Is there a 5 string whose B actually matches the other strings?

[StayLow]

I've gigged a lot of 5'ers from Fender to Sadowsky, mostly 34", and never had an issue. Strings are a big factor however I haven't been very picky about strings either, meaning if I like the 4-string set I'm fine with the 5 in whatever gauge, my cabs are just regular quality cabs.

Pop, funk, rock, all good. With the benefit of hearing a lot of recordings I'm confident the balance is as it should be, and if I can do it anyone can.

And how many people from top pros to bar band bassists to YouTube demos have you heard sound great on a 5'er, 34" scale, normal frets Fender...Ibanez...whatever....guys who've never even heard of fanned frets. Nothing fancy. Check the link in my sig for example, or this; Proof Squier is rubbish. Hilarious video!

I do my own setups and know how to EQ, however I think the biggest thing is putting enough time into it so your ear and hands get used to it. I say this because if anything I've had issues with the C string on my 6'ers but working on plucking hand placement sorted that out easily.

 

[Systolic]

It is a string, not bass issue.
Most 5 string sets are badly balanced. I love Kalium balanced sets for this reason.
The B is typically too small while D and G are too tensed.

Also true, on my 35" scale BTB i run .142, .114, .86, .63, .45. I feel like I get a very good low B from the gear that I have.

That being said, if I had my way, I'd be playing a Dingwall into a Mesa Subway head through a fEarless cab.

 

[Sparkdog]

I don't get the BEAD thing. Why would you want to play in what is essentially a different tuning as opposed to just using a 5 string? The additional notes I need are in the low register, but i don't want to give up my G string to get them. I know some guys are uncomfortable with the feel and mechanics of a 5 so they do the BEAD thing, but I found the switch fairly easy.

School me...what is the attraction of that approach?

Thanks.

 

[Jazz Ad]

School me...what is the attraction of that approach?

You need a low B but don't have a 5 string bass available, you prefer the feel of a 4 string neck or you simply don't need a high G for the music you play.

Why don't you play a 6 stringer so you don't give up the high C ? The switch is fairly easy.
See what I mean ?

 

[steelbed45]

Though not as precise as Kalium, I've been a big fan of the D'Addario balanced tension sets, specifically the .45-.107. When adding the 5th string, I checked the tension guides. The Kalium tension chart suggested a .142, D'Addario a .145. I added the .145 and I'm pretty happy.

 

[Sparkdog]

So what I'm gleaning from the discussion so far is that scale is less important than the gauge of the B string, and bigger is better...right?

I typically play 45-15 sets so maybe what I need to do is find a set with a big fat B string, like .130 or more.

 

[dazmond]

Also true, on my 35" scale BTB i run .142, .114, .86, .63, .45. I feel like I get a very good low B from the gear that I have.

That being said, if I had my way, I'd be playing a Dingwall into a Mesa Subway head through a fEarless cab.

Oh! That's my exact setup I love the b string on my dingwall. I use a tapered string for my other 34" bass which does help, but going up the neck it does still start to get boomy. The dingwall does not. So if you don't want a multiscale instrument, good strings can make a huge difference

 

[Sparkdog]

Oh! That's my exact setup I love the b string on my dingwall. I use a tapered string for my other 34" bass which does help, but going up the neck it does still start to get boomy. The dingwall does not. So if you don't want a multiscale instrument, good strings can make a huge difference

How does the tapered B differ from a regular wound string?

 

[Afc70]

All my basses are 5 strings, & they all have great balance between all strings, My Modulus (35" scale) Q-5 is strung 45-130 and the b string is amazing- the bass is incredible.. my Bossa ob5- (34" scale)is strung 40-120 & it sounds amazing too- I've bought, traded etc lots of 5'ers- status graphite, ken smith, brubaker custom, Fibenare, f-bass- Can't remember ever having one with a bad sounding b string, and they all were evenly balanced across the strings. There are killer 5'ers out there, maybe you'll find the right one

 

[RED J]

Tune a four string BEAD.
My Bs match the other strings on all three basses I have tuned that way, two of which aren't expensive.

I've kind of landed here too. A fifth string does something that just makes everything else sound mushy to my ears. I thought I was nuts till I heard some others make a similar observation.

A BEAD P bass is a thing of great beauty. Doesn't have to be tort or sunburst or have flats though.

 

[StayLow]

I don't get the BEAD thing. Why would you want to play in what is essentially a different tuning as opposed to just using a 5 string? The additional notes I need are in the low register, but i don't want to give up my G string to get them. I know some guys are uncomfortable with the feel and mechanics of a 5 so they do the BEAD thing, but I found the switch fairly easy.

School me...what is the attraction of that approach?

Thanks.

I haven't yet, but plan to try BEAD despite having some very sweet high-end 5'ers, and 6'ers, I'm totally comfortable playing. I may simply prefer the look, feel, or weight of the 4, or the greater ease of performing with some flash on it.

