• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Battle of the B-Strings!

#101
spade2you said:
... As long as the bass sounds good going in, my amp does the rest. A good EQ and crossover (to some nice cabs) can really enhance the low B.

After hearing a lot of guys tuned to really floppy low A and running to a 8x10 cab with a midscooped EQ........yikes.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. That's why I love my iAmp with my Full Range Stack.

The fact that I use a Dingwall helps a lot, even when I detune to Ab!!! (no floppiness this side of the herd)
 
#102
I got an offer for a NOS Fender American Deluxe Precision V for $600 and I think I might snag it.

Found some used G&Ls that a friend of a friend is selling and all had a nice low B. Might get one of those depending on how much he's asking...
 
#103
That's a very killer price for an ADPV! Even if you decide you don't like it, you can get a lot more for it on resale.

FWIW my old ('06) ADPV had an excellent, tight low B; and my current ('07) ADJV has a floppy, awful low B. Same model and gauge of strings. The ADPV was ash and pau ferro, and the ADJV is alder and either pao or rosewood (Vic is positive all Deluxe V's have pao instead of rosewood, but I'm betting this one is an exception, it really looks and feels like rosewood). Anyway, just saying it's worth the gamble at that price for sure, but it is still a gamble as far as the low B is concerned.
 
#104
MTD 535....
man... ;)

that's THE THING... tight.. cuts through... fat... I don't know.. simply the best ever heard...

and also I was fotunate enough with my 2 jazz basses.. one deluxe '99 made in USA and my current j .. the marcus miller model USA ... so 5 string...
both great ;)
 
#106
I'm surprised noone mentioned the Bass Player 5 string shootout from a few yrs ago. Normally I don't place much credence in those because IMO they don't want to PO the sponsors so everything they review has its' good and bad points and there's seldom a clear winner. In that case, however, in spite of the fact that Dingwall was a little-known company at the time (who did NOT advertise in Bass Player), the verdict was clear; Dingwall has the best, tightest feeling and sounding B. For those of you who haven't played or heard a 37" Dingwall B, imagine how obvious it had to be for the reviewers not to waffle. Yeah, construction and setup and the strings all matter a lot, and if those factors are optimized AND the string is 37" long, it's a whole 'nuther level. I bought my 1st Dinger when shopping for my 1st 5er. The sales dude said: "look, I play a Stingray 5 and there are a lot of good 5ers in this store, but if you really want the BEST 5er made, try a Dingwall"......even though he had none in stock to sell me!!! (He was later let go, BTW). The 37" is too tough for my hands and meager chops, but the tone and fel of the B are undeniable to any I've met who've actually tried one. I'm sticking with 32-35" fanned 5ers (and have a Dinger SJ5 ordered), but for those who can play the 34-37, it's the grail.
 
#107
I dunno, I saw 5 string shootout a few years back and it seemed ok, but not great. Everyone's tastes and techniques are different. A lot of the basses I didn't like featured a low B that simply required a very light touch compared to the rest of the strings. In the heat of battle, I like to know that if I smack the string as hard as the rest, it will sound consistent and not fart out. I realize that the SR5 seems to be the #1 choice of many, but it simply doesn't work for me. Some of my choices would often be considered excessive and perhaps a shade too tight for some.

Currently, my Conklin has been blowing me away...as it should for the price! :p There is a definite possibility of ordering a 37" fan in the near future.
 
#108
spade2you said:
basses I didn't like featured a low B that simply required a very light touch compared to the rest of the strings
Click to expand...


That's the point of the fan!!!!!!!!!!! Differing scale lengths make the tension very uniform across all strings. With a fanned bass you don't have to back off ANY strings. That's why the fan produces a B that FEELS like the other4 strings, and a G that doesn't sound or feel too tight.
 
