The theory is that the witness point is better with a taper, especially if the angle is significant, as the string is more flexible at that point if thinner there.
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5 string basses should be 35” scale
- Thread starter bobknowsbass
- Start date
The theory is that the witness point is better with a taper, especially if the angle is significant, as the string is more flexible at that point if thinner there.
Well maybe that player has to have a brand new low b every week if breaking it sounds unrealistic. Point is the outer winding especially flatwounds can get damaged trying to make a tight angle over the bridge and then possibly damage the inner windings -- decreasing their reliability.
That's all I got. Maybe somebody else has a better explanation and/or can correct my own misunderstandings.
Actually, I do have more.
Many metal double bass strings have a somewhat similar tapering feature on both ends to mitigate problems with the inevitable kinking that could make the string break at the tuning peg and tailpiece, but they are typically wound over with a decorative, soft thread at those ends that makes it harder to notice (as well as to avoid having the string grind and gouge into the tailpiece and tuners)...so this feature for especially low b electric bass strings seems kind of a nod to upright bass metal string conventions also.
Many metal double bass strings have a somewhat similar tapering feature on both ends to mitigate problems with the inevitable kinking that could make the string break at the tuning peg and tailpiece, but they are typically wound over with a decorative, soft thread at those ends that makes it harder to notice (as well as to avoid having the string grind and gouge into the tailpiece and tuners)...so this feature for especially low b electric bass strings seems kind of a nod to upright bass metal string conventions also.
I appreciate that you can disagree with a person who has a PhD in physics and is also a bass player having researched and worked to solve these issues for many years.
My Physics training in college (My degree is in Acoustical Physics) was with a professor who literally wrote the book on the Acoustics of musical instruments, and I have designed pro audio gear (and played bass) for over 40 years. There isn't just one expert here - there are a few of us here that are very qualified to discuss such things.
Good. Where educated minds may differ. I suggest you contact Dr. Kemp directly at St. Andrews University in Scotland and discuss your differences.
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One way to learn is to respectfully disagree, and ponder each other's positions. If both parties talk and think about it, there's a good chance both will learn something.
Same here. I owned an Afterburner 5 and the B wasn't that much better.
B strings, given the size of the winding, collect more skin and dirt than the other strings and by result “go dead” much more quickly.
My theory is that people’s opinions on how B strings feel and sound is mostly based on how the string feels, not really on the construction quality of the bass.
My theory is that people’s opinions on how B strings feel and sound is mostly based on how the string feels, not really on the construction quality of the bass.
I use piano type winds over the bridge..single core.
I also clean the strings and will re-use the 4 or 5 times. I can hear when to retire them.
It takes a long time to retire 5 rotations on a rosta of basses and I can't remember the last set i binned.
I use 120 B with tapered core, which means right down the core.
I have balance and tone up the neck.
I dont think Ive heard a better 5..or very very rarely.
34 inch scale with a light B should not in any way be wolly sounding.
Most of the comments about my sound come from my B string.
No idea what I'm doing right.
I also clean the strings and will re-use the 4 or 5 times. I can hear when to retire them.
It takes a long time to retire 5 rotations on a rosta of basses and I can't remember the last set i binned.
I use 120 B with tapered core, which means right down the core.
I have balance and tone up the neck.
I dont think Ive heard a better 5..or very very rarely.
34 inch scale with a light B should not in any way be wolly sounding.
Most of the comments about my sound come from my B string.
No idea what I'm doing right.
right, the string feels different for a lot of reasons…. It’s big and needs to be touched differently…. Like a big woman, tenderly and lovingly….
I don’t buy the whole string length thing… my 28 inch bass sounds great, feels great… but it requires a different touch to get it to give you what you want…. Which is love…. God dams I need some lovin…. Lol. It comes from inside…
how can you expect something that resonates at 30hz to feel like something that resonates at 100hz…. It’s not going to, it leaves your finger at a different speed. Like a large woman when you piss her off
Huh? Strings have nothing to do with it. A well built five string bass will have a great B no matter the strings. I play nothing but fivers and have used a ton of different strings. On all my fivers if it’s good its good with any strings for the most part.
We completely disagree. String tension is a string problem. Have a nice day.
Hey, my LTD B205 has a perfect b string. It will be your forever bass at a much better cost! Sounds fantastic too.
Titling a thread with an absolute statement about a semi-subjective preference is a great way to make said thread go over 10 pages. Not sure how much it actually contributes to the near-continuous debates in this forum over the merits of extra long scale length.
FWIW my anecdotal experience is that 37" and 35" can be helpful but a phenomenal 34" low B can be achieved with the right woods and pickup placement. (IME bridge-bound growl does wonders for lower range perception.)
FWIW my anecdotal experience is that 37" and 35" can be helpful but a phenomenal 34" low B can be achieved with the right woods and pickup placement. (IME bridge-bound growl does wonders for lower range perception.)
Both my Fodera Emporer Classic Standard V and my Alembic Epic V are 34" and the low B on both sound great.
Perhaps a fatter gauged string or a set with higher tension would work for you. You may want to experiment with a set of Rotosound 77s would help. I tried a set, but the tension was so high my fingers felt like ground hamburger after a 4 hour set.
Perhaps a fatter gauged string or a set with higher tension would work for you. You may want to experiment with a set of Rotosound 77s would help. I tried a set, but the tension was so high my fingers felt like ground hamburger after a 4 hour set.
Tension vs scale length is squared rather than linear (according to all the formulas I just found online). Changing from 34" to 35" scale with the same strings results in 5.9% higher tension. Still a small difference. For comparison, a 34" bass has 28% higher tension than a 30" bass with the same strings.
I have yet to play a multiscale but my issue with my 34" 5 string is how different the tone is across the strings rather than the tension. So I don't see how a straight 35" would solve that at all. I'm hoping to try a multiscale soon.
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