Slim-necked 5 with a Good B under $1.5k ????

[BarfanyShart]

I think playing high on the B string is always going to have a certain tubby quality, and lower sustain - just the nature of a thick string stopped at a super-short scale. But good installation - and a willingness to try, try again - is how you make it as good as possible. I gotta say on my new EHB1005SMS, I was delighted using the headless system for the first time to change the low string - I was like "Wow, I CAN'T screw this up!"

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Schecter Stealth or a Sire M series 5 are sweet I got the cheapest one and it’s really good for the price. The higher tier ones have even nicer appointments and are within your price range

 

[lyralain]

I gotta say on my new EHB1005SMS

How do you feel on the SMS? It'd be the wrong direction for me solving that tubbiness any, but I presume it would make fretting towards the nut easier on my small hands. Just wish it came in the same finishes!

 

[Ewo]

A suggestion as to strings:

I've played fivers for a good number of years, and IME the string choice can make quite a big difference in the way the B string sounds. (Taking care to avoid a twisted string is also big.) Lately I've gotten onto the SIT Foundations stainless steel set. Reasonably priced, and among the best I've tried--which includes some much pricier sets.

 

[Gizmot]

In my experience, the G&L L-2500 has big, fat tone and solid low end. However, the L-2500 and other 5 string models from G&L aren’t offered in several neck widths and profiles like the 4 string models. These are probably too wide and fat for you. What about Yamaha? They have some 5s with slim necks and people seem to like them a lot

 

[Gizmot]

Hey all- I experimented with a few cheapo 5s, wasn't satisfied with the B string, and decided I'd sell some things to splurge & give the EHB1005MS a shot, hoping the multiscale would help.

It's a gorgeous bass, especially the fingerboard. It's playable with my small hands (though playing octaves towards the nut I start to really feel a stretch). But it's 35" B just, still isn't cutting it for me as it stands.

an open E has some nice growl from upper freqs. The same E played with the 5th fret on a B string is dull & sinusoidal. open->fretted may not be a fair comparison, but playing up on the neck at the same frets across strings, the B always seems significantly duller than the other 4. If I apply the onboard bass boost or a shelf afterwards, the B gets WAY too boomy as well. Would need a fair bit of dynamicEQ/multiband comp to tame.

So, tl;dr questions-
1. The title- what would your recommendation B for a 5 under $1.5k that both sounds good & is playable (especially for small hands?)
2. If I were to decide to keep the gorgeous, playable EHB1005MS, other than post processing, how would you address the B? Would a thicker string gauge help?

Here’s an idea - have you tried flatwounds on the Ibanez?

 

[BassNugget]

I think the Sterling by Music Man Ray 5 (SUB Series) has a fantastic B once you put decent strings on it. This is only a few hundo. It sounds way better than it should for that price. The Ray 35 is even better at that $1000+ mark.

For sound clips, listen to anything by Juliaplaysgroove on YouTube. She uses both a SUB 4 string and. Ray 35. The SUB 5 sounds a bit more mellow than the Ray 35, just FYI.

 

[badinage]

In my experience, the G&L L-2500 has big, fat tone and solid low end. However, the L-2500 and other 5 string models from G&L aren’t offered in several neck widths and profiles like the 4 string models. These are probably too wide and fat for you. What about Yamaha? They have some 5s with slim necks and people seem to like them a lot

Yamaha has beautiful craftsmanship and a consistently great feel, but take more twiddling and string experimentation for some folks to get the sound they want. L2500s kinda always sound good.

I have two USA L2500s, one alder one ash, one K-wired one not, one string-thru, one not, different cosmetics. Every time I pick one up I think "I like this one best", then I'll pick up the other one and think "no I like THIS one best..."

 

[prowla]

I have a couple of Warwick Corvettes, German bolt-on models, which have a really good B string; that said, I tend to not play the B high.

 

[svlilioukalani]

If you have a chance try a MTD Kingston. Or one of the more expensive ones. Most all of Michael Tobias basses have a similar asymmetrical neck. There not thick to being with. But they get thinner as you move towards the G string.

 

[BarfanyShart]

How do you feel on the SMS? It'd be the wrong direction for me solving that tubbiness any, but I presume it would make fretting towards the nut easier on my small hands. Just wish it came in the same finishes!

I like it, it works for what I do probably better than anything else available. I tune in fifths CGDAE with a .130 on the low string, so I don't have any issue with tension or tone at 32". Compared to my other bass, which is a 30" 4-string with flats tuned CGDA, that SMS low string sounds like a masterpiece to me up to the 14th fret. The struggles are realer with the flatwound, shorter scale, traditional headstock instrument - THAT one you want to be careful above the 5th fret.