#110
I've got a Korean made Tobias Toby which has a 34' scale length. When I first got it I couldn't even use the B on it. It would flop around so bad it felt like I had tuned it 2 steps down. It was totally unplayable. I switched the strings from the roundcores that were on it to a set of Sadowsky stainless hexcore strings. The difference was amazing. I used .130 guage and didn't really need the heavier guage. I now only use Sadowsky hexcores even on my 35' Lakland. My B string feels as tight as my E or A string now and sounds just as clear too.
 
#111
The American Deluxe P V is a 2005 I think. Old store never took it out of the box, told me I could take it for $600. I told them that I wanted to see how it'd play with flats, so they even ordered me a 5 string LaBella flat set and then a set up. I hope I buy this bass, then I'd feel guilty. lol
 
#112
When I was looking for a fiver, I tried a lot of different basses, Peavey, FBass, Kinal, Ibanez among others. the only B string I liked was on the Rob Allen MB2 I bought (one of the reasons I bought it), nice and tight (equal in tension to the E, A, D and G) and loud, balanced and clear speaking. The only thing I can say about strings is when I bought it it had Rotosound tapewounds on it, when I finally changed the strings after five years I bought a set of Rob's custom LaBella tapewounds. No difference in the B string that I noticed except that the LaBellas were brighter and less wooly than the Rotos.
 
#113
I've owned Fender Jazz V basses in the past (34" scale) and always found their Low B's to be very lacking. I've PLAYED other 5'ers (Warwick, MusicMan, Modulus), but have found that unless it's a true 35" scale bass and can be strung THRU-BODY, the B is always lacking for me. I feel for a production instrument, a Lakland Skyline (or USA) is one of the best basses you can get. 35" scale and thru-body stringing will guarantee a tight low B, provided it's a good set of strings.
 
#115
spade2you said:
True, although I wouldn't discount the quality of the Cirrus based on the price. I'll admit my Conklin's low B is extremely massive, but I wouldn't say that it makes the Cirrus B sound like junk. I'm still very pleased with the tone. My Peaveys Cirrus basses aren't going anywhere!
Click to expand...

I CONCURR!!! MY CIRRUS 5 BUBINGA/WALNUT IS HERE TO STAY!!! MY OTHER BASSES, INCLUDING MY WARWICK THUMB 5 BO AND ALEMBIC SPOILER, DON'T HAVE HE SAME DISTINCTION!!!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:
 
#117
JazznFunk said:
I've owned Fender Jazz V basses in the past (34" scale) and always found their Low B's to be very lacking. I've PLAYED other 5'ers (Warwick, MusicMan, Modulus), but have found that unless it's a true 35" scale bass and can be strung THRU-BODY, the B is always lacking for me. I feel for a production instrument, a Lakland Skyline (or USA) is one of the best basses you can get. 35" scale and thru-body stringing will guarantee a tight low B, provided it's a good set of strings.
Click to expand...

On my 35" scale Peavey Millennium basses, I've top loaded and strung through and neither really made much of a difference either way. My Rob Allen is string-through and has an amazing B. My Conklin is a top loader and it also sounds killer.

I wouldn't discount all sub 35" scale basses. Curbow (US handmade) certainly makes a nice one. Maybe it's due to the rockwood neck, but the B is so nice that I simply assumed they were 35" scale. There are several CB players that have 32" scale basses and they have stated how nice the low B sounds.

T-MOST said:
First of all your idea of "tight" is subjective. To me all of the basses you named have very good B strings. Also, it's how the B string "plays" not how "tight" it feels.
Click to expand...

Very true. Although, as a Roscoe player, how do you compare yours to a basic stock import?
 
#119
Had an American Deluxe precision 5. Great bass. Really comfortable bass. Had a very good B. Not magical or great but good. Clear down to about C. Strings made a big Difference. SO did adding an Aguilar preamp and getting rid of the fender pre. Have a feeleing a better bridge would help too. If had to buy another 5 and found the fender for $600 I'd buy it.

FWIW Best 5 I've played was a Roscoe.
Best cheap 5ver was some sort of Schecter at GC Really surprised me.
Never played a Dingwall.
Would love to order a Status.

Andy
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back