds about 2.8% more bandwidth, while a high-C will add about 36% more bandwidth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bass_guitar_tuning

What do you play? Jazz? Metal? Punk? Gospel?