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Issues on B-string

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted member 261632
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted member 261632

Apr 16, 2014
632
579
#1
Good afternoon. I have a question on a "problem" I am facing with 1 of my Frankensteined Fender 5 string bass.

The main specs of this particular bass are:
- alder body - jazz bass shape. Lacquered high gloss (will be sanded to satin (black))
- 1 piece maple neck
- Schaller 3D-5
- EMG40-series pickups
- EMG onboard EQ section
- 18V powered.

While I can get my lower 4 strings (E-A-D-G) as tight sounding as I want to, I cannot get that low B-string as massive sounding as the other strings. There is always something "hollow" in that strings sound where the full bass spectrum is represented in the other strings.
Here is what I tried:
  • change pickups at the bridge from EMG40DC to 40CS (and vice-versa)
  • change onboard electronics from 2 band to 3 band to 2 band with passive tonecontrol which is always active (not in that particular order - all EMG))
  • change strings (Ernie Ball regular slinkies 45-65-80-100-130) to a heavy set (Ernie Ball heavy slinkies 50-70-85-105-135) to now a set of Sadowsky 45-65-80-100-130T (roundwound over hex core).
Before cashing out on yet another set of electronics etc... I would like to get the input of the professional experts.

Any suggestion is welcome!

(if in wrong section/forum, please forgive me and move it to the correct forum.)
(I did use the search function and applied most of the suggestions)
 
#2
A lot of B strings are a little lower volume wise and woolly sounding. The low B string gauge doesn't help. Your amplification / cabs will also struggle to reproduce a low B too. There's a lot that can effect it. Neck pickups tend to make low B woolley and lower volume. Try favouring the bridge pickup for a while and see if that's better. Also, with a wide spaced 5, the low B string (which vibrates a lot more than the other strings) can actually be out of the reading zone of the PU, which reduces gain for that string. String choice is important too, some strings can choke a low B, others ring truer. Check that the nut isn't holding the Low B too firmly, it can increase the tuning pull on the string. Above the 12th fret, low B's start to gain an odd harmonic anyhow. You'll notice the same thing with the E string as you go even higher up the board. String height can have a play here too. The closer a string is to the pickup, the more narrow the reading aperture. If the Low B is unusually far away from the PU then it needs a wider area to read the string.
The bass construction may not help either, the neck could be too stiff or it could not stiff enough. A clear Low B needs the right neck stiffness. I hope this helps a little.
 
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#5
I play BEAD and have to deal with this. In my case one time it was a twisted string. Intonation adjustment helped as well. The B also sounds a little better on my active bass with the bass boosted a bit. I have 3 basses strung BEAD for songs requiring a B and Bb. I used to think Vs were excluded from the weak string thing because they were made for it but I've found some Vs have issues too. An EQ might be in order to boost the lacking frequencies. The EQ on my active pretty much takes care of the weak B. Luckily when using the BEAD, Mostly the B and E are played so the EQ can be set for just those strings. I feel your pain.
 
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#6
GMC said:
A lot of B strings are a little lower volume wise and woolly sounding. The low B string gauge doesn't help. Your amplification / cabs will also struggle to reproduce a low B too. There's a lot that can effect it. Neck pickups tend to make low B woolley and lower volume. Try favouring the bridge pickup for a while and see if that's better. Also, with a wide spaced 5, the low B string (which vibrates a lot more than the other strings) can actually be out of the reading zone of the PU, which reduces gain for that string. String choice is important too, some strings can choke a low B, others ring truer. Check that the nut isn't holding the Low B too firmly, it can increase the tuning pull on the string. Above the 12th fret, low B's start to gain an odd harmonic anyhow. You'll notice the same thing with the E string as you go even higher up the board. String height can have a play here too. The closer a string is to the pickup, the more narrow the reading aperture. If the Low B is unusually far away from the PU then it needs a wider area to read the string.
The bass construction may not help either, the neck could be too stiff or it could not stiff enough. A clear Low B needs the right neck stiffness. I hope this helps a little.
Click to expand...

This pretty much sums things up. You need a longer scale to get your notes to ring true and clear as you fret up the neck. Much like a Dingwall or a piano utilizes to get a clear note. The rigidity of the neck also plays a big role in where the wolftones will appear on the fretboard.
 
#7
Thnks for the replies so far... Given the nice sounding B-strings of both Sadowsky and Sire basses, would moving to single coil pickups be a step into the better direction? Or wouldn't it matter.
 
#9
Amp and cabinet(s) are Ashdown ABM series, no issues there. Only when recording/rehearsing/practicing at home, the OCD in my head is arising.
 
#10
Deleted member 261632 said:
Thnks for the replies so far... Given the nice sounding B-strings of both Sadowsky and Sire basses, would moving to single coil pickups be a step into the better direction? Or wouldn't it matter.
Click to expand...


I've never heard of different pickups fixing a bad B on a fiver. It's almost always construction or setup causing this issues.

Unfortunately, not all fivers are created equal. Sadowskys have killer Bs no matter the pickup because they're built that way.
 
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#11
I will continue to search, however, yesterday I managed to fatten up/make that B-string less "hollow" by meddling with the 3 band EMG EQ. Boosting the lower end of the mid spectrum, while cutting a bit of treble (new string sizzle) and boosting a bit of bass seemed to have some kind of improvement.

So I take it I am on the right way. Thanks for the suggestions and keep 'em coming for the other bassplayers around here. :beaver:
 

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