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Anyone moved away from bothering with a B-string?

T

topo morto

Mar 22, 2010
2,353
33
Lloegyr
#1
Personally I've always felt that (for me) "If it doesn't have a B string, it isn't a bass". But the difficulty in finding a really good B string sound (not just the bass, but the amp/PA system/room/mix as well) is making me consider going back to 'almost-basses' that stop at E until I can afford a really good 5 - at least a Lakland, maybe a Dingwall ABZ or something. And I should be putting my money aside for other things ATM.

Anyone else decided to KISS and stick to EADG?
 
#3
Tried the five string thing a bunch of years ago but I found that a four was much more comfortable. I view the five the same way that I view fretless. Good for the tunes that they are needed for. For everything else, I use the four.
 
#4
topo morto said:
Personally I've always thought "If it doesn't have a B string, it isn't a bass".
Click to expand...

Really? What would you call what people like Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, etc were playing?

Whether or not a bass is 4 or 5 string is just a matter of preference. I own 4 and 5 string and use them according to what I need for the song. However, the truth is that you really do not need a 5 because all you really gain are 5 notes in a lower octave. They do sound better in some songs but one problem is that many people who play 5 string use the low B too much and as a result they just "muddy" the sound of the band.
 
#5
Kmonk said:
Really? What would you call what people like Paul McCartney, James Jamerson, Carol Kaye, etc were playing?
Click to expand...

Well, the name of the instrument is a 'bass'! But it is my feeling that stopping at E doesn't allow the instrument to quite do justice to that name - coming from a synth background, there is a lot of life in the bass register well below that. The lowest D on a 4 is barely 'bass' really...

Kmonk said:
all you really gain are 5 notes in a lower octave.
Click to expand...

All other things being equal that would be quite a big gain IMO, if those notes could be got sounding good...

Kmonk said:
one problem is that many people who play 5 string use the low B too much and as a result they just "muddy" the sound of the band.
Click to expand...

Yep, I've definitely been guilty of that! Though in many cases I think the line would have sounded fine on keyboard.
 
#6
Yep, I found that 4 is more fun for me. I do appreciate more strings and check out 5 and 6 string basses occasionally but I cover my low note needs via DGCF tuning and a Hipshot.
 
#8
I rarely use the "extra" notes on the B string, but if that low string wasn't there I'd be lost. Same goes for the high C string. I recently had the opportunity to play a very high end Spector 4 on a recording, and I couldn't do it.

Plus, those skinny little necks feel like they're going to snap...
 
#9
I loved having the low B when needed, but my 4-string muscle memory kept fouling me up. Given the choice between working on that, or tightening up my overall bass playing and also devoting some time to electric guitar, I chose to drop the low B almost a year ago.
 
#10
micgtr71 said:
Tried the five string thing a bunch of years ago but I found that a four was much more comfortable. I view the five the same way that I view fretless. Good for the tunes that they are needed for. For everything else, I use the four.
Click to expand...

Ditto to this. Nice to have a 5 and a fretless and a shorty, but a long scale fretted with 4 strings and a drop d tuner is my main configuration and probably always will be.
 
#11
Having the low B to me, in my opinion, would mean just a few extra notes I'd rarely, rarely ever feel the need to use. I've owned a 5 string for years and I always just kept the low B tuned up to D and even then I used it little more than I would have the B. It's just more of a convenience thing. Not having to drop the tuning and whatnot if the guitar player happens to play in drop D. I haven't played that bass in forever and will probably sell it. Four strings is just the all-around better way to go for me. Doesn't take but a second to tune down for the rare occasion that I would need to.
 
#12
Even though its easy enough to do manually, those hipshot extenders are addictive. I have 6 on basses and one removed from a bass I sold.

jaxstarke said:
Having the low B to me, in my opinion, would mean just a few extra notes I'd rarely, rarely ever feel the need to use. I've owned a 5 string for years and I always just kept the low B tuned up to D and even then I used it little more than I would have the B. It's just more of a convenience thing. Not having to drop the tuning and whatnot if the guitar player happens to play in drop D. I haven't played that bass in forever and will probably sell it. Four strings is just the all-around better way to go for me. Doesn't take but a second to tune down for the rare occasion that I would need to.
Click to expand...
 
#13
I play a 5er when I need one, and play 4s when I don't - pretty simple, actually...

Regarding a good sounding B string, I've had no problem with that by using 5ers by EBMM, Spector, Ibanez, or Schecter - thru amps by either Mesa, Genz-Benz, or G-K, into cabs by Mesa... I'd say to have a good sounding B string, you can't go cheap when it comes to amplification...


- georgestrings
 
#15
ive had a yamaha 6 and a 5 P/J. the main advantage i think is that one can play scales and stuff a bit higher on the neck without moving the hand so much. however ive sold both
i like the classic feel and sound of a oldfashioned Pbass..
 
#17
topo morto said:
Personally I've always thought "If it doesn't have a B string, it isn't a bass". But the difficulty in finding a really good B string sound (not just the bass, but the amp/PA system/room/mix as well) is making me consider going back to 'almost-basses' that stop at E until I can afford a really good 5 - at least a Lakland, maybe a Dingwall ABZ or something. And I should be putting my money aside for other things ATM.

Anyone else decided to KISS and stick to EADG?
Click to expand...

I've only gone back to 4 strings because of injuries. When I have a B string, I use it so much I tear my arm all up again cranking my hand around to play it lol...

So my position on the B is, I simply survive without it. if you can do a 5+ string physically, there's no reason not to have a low B, or the higher strings on a 6+...

I could do the B-E-A-D thing, but I don't have a bass to sacrifice for that job at the moment.

LS
 
#18
georgestrings said:
Regarding a good sounding B string, I've had no problem with that by using 5ers by EBMM, Spector, Ibanez, or Schecter
Click to expand...

What I tend to find is that the B sounds weak by comparison on passives, while on actives the you can get a strong B with EQ, but that leaves it sounding fake and lifeless compared to the higher strings. You also tend to get weird bell-like sounds on the B string, especially on the higher frets.

Incidentally I've never had this problem people talk about with a 'floppy' B... it's just the sound.
 
#19
topo morto said:
Personally I've always thought "If it doesn't have a B string, it isn't a bass".
Click to expand...

I can't say I agree with that mentality, but I am pretty sure I'm stuck on 5 fivers for the foreseeable future. All the B's on my basses are excellent, and I use that B string all the time (though rarely going below the D). As other have pointed out, it's about positioning.

I also don't agree with the "I don't need 5 because I can do it with 4" bit either (because in some cases, technically, you can't). But 4's and 5's and 6's all have their places, IMHO.

Now about those 18 stringers....
 

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