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BEST Low B strings

#44
 
#47
Kwesi said:
I don't disagree with this statement but it's often a statement that I hear coming from 4 string players which makes me more inclined to believe that the lack of familiarity with having a B string causes some people to think that it sounds different when it may not.
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I think you are right about people assuming that all B strings are like this. I think it can come about from playing junk 5ers too. Personally I CHOOSE a bass when I buy by making sure the E on the B string and the Open E are the same and the transition between B and other strings is smooth. So these kinds of comments for the most part don't apply to my basses. EXCEPT, My Fender Deluxe V (2002) which very definitely has that B string is on a completely different bass feel.

And among my B strings on 34" basses, I'd rate my Ken Smith at the top of the pile. I'm sure there are many more great B string basses out there too.
 
#48
bassbenj said:
I think you are right about people assuming that all B strings are like this. I think it can come about from playing junk 5ers too. Personally I CHOOSE a bass when I buy by making sure the E on the B string and the Open E are the same and the transition between B and other strings is smooth. So these kinds of comments for the most part don't apply to my basses. EXCEPT, My Fender Deluxe V (2002) which very definitely has that B string is on a completely different bass feel.

And among my B strings on 34" basses, I'd rate my Ken Smith at the top of the pile. I'm sure there are many more great B string basses out there too.
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Imho. An open E and the fretted E on the B can't sound the same. Because of string gouge diference, the finger is kind of mutting the string...
 
#50
KingRazor said:
This seemed like pretty obvious stuff, but anyone struggling to get a good b string tone may want to check out this video: How to enhance your 5 strings bass guitar sound - part 1 - Frudua GFJ bass - YouTube
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Despite my years of successful setups on my basses, this video, and his others on setups, are massively informative and very helpful for those looking to learn.

On top of all the knowledge he gives, he is giving it in English, which is not his native language. It is even more impressive to me that he can make so much sense in a secondary (or tertiary) language.
 
#53
Emibass said:
Imho. An open E and the fretted E on the B can't sound the same. Because of string gouge diference, the finger is kind of mutting the string...
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Obviously "same" is relative on two different things. Shall we say the GOAL is to have them sound as much alike as possible.

I can say that it it common on cheapo basses for the open E to ring out and the E on the B string to be a dull thud. NOT the '"goal"! But we are talking fretted basses here which means a finger fretting a note is not supposed to be damping it. And on a decent bass it won't. And string difference again depends on the quality of the strings you are using (and scale length) even if one can argue that they are never going to be absolutely identical because of gauge differences.
 
#54
bassbenj said:
Obviously "same" is relative on two different things. Shall we say the GOAL is to have them sound as much alike as possible.

I can say that it it common on cheapo basses for the open E to ring out and the E on the B string to be a dull thud. NOT the '"goal"! But we are talking fretted basses here which means a finger fretting a note is not supposed to be damping it. And on a decent bass it won't. And string difference again depends on the quality of the strings you are using (and scale length) even if one can argue that they are never going to be absolutely identical because of gauge differences.
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Agree that the goal is to be close. That being said, the zero fret on my CB Rami 6 makes the open E and 5th fret on the B sound pretty darn close.

I think cheapo and even some moderately priced basses have a very thuddy low B string. I'm not allowed to bash the #1 stock bass, but I've never been impressed and they don't hold a candle to Modulus or anything handmade.
 
#58
lowendfriend said:
The easiest way to get a great B-string is to throw scale at the problem. I imagine a Dingwall has like a 37 or 38" scale? That's the driver!

What I'd like to hear about is who has the best B-string for common scales? Like 34"...

Then you'll largely be comparing string brands and types rather than scale which you can't change real well after purchase, right?

My Warwick Corvette $$ has a decent B-string using DD Chromes. It's a bit muddy with Sadowsky flats. Will going to a Roto77 B string (ignoring the QC issues I hear about for the moment) be a good move for me to try due to the higher tension for that brand?

What flatwound is >>almost<< as high a tension as a Roto77?
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I'd agree that scale length is the most commonly held way to achieve a better B. But if you design and build the bass well, chances are you'll have a good to great B without going to a 35". I've played excellent 30" scale B's before and 35's that were just okay.

A bass guitar is a system.

Then there's the issue of the player.
:hiding:

I got very good low B results with my MIA Fender 97 JD5's and 02 FMT 5. Just saying. Might be a good idea to start rating B strings by how player-proof they are;)
 

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