Some don't live on credit and dont view the best solution as "buy more!", or may prefer to go with what they know.

TLDR; I do what I want.

 

[XLunacy]

I believe that due to its size, the installation of a B string requires a little more attention.
After I put new strings on my bass, I usually push them down towards the body right before the bridge.
I also like to relieve the torsion caused by the rotation of the tuning keys by rolling the string on itself at the bridge:



Not sure if these help that much, but I've never felt like complaining about the tone of my B.

 

[Sparkdog]

Hmmm...I'm going to throw something out that five string lovers will find inflammatory It's not meant to be though.

You know that commercial where they basically say your house smells but you have gone "nose blind" to it? I have had numerous encounters with bassists who tell me about the killer B string on their basses, then they play it and the B string SOUNDS NOTHING LIKE THE OTHER 4 STRINGS. It sounds GOOD, but it definitely doesn't sound the SAME as the E, A, D, and G strings. It's like a totally different instrument when they drop that low B.

They don't hear it though. I think you get accustomed to that huge frequency drop and after a while it sounds normal to you.

I want a great sounding B of course, but that's never been the issue for me. I'm trying to get to where I can move between the A, E, and B strings and it all sounds balanced and blended. I guess I need to find a 5 string that feels really good to me and then experiment a lot more with strings.

I really appreciate all the feedback here, very helpful.

 

[Jason Hollar]

The right mix for me for a solid low B is a 40-100 set plus 130 on my 35" scale Yamaha.

I usually prefer 45-105 on my Fender, but somehow that mixed guage works better on the 5'er.

 

[dazmond]

A tapered string has fewer windings close to the bridge. Those strings generally sound a little brighter which can help a muddy B. Also balanced tension string set will help with some issues

 

[bass_lord_mutha]

I also think it's more an issue with string selection than anything. I've mostly been playing DR Fat Beams for the past 6 years or so, then I tried several sets of D'Addario FlexSteels on my 35" scale Peavey Cirrus fivers and Ibanez BTB7E 7 string and the B sounded like mud. went back to the DRs and the B sounds terrific again. Even tuning to drop A holds up well.

 

[jaysbass2002]

My Carvin XB75 is 35 1/4'' scale. Nice B!!

 

[bassbenj]

I'm a Jazz Bass guy, so that makes the most sense for me, but is there a bass out there that truly gets the balance thing right? Is it a scale thing, like 34 vs 35", or an active vs passive thing? Are there strings that will make that B blend better with the others?

Looking for guidance from my TB brothers!

Well there's your problem. Hey I have not had a balance problem with lo B or hi C. But I won't buy a bass that does not meet my balance standards. I want to hear a slow progressive change in character across the strings and open E and fifth fret B should have nearly imperceptible differences. My Modulus is obviously the standard. But hey My Ken Smith And Alembic are virtually as good. My bass with the biggest problem (ready for this) is my Fender Jazz V. It's a 2002 and it took quite a bit if experimentation with strings and setup to get it out of the Meh range though it still isn't great. Post 2008 Fenders are said to not have the problems mine did. But with some trial and error even one like mine was fixed. Yeah, setup and experimentation can be a pain, but it's important to me to have playing on the higher frets of the B string to not sound different from playing on the lower frets of the E string.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

It's not the bass, it's the set of strings!

 

[StayLow]

Hmmm...I'm going to throw something out that five string lovers will find inflammatory It's not meant to be though.

You know that commercial where they basically say your house smells but you have gone "nose blind" to it? I have had numerous encounters with bassists who tell me about the killer B string on their basses, then they play it and the B string SOUNDS NOTHING LIKE THE OTHER 4 STRINGS. It sounds GOOD, but it definitely doesn't sound the SAME as the E, A, D, and G strings. It's like a totally different instrument when they drop that low B.

They don't hear it though. I think you get accustomed to that huge frequency drop and after a while it sounds normal to you.

I want a great sounding B of course, but that's never been the issue for me. I'm trying to get to where I can move between the A, E, and B strings and it all sounds balanced and blended. I guess I need to find a 5 string that feels really good to me and then experiment a lot more with strings.

I really appreciate all the feedback here, very helpful.

Did you check the link in my sig or the one I posted above; how do those guys sound?

I'm unsure what you mean by "frequency drop". A C played low on the B sounds different than it does on the A string or high on the G string of course. Same as it sounds different on various spots on a 4 string. Same as when you go very low or high on a piano. I think that's a good thing. It's why cats don't tend to solo on the lower strings, not even if they have fanned frets. If the timbre doesn't suit your tastes, that's another thing.

One huge benefit of a 5-string is for when guitarists tune down. You can stay in standard tuning, keep your ears trained for where a given note is on the instrument, and enjoy the sour look on their faces when you're playing the same thing with different finger positioning than theirs. Especially when you have to remind them how the part goes. How do you like it now? That's easily worth the cost of a low-end 5 string!