I have been playing five strings forever and am on a mission to make the low B cut through and not lose it due to the low frequency what are some methods and tips you may have?
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Making the low B on a 5 string cut through
- Thread starter ImNotJoel
- Start date
And use good strings. Good technique as well. Playing a bit closer to the bridge will give you a bit more punch/attack on any string. On my 5'er it is even a bit more noticeable difference on the B. I'm talking finger style (you didn't specify).
cut-through how?
The fundamental down at 31hz is going to take a good sub-woofer if you want that to cut through. Louder sounds mask quieter sounds and people don't hear well at the low-b fundamental. You'll sink a lot of power into actual 31hz and then it will likely just get boomy in most rooms.
If you're talking about harmonics, then yep, big thick strings can generate more harmonics, or you can add harmonics, i.e. distortion or enhancement. Give a copy Waves MaxxBass plugin a try. There's a demo version. You'll see it actually cuts the bass/fundamental and adds harmonics to make the bass sound cut through and still sound low.
This can at least give you an idea of how you can get the bass to cut through without actually adding fundamental support.
The fundamental down at 31hz is going to take a good sub-woofer if you want that to cut through. Louder sounds mask quieter sounds and people don't hear well at the low-b fundamental. You'll sink a lot of power into actual 31hz and then it will likely just get boomy in most rooms.
If you're talking about harmonics, then yep, big thick strings can generate more harmonics, or you can add harmonics, i.e. distortion or enhancement. Give a copy Waves MaxxBass plugin a try. There's a demo version. You'll see it actually cuts the bass/fundamental and adds harmonics to make the bass sound cut through and still sound low.
This can at least give you an idea of how you can get the bass to cut through without actually adding fundamental support.
Cut out the fundamental altogether with HPF. The fundamental distorts the speaker, producing false harmonics which muddy the natural string overtones.
- Oct 18, 2012
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When you play the low B you are getting near the bottom in terms of frequencies which humans are capable of hearing. Cutting through might not be the problem, it might just be that you can't really hear it clearly due to the limitations of the human auditory system. We all hear things differently and while normal hearing is 20 to 20,000 hz, that doesn't mean that all of us can hear every frequency. Some of us hear lower frequencies better than high and some of us hear higher frequencies better than low. You might be able to brighten your sound by adding some mids and highs but you will sacrifice some lows.
It's no avalon but I use the ART tube mp. It's cheap. Some suggest replacing the tube. I haven't done so but it does give life & seems to sharpen the cut to my (passive) 6 string. Currently running through a Fender combo & have used it through much taller rigs with good results. Sorry for the annoying recommendation that to buy more gear = solution. Otherwise you can adjust your eq to no end or check the height of your pickup(s).
Or play a good bass.
Or play a good bass.
You have nothing listed in your profile as far as your gear is concerned. Tell us what you are playing and maybe we can offer more specific suggestions.
I have tuned down to D0(18.35hz) taken out my in-ears and heard loud and clear through the PA. 
OP
Play well, use good basses, use good strings, and become friends with the sound-man
oh yeah and welcome to Talkbass noob
Dunno what you heard but there was no fundamental of D0 coming from any speaker.
OP
Play well, use good basses, use good strings, and become friends with the sound-man
oh yeah and welcome to Talkbass noob
No you didn't
I play an ibanez sr505 I play finger and I do utilize techniques my 5 cuts through pretty well I have added low mid and that has given it some body as opposed to just rumble I am really just curious to hear what other people do which there are great suggestions here as of now I use a fender fm202 guitar amp I have a ed5 nemesis head and peavy cans in storage which I have no problem with the low b cutting through with that rig and yes I always go out of my way to get along with the sound guy haha thanks for the suggestions
Untrue. Light gauge strings generate considerably more harmonics than heavier gauge strings. That is a fact.
MM
You're using a guitar amp? And you wonder why you're finding difficulty in reproducing the "B" string? 
Where are the sentences? Did punctuation suddenly go out of style?
MM
Where are the sentences? Did punctuation suddenly go out of style?
MM
I have obsessed over my B string response since started usin ERBs in the early nineties. I've gone thru battles with basses both high end and economical. I've found a million small, technical things that have helped on all my basses; 34 or 35 scale, expensive, cheap, etc. 1) Strings. Installation is everything. When installin the strings, tune them up to about 1 step below your standard tuning. Then, tune down slightly, take the B off the post (works with all strings). You'll fell/watch it untwist. Line up the spiral your string end makes with the tuning post, making sure the ball end turns, too. That twist can have a B string sound chorusy, and notes above the 7th fret won't sustain. This is especially true on string thru instruments, but it works on all. Helps me get the B to vibrate evenly along its length, and I can play my B string to the last fret, with all the sustain my G string has. EQ is another area that most guys don't study. Learn the fundamental of a B, and its overtones; 31, 62, 125, 250, or close. Cut the lowest of those frequencies, replace the cut frequencies with those harmonics. Ex; I cut at 31hz an 62hz by about 3db a piece. I add 6db at 120. This technique improve efficiency of the rig. It'll be "faster", not havin to stop an start a speaker movin a mile to reproduce a B fundamental. Folks tell me my B is too strong. Experiment. Find your formula. But, cut cut cut on eq. Boostin lows wit a B is dangerous. To tone. An clarity.
You're using a guitar amp? And you wonder why you're finding difficulty in reproducing the "B" string?
Where are the sentences? Did punctuation suddenly go out of style?
MM
I'm on my phone the typing lags and I have sausage fingers that's my excuse. Is that better? My excuse is I'm lazy.
No you didn't
Hey lets have this argument again
I forgot how many audiologist we had here at Talkbass.
