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Battle of the B-Strings!

#61
Double Agent said:
Dingwall is also the perfect solution for those who don't like what a 35" scale does to D & G strings. Super-tight low B and perfectly normal feeling D & G, with even tone from the 1st fret to the 24th on all 5 (or 6) strings.
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That has always been one of my complaints on 35" basses. I do not like the feel and sound on the higher strings. You sacrifice the higher strings to improve the lower ones.
 
#63
I'm curious to know how many posters who have not named Dingwall have tried a Dingwall. Just curious. I've tried and owned too many 5 strings to list, from Alembic to Zon, and nothing even came close to the Dingwall B for feel/tension or tone. The long scale is harder to play (for me) than 35 inch, but the punch and depth are inspiring. I've never had another 5 string on which I can slap a low Eb or Db and have it as crisp as any note played on the E string.
 
#64
I some times go down to Ab and still my Dingwalls (the detuner equipped) deliver!!!

As you can see from my herd I have few good basses and have compared mine to even more. Still nothing out-performs my Dingwalls. When I bought my first Dingwall, my herd was to 5 basses. 40 basses later (while 10 of them are Dingwalls) and I am still amazed by Sheldon's masterpieces
 
#65
Of all of the basses I have heard and played, Ken Smith, Peavey Cirrus USA and Sadowsky Modern have the best low B. Check out
Maurice Fitzgerald on a Cirrus 5 Bubinga/Walnut (just like my bass):
Invalid Link Removed


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:
 
#68
All the Modulus I've tired (and I've tried a lot all over the world) they fell short for my Status Graphite basses (had 5, still own 4; the other one is sold to my brother, so practically I can still use it), which are the second close to my Dingwalls (I am not putting down AB's but they are a level below to Primas and Zs). Even Rob Green of Status Graphite held a Dingwall (my "Uber Alles") briefly in his hands and said "this bass is very vibrant and alive; I want to meet this guy"

I do agree that a PROPER B string makes a hell of a difference, but design, construction and materials have a major presentation to the authority of the string
 
#71
Pan said:
I wonder how much actual time is spent on the B string compared to A and D?
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Honestly, not a lot compared to the E and A or maybe even the D. But the point, is when you do go there, you want it to sound like it is simply a semi-tone, full step or whatever below the E string. And, all too often it doesn't. It sounds like something different altogeter.

The thing that Modulus does really well, IMO, is create a genuine and true 5 string bass. Not a 4 + 1 bass that so many others offer. The B is simply and only a lower extension of the other strings. So many out there are nothing like that.
 
#72
My Sadowsky metro and MM SR5 have smashing B strings, but I believe the Metro's is better and more defined than that of the SR5. Both top B strings IMO.

Ritters also have pretty big B strings...Most solid feeling basses I've ever played, the strings just feel so tight and solid, no floppy-ness or anything to speak of thanks to Jens' beautiful engineering and construction.
 
#73
BellBottomBlues said:
Hey all

Lately I've been looking into funding a string purchase that happens to have more then 4 strings, such as a 5 or 6 string. Shopping around I haven't played a single one I like.

Went to GC Manhattan. Played a $3300 Modulus 6 string (name I can't recall) Sounded beautiful, too bad the B-string felt like a rubber band.

Played a 2 different Bongo 5's again floppy B's.

Played every 5 and 6 strings Fender and Ibanez in the joint and dammnit nothing worked.

Best fiver I played, in terms of a B-String, was a cheap Peavey. I was seriously going to consider it (how can a $300 bass beat out a $3300 one I don't know but hey) but upon closer inspection it had horribly uneven string response. I mean the E and B rang out loud and clear but the A and D sounded muffled and dead and then the G sounded like garbage. Hoping it was only that bass I swapped it out for another bass but it was the same problem.

Anyone know of any basses with a nice tight B?
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You know, this issue has prevented me from getting a five string. I just cannot find anything with a nice B string. However, I briefly tried a Squier Jazz Deluxe and was impressed.

I need to try more but I'm glad I'm not the only one
 
#75
Speaking of Dingwall B strings, I'd like to see Sheldon offer a set of strings that are the exact same guage but have a slightly larger hex core for more stiffness/tension.

So he could offer DW reg tension Voodoo strings and Voodoo high tension strings. To be clear I'm not talking about a core so thick it kills all the harmonics just a slightly larger hex core. The larger core should extend string life.
 
#76
Blues Cat said:
Speaking of Dingwall B strings, I'd like to see Sheldon offer a set of strings that are the exact same guage but have a slightly larger hex core for more stiffness/tension.

So he could offer DW reg tension Voodoo strings and Voodoo high tension strings. To be clear I'm not talking about a core so thick it kills all the harmonics just a slightly larger hex core. The larger core should extend string life.
Click to expand...

I like that idea. The only problem is that Sheldon really doesn't have any spare time to do something like that. He spends all of his time building amazing basses for people like fullrange who can't get enough of them, and actually have the money to fund their addiction! :p
 
#77
Chasarms said:
The thing that Modulus does really well, IMO, is create a genuine and true 5 string bass. Not a 4 + 1 bass that so many others offer. The B is simply and only a lower extension of the other strings. So many out there are nothing like that.
Click to expand...

Totally agree here.

But at least I can offer a real world opinion on Mod vs. Dingwall, as I've had both! (not directed at you, just in general)

But I'd be hard pressed to pick one or the other. I'll have another ABII5 someday. They're just too nice NOT to have if you do a lot of B string work, like I do.
 
#78
fullrangebass said:
All the Modulus I've tired (and I've tried a lot all over the world) they fell short for my Status Graphite basses (had 5, still own 4; the other one is sold to my brother, so practically I can still use it), which are the second close to my Dingwalls (I am not putting down AB's but they are a level below to Primas and Zs). Even Rob Green of Status Graphite held a Dingwall (my "Uber Alles") briefly in his hands and said "this bass is very vibrant and alive; I want to meet this guy"

I do agree that a PROPER B string makes a hell of a difference, but design, construction and materials have a major presentation to the authority of the string
Click to expand...

I need to find a good Status someday and try it out, so I can point out all of you Status v. Modulus guys wrong! :spit:






















;)
 

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