I recently started playing 5 string. I love the low Eflat and D, but below that I start to get more mud than tone. I don't use low C or B.
Do you use 'em all?
Do you use 'em all?
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5 String Players: How Low do you Go?
- Thread starter Dave R
- Start date
I play all the notes on the B. I have a Lakland 55-01 with a tight B and a Tobias Toby with hexcore strings so it's good and tight too. I EQ everything flat except in loud situations I might boost the mid and bass up. I have my treble on my amp right at 1 o'clock so when I do hit a low note it comes pretty clear.
Before I swapped out the Toby pups, I had a problem with the lower notes much like you do. I dropped a pair of Bartolini xxM45c quad coil pups and swapped the preamp to a Bartolini NTBT 18v and that has really cleaned up my tone. The Lakland has never had a problem but I swapped out the pups in that to the Nordstrand Big Singles and it's clear as a bell now.
Before I swapped out the Toby pups, I had a problem with the lower notes much like you do. I dropped a pair of Bartolini xxM45c quad coil pups and swapped the preamp to a Bartolini NTBT 18v and that has really cleaned up my tone. The Lakland has never had a problem but I swapped out the pups in that to the Nordstrand Big Singles and it's clear as a bell now.
For me it's more about the flexibility in playing positions (for instance being able to take advantage of different tonality of low E when it is played further up the neck) and not having to rejigger mentally around a hipshot D-tuner (which I have on my main four string). I rarely play notes below low D, but there are a couple of songs where even the low B comes up (though not frequently). IMO, and for what I'm usually playing, those lowest notes can tend to work more like a sound effect than a bass line, which also has its uses.
Definitely use them. B, C, and Db are great! It really depends on what style you play and what the other instruments are doing.
Rock or pop music without the guitarists tuned down, I'll use them for the last note of a song, very brief phrases, buildups, big stop in a song, or not at all. The best time though is the last note of a song, that one is almost full proof.
R&B I'll use them a lot to get some low runs/grooves or to make the bass drum sound bigger. You'll hear those extra low notes in modern R&B a lot.
Rock,metal, hardcore, etc... with the guitars tuned way down, you'll be able to get away with almost anything and it will sound great just depends on how low they tune.
The low B is like a weapon, with instruments, it can make everything in the band sound better or worse in any given moment. Also be sure to hit that higher octave sometimes before the lower notes in a given phrase. It can play a trick on your ear that brings out the low note more to you and the audience. Rather than just riding the low note the whole time.
Rock or pop music without the guitarists tuned down, I'll use them for the last note of a song, very brief phrases, buildups, big stop in a song, or not at all. The best time though is the last note of a song, that one is almost full proof.
R&B I'll use them a lot to get some low runs/grooves or to make the bass drum sound bigger. You'll hear those extra low notes in modern R&B a lot.
Rock,metal, hardcore, etc... with the guitars tuned way down, you'll be able to get away with almost anything and it will sound great just depends on how low they tune.
The low B is like a weapon, with instruments, it can make everything in the band sound better or worse in any given moment. Also be sure to hit that higher octave sometimes before the lower notes in a given phrase. It can play a trick on your ear that brings out the low note more to you and the audience. Rather than just riding the low note the whole time.
Those pups bring the life out of basses. The 56's are the 6 string version right? I almost stuck them in a fretless I had but I sold the fretless to fund another mod.
I use 'em all. Not all of the time but they certainly have their place. On my Wal the B comes through strong and clear (no mud at all). I use D'Addario Chromes BTW.
We don't play anything below D, except for one song that requires me to slide up from D, then down to C. My gear handles the low frequencies just fine.
i was in a band with a 7 string guitar player that tuned GCGCFAD so i matched him at GCGCF. the low G was udderly useless with a .135 string. so i lost the low g, added a high C and got CGCFC. now my string intervals are 5th-4th-4th-5th. i love the chord shapes i can make now. awesome. but when i had the low G i did use the G# once i a great while
I use down to the open B and up to around the 12th fret on a fairly regular basis.
It's a string
. I don't put any limitations on any of the other strings I have so I can't see why the B would be any different. YMMV.
It's a string
. I don't put any limitations on any of the other strings I have so I can't see why the B would be any different. YMMV.
I'll play the D and only use the lower notes for the final note of a song.
My real utilization of the B string is playing in F, G or A from that "top" position.
My real utilization of the B string is playing in F, G or A from that "top" position.
I'm with sethlow3: I use all the notes but I don't live down there. Big finish, big flourish etc but I certainly wouldn't pound eighth notes down low or play fast intricate stuff. They're a spice for me, not the main course. I could imagine playing differently in metal or prog, but for bar band covers and standards that's what works for me.
I play G&L L-2500s and hitting the bottom notes on the B string with both pickups active is a sort of religious experience. I use the tones all the way down to the open B, but I don't lean on them all the time. I agree that the E-flat and D are the most useful, but even the open B on the 2500 is musical.
Good advice up above to not overuse the low notes. Save them for when they are needed and they will have a greater effect than if you live down there.
As others have said, getting a clear sound also depends on the bass, pickups, amp, and cabs. I've heard many players that have equipment that just doesn't reproduce the low notes well.
As others have said, getting a clear sound also depends on the bass, pickups, amp, and cabs. I've heard many players that have equipment that just doesn't reproduce the low notes well.
I like the way you said that. That's kinda what I meant when I said I lose tone that low.
Could be a gear issue. Its a new bass to me. An inexpensive Essex. The amp should handle it. Singe 15 combo. Crate BX 100. Has a great low tone.
Maybe a pup upgrade is in order.
