B string on BTB675

[Bob911]

Hello everyone,

So I've got a little problem with a BTB675 a 5 string 35" and the B string is flappy and often sounds bad even with higher string gauge, I had a 135 for the low B and comparing to the other strings there is a volume drop, it's not clear, not bright either.
The strings set is a 45-65-85-110-135, I usualy barely use the low B string because of that problem (and I bought this bass because of the low B... and high G too, that's why I bought a 5 not a 4strings)

to make it short:
I've got two basses, the btb and a squier vintage modified I just bought, I planed to tune the squier to drop C with a 125 DR lowrider for the low C but it was too tight, so i tried in B, and it sounds great, I moved the 125 string on the btb because I thought the lowriders were simply more tight than the other strings, the result is: it's loose, even in C.

both basses have a proper action and were setup properly.

how can a string be tight on a 34" scale lenght and loose on a 35"?
what make a string feel tight?

 

[JustForSport]

What strings (make/type) on each are you using?
Some strings are stiffer than others.
Did you set the witness points well, and intonation after?
A tapered/bare core B can work well to help with clarity.

 

[Bob911]

I tried 4 kind of 135 string sets:
skull strings, 2 different sets, one with exposed core, the other one was more "classic"
d'addario pro steel, the muted string's sound was more pronounced with this set.
and Ernie ball (I don't know what model, I bought all the strings separately)

Yes I usualy set the witness points before the intonation.

I used a set with a low 135 with exposed core (skull strings) but the sound was weird when playing notes after the 3rd or 4th fret... and I also had lot of fret buzz because the bridge saddle can't go too high, so after that I stopped buying exposed core strings.

And I haven't found any tapered core string, so I have no experience with them.

EDIT: and now I stried the DR strings Low rider 125 string (not exposed nor tapered core) on the BTB and the only problem I have is: a bad tension.
While the Squier has a correct tension using it as a B string.

 

[Acoustic356]

I felt the same way about their Terra Firma. I find the Ibanez SR405QM to feel MUCH better and can't understand why the BTB stuff just doesn't feel the same way. I compared the BT675 with the SR405QM and walked out the store with the 405 bcause I liked the way it felt better. (String spacing was also a little closer together.)

On a side note, I traded the 405 or the Spector Coda Pro 5... which price wise is comparable in price to the BT675.

 

[Bob911]

I bought my BTB on sales for under 650€ I know that nowadays it cost 725€ and all the spector I could find were all above 1000€ so it was over my price range.

my story is almost the same, except it was a SR705 instead of a 405, but I bought the BTB instead.
and I liked the string spacing.
Also tried a corst artisan a4 but the 5 string version was not available anymore.
I also wanted a LTD F5 but I had to wait 6 month because ESP planned to release new models so some models were temporarily unavailable... for some reasons?

 

[Thomas Kievit]

You could try a .145 for the low B

 

[Bob911]

Well, I'm not only looking for an thicker gauge, otherwise I wouldn't even post, I'm just wondering why the B string on the squier feel right with a 125 while the BTB doesn't, with the same string or even with a 135 and a longer scale lenght.
AND it doesn't only feel loose, but it also sounds like poopie.
Both basses have a proper action and intonation, the B string is not twisted on itself either.

buuuuut it looks like I can't do anything to solve that problem a part of buying a really heavy string set... 135 strings are not that hard to find, but higher is almost impossible and I'm not really a fan of d'addario strings (the only manufacturer that sells 145 strings, and still very hard to find since I only saw them in one online shop).

I concider buying circle K strings, but the shipping cost to europe is quite high.

 

[JustForSport]

There has to be something simple there that's somehow just not being seen yet-
35" with the same string is higher tension and should sound a little cleared than at 34".
Seems like you've been thru most of the variables, tho.
Try moving the E string over to B position- does it sound and feel good tuned to E?
If not, then it has to be something with the mounting at one end or the other.
Does it get better fretted than open, or fretted higher?

 

[Bob911]

35" with the same string is higher tension and should sound a little cleared than at 34".

and here is the problem, the tension is lower on the 35" for some reasons, I'm wondering how is that possible.

Try moving the E string over to B position- does it sound and feel good tuned to E?

Yes I already moved the E string to the B position, it sounds as good as in its normal position (and it would probably sound better and feel the same without any string missing or if the nut was not made to have a thicker string in that position.)

Yeah, I guess the BTB is simply like that: the low B need a very thick string to sound decent... it's weird.

 

[JustForSport]

I've prev heard that the B on the BTB's was pretty good- don't have one myself, tho.
Gotta be something simple, if the E is ok there.
Did you try tuning the B up to C to see if a more tense string works ok? If that works, maybe it'll take a B that requires 40#- 43# tension at least?
Did you check D'Addario's tension chart to compare gauges?

 

[Bob911]

If a tension of 40 or 43 is needed for a good sounding B, then -according to the d'addario's tension chart pdf- a 145 pro steel is not enough (37.4)

(But I will make a small point here: the squier has a correct tension in B standard with a 65-125 DR string while the BTB has NOT with the same set, so after that little experiment, looking at tension chart like that feels a little bit pointless)

I checked their other strings as well, and the tension for 130 or 145 (because they don't have 145s for all their sets) is between 32 to 37 (the pro steel being the highest tension).
And I found a 38,7 (130) and a 46,5 (145) XL - Nickelplated Round Wound but in the "super long scale" section...

I guess I will use a balanced string set from now because I like to have an even tone coming from each strings, that's why I started using a 110 for the E string instead of a 105 (for a 45 65 85 105 set), making my own set with string brands I can find in Belgium (because I currently live there) is impossible, d'addario and ernie ball are the only two brands that sells 135 strings and D'addario the only one that sells 145.

It's very expensive, but I decided to give a try to cirlce K strings (the shipping cost to europe cost as much as a string set... (24usd) )
According to the circle K's tension chart, their strings has an higher tension than d'addario's ... for a B standard on this bass the 43-142 would do the job. (now I'm just waiting for the string set to come)

 

[monodark]

Hi,
Have you solve your problem with the lower string? What caused it?
I have a similar problem too, I own a BTB405QM, with .125 string tuned to A and there no problem, all strings sounded good
Now I have BTB1305 came with .130 string gauge, the lower string sound uneven and a bit muddy/unclear and not as bright as the other four string
I adjusted the pickup and it still there, the BTB1305 bridge cannot be set too high, so I thought maybe I need lower gauge, so I changed it to .125, it feel nice but still not as bright as the other strings.
the factory string is elixir 45 - 135, I now put ernie ball 40 - 125.
my BTB405QM tuned with D'addario 40 - 125
Is it bridge problem?

Thank you.