Lo B singles?

[Ggaa]

Do any 5er players buy 4 string sets and get a different low B single? Different material, core type etc from the other 4? 34" scale in particular. I like the idea of using most of the B, not just E on down. I'm using Fat Beams now, fingers player. Recs?

 

[michael_t]

Do any 5er players buy 4 string sets and get a low B single? Different material, core type etc from the other 4? 34" scale in particular?

Yes, that's what I've been doing for the last 3 yrs since I got my 5-string Yamaha (34").

 

[KenD]

Do any 5er players buy 4 string sets and get a different low B single? Different material, core type etc from the other 4? 34" scale in particular. I like the idea of using most of the B, not just E on down. I'm using Fat Beams now, fingers player. Recs?

I often buy a 4 set and then a separate 5th string to get the gauge on the 5th that I want. Sadly, chasing down singles is not that easy. Even if the manufacturer makes them, most dealers don't want to be bothered stocking them. E.g. I buy Rotosound Solo Bass 45-105 and then a single .125 because I prefer the feel of it over the .130 that comes with their 5 string set.

But won't mixing material and winds give you a tonal and/or feel imbalance?

Edit: If you're determined to do it, you can order from Newtone and they will make you any mix and match you want: steel, nickel, hex, round.

 

[Ggaa]

I often buy a 4 set and then a separate 5th string to get the gauge on the 5th that I want. Sadly, chasing down singles is not that easy. Even if the manufacturer makes them, most dealers don't want to be bothered stocking them. E.g. I buy Rotosound Solo Bass 45-105 and then a single .125 because I prefer the feel of it over the .130 that comes with their 5 string set.

But won't mixing material and winds give you a tonal and/or feel imbalance?

Dunno, maybe a floppy B could be improved with a different stiffer core. Not really advocating an unmatched string but seeing if anyone had a success with it...

I often buy a 4 set and then a separate 5th string to get the gauge on the 5th that I want. Sadly, chasing down singles is not that easy. Even if the manufacturer makes them, most dealers don't want to be bothered stocking them. E.g. I buy Rotosound Solo Bass 45-105 and then a single .125 because I prefer the feel of it over the .130 that comes with their 5 string set.

But won't mixing material and winds give you a tonal and/or feel imbalance?

Edit: If you're determined to do it, you can order from Newtone and they will make you any mix and match you want: steel, nickel, hex, round.

 

[michael_t]

Sadly, chasing down singles is not that easy. Even if the manufacturer makes them, most dealers don't want to be bothered stocking them.

I'm based in Winnipeg, and usually deal with Jason at Fret Nation (based in S. Calif.) for singles and custom sets. He's always been great for working out reasonable pricing. I just email him at [email protected] and tell him what I need.

But won't mixing material and winds give you a tonal and/or feel imbalance?

I've been using GHS Pressurewound L7200 (40-96) with GHS Progressive 130B on my Yamaha. The PWs are Alloy 52 "rollerwound" while the Prog 130 is Alloy 52 roundwound with an exposed core. They actually match up quite nicely for tonal balance by adding extra clarity and definition to the low B. The only difference I notice is the low B isn't quite as smooth in surface texture as the rest, but no big deal there.

 

[michael_t]

Dunno, maybe a floppy B could be improved with a different stiffer core. Not really advocating an unmatched string but seeing if anyone had a success with it...

I once tried a factory set of Round Core Boomers (45-65-80-100-126) on my Yamaha. While E-G worked out fine, the 126B both sounded and felt "soft and mushy". Just as an experiment, I tried the Pressurewound 128B (hex core) and found it to be a better match with the rest, except the silk colors.

 

[Jefenator]

In the double bass world, mixing & matching is a real thing. Often steel on E & A then guts on D & G.
I haven't taken that approach with a 5-string electric bass yet. They're common enough, one really ought to be able to source one nice consistent set without too much extra hassle.
I have ordered singles from the D'Addario web site. Once after a non-tapered B wouldn't fit the tailpiece on my Warwick and once to make up my own set for 5ths tuning.

 

[KenD]

Dunno, maybe a floppy B could be improved with a different stiffer core. Not really advocating an unmatched string but seeing if anyone had a success with it...

