Low B not cutting through

[Ivarrr]

Actually most pro bassists are moving away from fours and going to fives.

[citation needed]

 

[KayXero]

Actually most pro bassists are moving away from fours and going to fives. In fact, I can't think of a single pro bassist who is playing a four-string any more. I'm not a pro, yet even my B strings cut through. It's about knowing how to EQ your gear.

You really cant think of a pro who doesnt use a 4?

Pino Pallidino - John Mayer Trio

 

[Ric5]

Many bass players boost bass to get the modern sound. Then they get a 5 string and they continue to boost bass. This makes the B boomy.

Turn all of your tone knobs to 12 noon. Then from there boost mids. Adjust treble and bass to taste. But don't overwhelm the low B with bass. Allow some of the overtones to come through. The the low b will cut through. A small amount of distortion and or tube growl will also help.

 

[nostatic]

ignore the moon phase at your own peril...

 

[Munjibunga]

When Mercury goes into retrograde, I go fishin'. And the fishin's good.

 

[BobWestbrook]

The frequency for the low B is about 30 hz, and the wavelength is about 37 1/2 feet. It's outside of the normal hearing range of chickens, parakeets, canaries, penguins, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, hamsters, and rats. The low range of human hearing is 20 hz, and the approximate lowest sound a human bass voice can make is 64 hz.

This has nothing to do with cutting through the mix, unless of course your audience is a bunch of animals.

 

[Sundogue]

The frequency for the low B is about 30 hz, and the wavelength is about 37 1/2 feet. It's outside of the normal hearing range of chickens, parakeets, canaries, penguins, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, hamsters, and rats. The low range of human hearing is 20 hz, and the approximate lowest sound a human bass voice can make is 64 hz.

This has nothing to do with cutting through the mix, unless of course your audience is a bunch of animals.

Actually, since most all rigs are incapable of even producing the fundamental of the low B, it is the harmonics above it that can get lost and make it sound dull. That's the issue.

I maintain that how the string gets played has more effect on it's tonal output. It is a finicky, large, heavy string that doesn't like to be struck hard and if it is, it usually gets choked to varying degrees.

 

[bassbrock]

Actually, since most all rigs are incapable of even producing the fundamental of the low B, it is the harmonics above it that can get lost and make it sound dull. That's the issue.

+1 - This is why cabs like the Acme Low B2 and B4 were made. That and greenboy's Fearful cabs.

 

[Zolbol]

Sometimes less is more. There are times when in a given room the acoustics play with your sound and you will actually gain more tone and cutting ability on the low B by playing it lighter than usual.

I find the low B to be a string that sings when plucked lighter relative to the other strings and absolutely suffocates itself when played the same or harder in an attempt to be heard better.

This ^

Actually, since most all rigs are incapable of even producing the fundamental of the low B, it is the harmonics above it that can get lost and make it sound dull. That's the issue.

I maintain that how the string gets played has more effect on it's tonal output. It is a finicky, large, heavy string that doesn't like to be struck hard and if it is, it usually gets choked to varying degrees.

Sundogue hit the nail on the head I reckon... I'v noticed the exact same thing with my Ibanez Roadgear...

Rock it

 

[CapnSev]

When Mercury goes into retrograde, I go fishin'. And the fishin's good.

Lots o big ones in this thread too.

 

[OtterOnBass]

I only fish for bass. and I play the B string near the bridge.

 

[bubinga5]

Actually most pro bassists are moving away from fours and going to fives. In fact, I can't think of a single pro bassist who is playing a four-string any more. I'm not a pro, yet even my B strings cut through. It's about knowing how to EQ your gear.

there are lots and lots of pro's/musicians who play 4's...? to many its all you need..

 

[RichC123]

Get a Dingwall. Problem solved.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

You probably need to raise your pickup on the B-string side, and play with your low mids and bass. The ~61Hz harmonic is a majority of what you hear when you play the string.

You might also try a heavier B-string.

 

[spade2you]

I only fish for bass. and I play the B string near the bridge.

but what if you don't live near a bridge?

 

[chadhargis]

I have two fivers. A G&L L-2500 and a Ibanez BTB 1305e. The G&L B string hits like a sledgehammer. A big throbbing THUD when played.

The Ibanez B doesn't seem as "loud", but the speakers jump out of the cabinet, my compressor lights up like a Christmas tree, and the room rattles like an earthquake...but it's not as easily heard as the G&L.

Go figure.

 

[DeliriumTremens]

Actually most pro bassists are moving away from fours and going to fives. In fact, I can't think of a single pro bassist who is playing a four-string any more. I'm not a pro, yet even my B strings cut through. It's about knowing how to EQ your gear.

No pro bassists who play 4s? In what field because the majority of pros play 4 strings. Maybe you mean session players?

 

[flipper_gv]

[citation needed]

it's munji, he doesn't need one XD.

But honestly, he is right. There are a lot more pro bassists going with a 5 than before. Except Will Lee.

 

[Munjibunga]

but what if you don't live near a bridge?

What if you live under the bridge, like me?

 

[Munjibunga]

it's munji, he doesn't need one XD.

But honestly, he is right. There are a lot more pro bassists going with a 5 than before. Except Will Lee.

I have over 22,000 posts. Why would anyone need me to cite a source?