The Sadowsky B string is amazing. IME, it's second only to the Modulus Quantum 5, and there's no shame in coming in second to the Q5 B string.
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B string on a sadowsky?
- Thread starter schmittuml
- Start date
HI
I think the Sadowsky B string is outstanding. Ive owned many 5's and the only string as good or better was a Roscoe I owned. Not only is it tight, but it actually has tone. You can hear the note!!!
Rob
I think the Sadowsky B string is outstanding. Ive owned many 5's and the only string as good or better was a Roscoe I owned. Not only is it tight, but it actually has tone. You can hear the note!!!
Rob
Mike, Mike, Mike. Same string, same note, the laws of physics cannot be violated. The 35 will always be tighter.BigMikeW said:
Nonetheless, the B on my 34-inch Sadowsky sounds as good as the B on my 35-inch Lakland.
The B on my 34-inch Sadowsky V5PJ also sounds as good as (but different from) the B on my 35-inch MTD 535.Munjibunga said:
BigMikeW
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Munjibunga said:
You would think so BUT not always the case. Two examples. The Lull (35") is looser than my Sadowsky's (34"). Also, I had a deal with Spector for a while and the Sadowsky B is stiffer AND FAR MORE articulte than the 35" USA made Spectors I owned.
I have also play ed a handful of other 35" that were not as tight as my Sadowsky's. The F Bass was about the same and about the same in note definition.
The B on my Sadowsky Metro Ultra Vintage sounds great. there is no lack of punch, clarity, or bottom. It compares favorably with my F Bass BN5, and 35" MTD 535, and Laklands fivers. granted that scale length appears to have a significant effect on B strings, there are other factors at play IMHO.
My personal opinion is that players will find that the Bs on different basses will sound different, depending on scale length, overall construction of the bass, neck & body woods, bridges & nuts, and string brand & guage. These factors, perhaps to a lesser extent than string tension, can contribute to a good sounding B. you need to check the basses out for yourself to decide what's best for you.
My personal opinion is that players will find that the Bs on different basses will sound different, depending on scale length, overall construction of the bass, neck & body woods, bridges & nuts, and string brand & guage. These factors, perhaps to a lesser extent than string tension, can contribute to a good sounding B. you need to check the basses out for yourself to decide what's best for you.
Munjibunga said:
You are mistaken.
I recently switched a set of TI flats from an American Jazz Deluxe 4-string (strung through bridge, not body) to a '76 P-Bass.
Both Fenders, both 34" scale, and the strings had A LOT more tension on the P-Bass than on the Jazz, or any other bass for that matter. TIs usually have very low tension, and in this P-Bass they felt extremely tight - I actually tried a couple of sets of different string and they all felt very tight in this P-Bass.
A bass' setup and combination of woods can change the tension of the strings.
Scale is not everything when it comes to tension.
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I like the low B on my Sadowsky quite well, and I agree with Steve's comments about the excellent string to string balance. To be honest, though, the tightest, most impressive B string I have played is that on my Skjold Custom 5, but that instrument has a totally different vibe to that of my Sadowsky, and both basses do their "job" extremely well. I do not think that you would be disappointed in any way with the low B on a Sadowsky.
Tom.
Tom.
Munji correctly specified that 35" will always have more tension than 34" when the same string is used.lefty007 said:
The combination of woods used in a bass has absolutely nothing to do with tension.
Neither does setup: yes, higher action is harder to play, but that's because the distance from the fretboard has changed, not string tension. That's likely what you're encountering with your P-bass. That, or you've tuned it wrong. 
Sadowsky Players - How great is the Sadowsky 5 string neck ? A Comfortable neck is very importent to me and Sadowsky are the top of the list. I would love to get an older 24 fret 5 string with the old school Flat Neck , i should really search around for one.
Fuzzbass said:Munji correctly specified that 35" will always have more tension than 34" when the same string is used.
The combination of woods used in a bass has absolutely nothing to do with tension.
I'm not a beginner, Fuzzbass, neither have I been drinking in the last 24 hours.
Two 34"-scale bass, one set of strings, tuned to pitch with a digital tuner, completely different string tensions - either playing open strings or fretting.
I take back what I said about the reasons why one has more tension than the other (wood combination, setup). . . In all honesty, I think that is what it is, but I'm not certain.
Maybe we need a real expert (like a luthier) to step up and tell us the science behind all this.
I found this at Sadowsky's FAQ page:
"I am in the market for a 5-string bass, and I've heard that 35" scale basses have a better sounding B-string, that also feels less "floppy." Why doesn't Sadowsky Guitars offer a 35" scale on their 5-string basses?
Roger Sadowsky answers: As a builder, it is important for me to always consider these type of sound and feel issues. I have built 35" scale instruments (for R&D) only, but I still prefer a 34" scale for my 5-string basses. Here are some of my observations:
-Building a 5-string bass with a 35" scale is not an automatic cure for a "floppy" B-string. I have seen just as many 35" basses with floppy B's as I have 34". Conversely, I have many testimonials from players who have commented that the Sadowsky B, at 34" is tighter than any 35" bass they have played. This does not mean there is no variation from bass-to-bass. Some basses have better B's than others, regardless of the scale.
. . . "
"I am in the market for a 5-string bass, and I've heard that 35" scale basses have a better sounding B-string, that also feels less "floppy." Why doesn't Sadowsky Guitars offer a 35" scale on their 5-string basses?
Roger Sadowsky answers: As a builder, it is important for me to always consider these type of sound and feel issues. I have built 35" scale instruments (for R&D) only, but I still prefer a 34" scale for my 5-string basses. Here are some of my observations:
-Building a 5-string bass with a 35" scale is not an automatic cure for a "floppy" B-string. I have seen just as many 35" basses with floppy B's as I have 34". Conversely, I have many testimonials from players who have commented that the Sadowsky B, at 34" is tighter than any 35" bass they have played. This does not mean there is no variation from bass-to-bass. Some basses have better B's than others, regardless of the scale.
. . . "
I love the neck on my P5 because the profile isn't super-thin (it also isn't super-fat). It's one of the nicer fiver necks I've played, second only to asymmetrical neck profiles (MTD 535, Fender RB5).MAJOR METAL said:
When Roger says "tighter" he means tone, not tension (and when someone says "floppy" B they are also typically talking about tone). And I agree with Roger: the quality of a B string has much more to do with the overall quality of the bass than its scale length (and thus tension).lefty007 said:
lefty007 said:
Scale is ABSOLUTELY everything when it comes to tension. Pitch is absolutely definable and measurable in terms of the mass, tension and length of the string.
As for your experience, it is certainly true that your perception is what it is. But, it was a result the dampening characteristics of the different basses and their tendency to deflect under tension.
I assure you, if both bass are 34" scale and are strung with the same strings, the tension on the strings is exactly the same.