That could very well be the case. All I'm saying is that you might end up with a different "feel" or other characteristic when compared to the 4 string set.

One of the great parts of this obsession is the amount of experimentation we can do in pursuit of "the tone" I shudder to think how much I have spent on various strings while chasing tone. Mercifully, I have finally found the ones that, on my guitar in my rig, sound and feel best for me - Rotosound Solo Bass.

 

[KenD]

I'm based in Winnipeg, and usually deal with Jason at Fret Nation (based in S. Calif.) for singles and custom sets. He's always been great for working out reasonable pricing. I just email him at [email protected] and tell him what I need.



I've been using GHS Pressurewound L7200 (40-96) with GHS Progressive 130B on my Yamaha. The PWs are Alloy 52 "rollerwound" while the Prog 130 is Alloy 52 roundwound with an exposed core. They actually match up quite nicely for tonal balance by adding extra clarity and definition to the low B. The only difference I notice is the low B isn't quite as smooth in surface texture as the rest, but no big deal there.

I was surprised to discover recently that here in Canada, Yorkville Sound carries Rotosound singles, so you can get them from any store that uses Yorkville for wholesale (including their owner, Long&McQuade). They ain't cheap but they do have them.

 

[michael_t]

I often buy a 4 set and then a separate 5th string to get the gauge on the 5th that I want.

I can relate to this.

I like something fairly light for E-G, 40-100 or even 40-95, but prefer the low B to be 125-130. This means I often end up having to buy a light 4-string set and a single B.

Just ordered the GHS Bassics L6000 (40-58-80-102) and a single 130B for my Yamaha.

 

[JimmyM]

I don't like using different B strings but I do think thinner gauges sound better so when I was using XLs I would get a 4 string set and buy a 120 B. I use Dunlop SBNs now, and their 5 string sets have a 120 B so I don't need to do it anymore.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Do any 5er players buy 4 string sets and get a different low B single? Different material, core type etc from the other 4? 34" scale in particular. I like the idea of using most of the B, not just E on down. I'm using Fat Beams now, fingers player. Recs?

Yes. The reason is I have a 2006 Warwick Corvette and I use DR Low Riders. The channel on tail piece on the bass for the B string is too narrow for non-tapered strings. If you buy a full set of tapered strings, not only is the B string tapered. But so is the E and A string. Further the tapered part of the string is on the pick up side of the bridge. I have seen other playing not tap-3rd B string with the ball end about an inch on the outside of the tail piece towards the bottom of the bass, and the bulge of the string wedged in the channel.

So I buy four string non-tapered string sets and cough up the up the $10 or so or the single tapered B strings.

 

[vvvmmm]

Read the title of the thread, thought it was about a dating service for 5-string players.

Shoulda realized no one would date all y'all because you are ...

 

[micguy]

I buy singles for my 5'ers (or sometimes a 4 set and a separate B) because the gauges in 5 string sets are wacked from a tension perspective. To balance the tension of 95 E (I like light tension strings), you need a 130 B - try finding that in a 5 string set. If you like heavier gauges (say a 105 E), then you should be looking at a 140 B to match the tension for a B string. A lot of sets are 105 and 125. Why is your B string floppy? Because its too freakin' small, that's why. It's a string problem - buy the right string, and it's not a problem.

OK, rant off. Sorry if my Physics and Engineering background got the better of me.

OH, and I also ofter try a different type of string for the B - something from a "brighter" set, as B's tend to be duller than the other strings if made with the same construction.

 

[GreyBeard]

No, I just buy a 5 string set of D'Addario XL's and rock on.

 

[Killing Floor]

Check out Stringjoy if you are curious. You can mix and match any gauge you want into a set.

 

[Adhesive_X]

I like the 110 slinky set and a .150 kalium for the B

 

[Dominic D]

I occasionally buy a separate B to get the gauge I like. I Like a normal .045-.105 set with a .135-.145 B string. I only do this if I can get a B string that matches the rest. Lately I've been using D'Addario EXL170BT (.045-.107) with a D'Addario XLB145T (.145 tapered).

 

[micahwc]

I did that a few times before I started ordering custom string gauges.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

I don't like mixing strings personally I just ordered my strings using a tension calculator. I. fairly recently switched to use string joy sets and they have been perfect on my 5 strings