How to choose a 5

[TheInsane]

i think what's important is how the EADG strings feel and sound rather than the B. seriously, you'll be playing a lot more on the 4 than plonking the open B, so it shouldnt be that high on a piority list (and sometimes a floppy B may be due to dead/bad stock strings).

balance and how it sits on a strap/sitting/standing would be my first thing i notice. no point getting a boat anchor with a nice B.

I guess thats your opinion but it also depends on what kind of music you play. I play in a death metal band and because of the nature of the music I play alot on the B string. That and the E stringa re probably what I use the most. The whole band is tuned in C and so I tune my bass up one step. I use it all the time so it all depends on the kind of music you play.

I dont get why people would wanbt aB string and not be that concerned with how it sounds. If I were to buy a new 5-stringer that would be one of the things that were important to me even if I didnt plan on playing a open B.