Best low B string in the Biz?

[Zanderwestcoast]

I'm looking at buying a new 5 string for recording and playing a few contemporary jazz funk gigs. Primarily looking for rich, deep and punchy low end. Piano like sustain. I have a couple 5ers with great low B's. (Roscoe SKB and Lakland 5594) but want something a bit deeper. From what I have heard the Ken Smiths low B is pretty killer with the ebony FB, especially for a 34" scale.

Any thoughts?

 

[Funkmabassup]

Had a Warwick corvette doublebuck 5 and the H was just thunderous!

 

[fuzzychaos]

Dingwall. Period.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

You need something with a 37"+ B string to get piano-like sustain, particularly throughout the entire length of the fretboard. Anything less will get wolftones as you fret up the neck. You can get killer open B strings at any length, the better ones are usually good to around the 12th fret, but wolftones come in around the 15th fret on the best of non-37" Bs. Realistically, most players never play the B above the 5th fret. I am fine with a 34" B since I do not shred my B string up high.

 

[TechJunky]

I haven't played on (yet!), but I've never heard anything but the highest praise for Dingwall's. They are consistently regarded as one of the best B's in the business (and outright great basses as a whole, not just a novelty), and the sound clips I've heard lend some credit to those reviews. Of course, again, I am only mirroring what others have said, and I cannot speak from personal experience...but I can't think of any other bass out there that hasn't had at least a few contradictory claims. Warwick, Ken Smith, Lakland, Roscoe, Sadowsky...all get credit for great B strings from some, and others who claim they were a let down. Dingwall, if there's a negative statement, I have yet to find one.

 

[Zanderwestcoast]

I'm sure the Dingwalls are nice, I just can't get into the look of them, not to mention the fan frets. Not to my taste.

 

[loveandbass]

modulus quantum 5

/thread

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

I'm sure the Dingwalls are nice, I just can't get into the look of them, not to mention the fan frets. Not to my taste.

Did you want a killer B with piano-like sustain or parallel frets? I am sure somebody out there makes a 37"+ scale parallel fret but I have never seen one. I am not saying get a Dingwall, although they are probably the top choice, but you will be getting wolf tones up the neck without the added length.

 

[BruceWane]

Did you want a killer B with piano-like sustain or parallel frets? I am sure somebody out there makes a 37"+ scale parallel fret but I have never seen one. I am not saying get a Dingwall, although they are probably the top choice, but you will be getting wolf tones up the neck without the added length.

Link Removed makes parallel fret basses with a 39.5" scale length. 36" scale also.

 

[Fuzzbass]

For me, a Dingwall was surprisingly easy to play except in the upper register. I'm pretty sure I could get used to one if I wanted to, but I usually prefer the traditional 34" timbre, even for B string. On that note, I love the B strings on my Sadowsky, Nordy, and Martin Keith basses (the Keith is 34.5").

If you want piano tone without fanned fretting or super extended scale length (Knuckle), then I strongly recommend the Modulus Quantum fiver. I've heard good things about other brands, but I've owned a pair of Quantums, and can attest that the low B will deliver what you want, assuming I read you correctly. I also liked the MTD 535 I owned, in its own way, but the Quantum sounded more like a piano across all strings.

 

[mmbongo]

Roscoe is about as good as you're going to get from a 'normal' scale length bass.

 

[Brother Goose]

I've owned a neck thru Smith- THE best 34" B I've ever experienced. Simply crushes rocks and rips trees out of the ground with sweet bell-like clarity and growl. Cant think of a better bass for the format your interested in playing.

For WHOLE lot less- I'd get a 35" bass like an Ibanez BTB/MTD Kingston and upgrade electronics as needed/desired.

My personal suggestion would be a Warmoth Gecko with a wenge/purpleheart neck and ebony board. The 6 bolt neck joint is quite lovely and you have your choice of body woods/pickups/finishes.... order the option with no gecko on the board and get after it! No one will know you paid thousands less for an industry standard sound.

My fretless Gecko 6 has this neck combo on a mahogany/koa body w villex pickups and it is easily the BIGGEST sounding bass I've owned. More booty than my Alembic Persuader- Ken Smith 6- Modulus Quantum 5.

 

[Brother Goose]

For me, a Dingwall was surprisingly easy to play except in the upper register. I'm pretty sure I could get used to one if I wanted to, but I usually prefer the traditional 34" timbre, even for B string. On that note, I love the B strings on my Sadowsky, Nordy, and Martin Keith basses (the Keith is 34.5").

If you want piano tone without fanned fretting or super extended scale length (Knuckle), then I strongly recommend the Modulus Quantum fiver. I've heard good things about other brands, but I've owned a pair of Quantums, and can attest that the low B will deliver what you want, assuming I read you correctly. I also liked the MTD 535 I owned, in its own way, but the Quantum sounded more like a piano across all strings.

I'd agree w you on the piano quality of the Quantum basses- it doesn't get much denser than graphite. If my Q5 wasn't cursed w EMGs and my chops didn't suck at the time- I might still be playing her.

 

[joebar]

it all depends-
for a 34 inch scale, the best I ever owned was a warwick thumb 6 BO.
the dingwall 37 was by far the best B string otherwise.

 

[Oneirogenic]

It's probably been discussed a lot but what qualities in a bass actually make a B string better? Scale length makes sense to me but what else?

 

[scourgeofgod]

I'm sure the Dingwalls are nice, I just can't get into the look of them, not to mention the fan frets. Not to my taste.

There was a time I felt the same way. Was.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[scubaduba]

You need something with a 37"+ B string to get piano-like sustain, particularly throughout the entire length of the fretboard. Anything less will get wolftones as you fret up the neck. You can get killer open B strings at any length, the better ones are usually good to around the 12th fret, but wolftones come in around the 15th fret on the best of non-37" Bs. Realistically, most players never play the B above the 5th fret. I am fine with a 34" B since I do not shred my B string up high.

Nah. Ever try a Smith or Pedulla Thunderbass or Roscoe or Dingwall Super PJ or F Bass..... None are 37"+ scale and sound wonderful up and down the scale. Don't need to beat to death the whole 35"+ scale length again. There's a lot of great options out there in the 35" scale and, uhm, 34" too.

 

[Dave W]

All 35" scale, Modulus Q5 is the best of the non fanned fret basses that I've played or owned. Roscoe and Mike Lull are excellent as well.

Best 34" I've played? EBMM Stingray 5. It competes with my 35" scale basses.

 

[lshermanmusic]

Have you checked out Sadowsky? The 5-strings I've heard had great B's!

 

[BioWeapon]

Take note that the string you put on the bass matters just a much as the construction of the bass itself. Even a Fodera can have a crap B string if you slap junk strings on...