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B string for 5-string short scale

R

rjstrat

Jan 20, 2020
12
3
#1
I am building a short scale (30”, 19 fret) bass and am wondering what gauge string would work best for the B. Being the lowest note string on a 5-string instrument, I have been advised that it might need to be a heavier gauge to insure proper tension. Any advice?
 
#2
I would look and find out what is AVAILABLE first, as there are not a lot of options for a B string in a 30" scale. You're likely going to be stuck with whatever is out, over picking something that you absolutely love.
 
#3
rjstrat said:
Being the lowest note string on a 5-string instrument, I have been advised that it might need to be a heavier gauge to insure proper tension. Any advice?
Click to expand...

Be careful about having too much tension on the low B. For example, a low B string with 35 lbs. of tension on a 30" scale will not have the same tonal quality as a low B with 35 lbs. of tension on a 34" scale. A B string that's too big on a short scale will end up being too rigid to vibrate properly to sound any good.
 
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#4
rjstrat said:
I am building a short scale (30”, 19 fret) bass and am wondering what gauge string would work best for the B. Being the lowest note string on a 5-string instrument, I have been advised that it might need to be a heavier gauge to insure proper tension. Any advice?
Click to expand...
You could be totally content with a heavier than "normal" B string (the Ibanez Artcore AGB205 is/was a 30" scale fiver that comes/came with a .145"), though you'll expectedly have a shorter range of usable frets on the B, before chorusy inharmonics become annoying up the neck, compared to a long-scale bass. Or, you'll indeed find that you prefer a lighter gauge.
The most important thing is ensuring you have access to alternatives in the first place. In other words, I'd strongly advise you design the bass so that it accepts "long-scale" strings (incidentally, like the Ibby Artcore does): they're simply far more plentiful than strings for shorties, especially 5-string sets and low B single strings. A reverse headstock would work, but so would a carefully designed string-through-body path, like a double body canal so that you load the B from the front and then the back like Birdsong does; or a thru-body hole plus a shallow pool in the back, sort of like a Strat tremolo spring compartment but shallower.
(The "afterlength past the bridge side" solution would however get you no benefits from a tapered low B even if you install one).
 
#5
Low B on a short scale bass is counter-intuitive. If the string is too heavy, it will thump and not have good tone or intonation. Yes, conversely, if it is too light, it may not be stable. Balance is key (pun intended). Unfortunately, some experimentation will be necessary as well as the safari mentioned above to see what is actually available.

This is not a new question. Italian harpsichord builders 300 to 400 years ago had this same issue, and is one avenue that led to the development of brass strings, wound strings, light gauge strings, and other solutions in the bass to retain consistency of tone and volume, so that the harpsichords and virginals (rough analogy: the harpsichord version of an upright piano) could actually be made to fit in a music room, because otherwise with the low notes and lighter strings generally the harpsichords would be longer than a grand piano in the bass.

Links:
The Harpsichord Stringing Handbook
Invalid Link Removed
 
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#6
HaphAsSard said:
You could be totally content with a heavier than "normal" B string (the Ibanez Artcore AGB205 is/was a 30" scale fiver that comes/came with a .145"), though you'll expectedly have a shorter range of usable frets on the B, before chorusy inharmonics become annoying up the neck, compared to a long-scale bass. Or, you'll indeed find that you prefer a lighter gauge.
The most important thing is ensuring you have access to alternatives in the first place. In other words, I'd strongly advise you design the bass so that it accepts "long-scale" strings (incidentally, like the Ibby Artcore does): they're simply far more plentiful than strings for shorties, especially 5-string sets and low B single strings. A reverse headstock would work, but so would a carefully designed string-through-body path, like a double body canal so that you load the B from the front and then the back like Birdsong does; or a thru-body hole plus a shallow pool in the back, sort of like a Strat tremolo spring compartment but shallower.
(The "afterlength past the bridge side" solution would however get you no benefits from a tapered low B even if you install one).
Click to expand...
Thank you to everyone who has been kind enough to reply. You have all provided some helpful information. I will incorporate all of them into my research.
 
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#8
Bump!

What are the actually available options? I have the aforementioned Ibanez AGB as well as a custom short 5er.
I actually like the .145 on the Ibanez (I tune to low C), and would love to try this gauge on the other bass -- that only takes short scale strings.

Is modifying a long scale string the only option? Haven't found anything available in that length/gauge.
 
#10
My string tension calculator says that, for a 36 pound tension (that's fairly light tension, but not too floppy), a .150 B is what you want. I know Kalium makes strings that big (and much bigger); not certain about winding length for a short scale, though.
 
#11
rjstrat said:
I am going to string it through-body in hopes if that addressing the floppy B string issue. Any reactions?
Click to expand...

Won't help a bit with the tension issue - tension is related to the length of the vibrating portion of the string - additional string length in other places doesn't change the tension at all.

Through body stringing does mean, however, that you'll be trying to bend a huge string around the bridge saddle with a lot of angle in that bend - something I try to avoid. And if it's a tapered string (what you want on a huge B string to keep a bit of attack and definition in the string), you wont get the benefit of that, as the thin part which should be going over the bridge saddle is buried in the body. So, no upsides, but a couple downsides I can see.
 
#13
CaptRigaud said:
What are the actually available options? I have the aforementioned Ibanez AGB as well as a custom short 5er.
Click to expand...

You'd be better served asking someone like Jason at Fret Nation, as he'd have a better idea of what options are out there for a short scale B string. But, from what I know, there are few, if any, options available.

CaptRigaud said:
Is modifying a long scale string the only option? Haven't found anything available in that length/gauge.
Click to expand...

That's not even a great option. You'll more than likely wind up destroying an expensive string (B strings aren't cheap) before you get to wrap it around the tuning post.
 
#14
CaptRigaud said:
Bump!

What are the actually available options? I have the aforementioned Ibanez AGB as well as a custom short 5er.
I actually like the .145 on the Ibanez (I tune to low C), and would love to try this gauge on the other bass -- that only takes short scale strings.

Is modifying a long scale string the only option? Haven't found anything available in that length/gauge.
Click to expand...
There's nothing of the sort available for short scale, off the shelf.
Ask either Newtone or Pyramid for a custom set with the diameters and winding length you need.
 
#17
I use .125 or .130 on my short and medium scale 5 string builds. There are only a few brands who do a dedicated short scale 5 string set, but you can also use almost any long scale round wound string by unraveling and cutting the outer winding of the B string with a pair of pliers.
 
#18
I use Pitbull 30 series short scale strings on my 30", 30.5" and 31" builds for both 4 and 5 strings. The 30 Series strings are made of nickel alloy windings and high carbon alloy hexagonal steel core. Comparing them with other strings, I have found that they have a higher tension than strings of the same gauge, which work especially well with shorter scale lengths!
 
#19
Curtinsmith said:
I use Pitbull 30 series short scale strings on my 30", 30.5" and 31" builds for both 4 and 5 strings. The 30 Series strings are made of nickel alloy windings and high carbon alloy hexagonal steel core. Comparing them with other strings, I have found that they have a higher tension than strings of the same gauge, which work especially well with shorter scale lengths!
Click to expand...
Do you know the gauge of the Pitbull B-string? Actually, the rest of the 5-set as well, if it’s convenient. Thanks!
 

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