 

[Kevin Hailey]

Hey all- I experimented with a few cheapo 5s, wasn't satisfied with the B string, and decided I'd sell some things to splurge & give the EHB1005MS a shot, hoping the multiscale would help.

It's a gorgeous bass, especially the fingerboard. It's playable with my small hands (though playing octaves towards the nut I start to really feel a stretch). But it's 35" B just, still isn't cutting it for me as it stands.

an open E has some nice growl from upper freqs. The same E played with the 5th fret on a B string is dull & sinusoidal. open->fretted may not be a fair comparison, but playing up on the neck at the same frets across strings, the B always seems significantly duller than the other 4. If I apply the onboard bass boost or a shelf afterwards, the B gets WAY too boomy as well. Would need a fair bit of dynamicEQ/multiband comp to tame.

So, tl;dr questions-
1. The title- what would your recommendation B for a 5 under $1.5k that both sounds good & is playable (especially for small hands?)
2. If I were to decide to keep the gorgeous, playable EHB1005MS, other than post processing, how would you address the B? Would a thicker string gauge help?

If it still has the strings it came with take it to a good tech and have them set it up properly (with good strings) Of the two Ibanez basses I have owned the eq and frequency choices are dreadful, I’m currently waiting to have a nordstrand preamp installed in my bass.

 

[fork]

Idk what you consider a slim neck but my schecter studio 5 is one heck of an instrument. And I think it was 800 brand new.

I second this, loved the B string on mine. I think they're up to 1k now new.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Hey all- I experimented with a few cheapo 5s, wasn't satisfied with the B string, and decided I'd sell some things to splurge & give the EHB1005MS a shot, hoping the multiscale would help.

It's a gorgeous bass, especially the fingerboard. It's playable with my small hands (though playing octaves towards the nut I start to really feel a stretch). But it's 35" B just, still isn't cutting it for me as it stands.

an open E has some nice growl from upper freqs. The same E played with the 5th fret on a B string is dull & sinusoidal. open->fretted may not be a fair comparison, but playing up on the neck at the same frets across strings, the B always seems significantly duller than the other 4. If I apply the onboard bass boost or a shelf afterwards, the B gets WAY too boomy as well. Would need a fair bit of dynamicEQ/multiband comp to tame.

So, tl;dr questions-
1. The title- what would your recommendation B for a 5 under $1.5k that both sounds good & is playable (especially for small hands?)
2. If I were to decide to keep the gorgeous, playable EHB1005MS, other than post processing, how would you address the B? Would a thicker string gauge help?

Nothing helps. B strings are B strings. They're floppy, boomy, and lack any real tone. All of them.

Nothing helps. That's what a B string sounds like.

You can try to mix your strings with a stainless B string. That will give it more high end. But, then you have a screechy, floppy, boomy B string.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

If it still has the strings it came with take it to a good tech and have them set it up properly (with good strings) Of the two Ibanez basses I have owned the eq and frequency choices are dreadful, I’m currently waiting to have a nordstrand preamp installed in my bass.

I have the nordstrand. I notice no difference between that and a stock SR pre amp. Except it has a gain knob, and the controls are more useable. Although, anything more than "clicked on", is still too much regardless. Same goes with every pre amp I've ever played with.

 

[Ethereal Thorn]

A couple thing I'd do with the Ehb bass starting with I'd look into trying out Stringjoy custom progressive tension string set with a 135 gauge low B string next id look into upgrading the stock pickups and preamp. The bart mk1 pickups are cold and abit compressed id try something like the nordtrand zen blades the stock preamp is noisy id look into the john east uni 4 knob preamp . Next step I'd make sure the setup is dialed in perfect with the strings seat the strings on the saddle witness points adjust string height ,radius, and dial in the intonation and adjust the pickup height. After those things are all done if you are still not satisfied with the b string i dont know what else to say

 

[themickster]

Hey all- I experimented with a few cheapo 5s, wasn't satisfied with the B string, and decided I'd sell some things to splurge & give the EHB1005MS a shot, hoping the multiscale would help.

It's a gorgeous bass, especially the fingerboard. It's playable with my small hands (though playing octaves towards the nut I start to really feel a stretch). But it's 35" B just, still isn't cutting it for me as it stands.

an open E has some nice growl from upper freqs. The same E played with the 5th fret on a B string is dull & sinusoidal. open->fretted may not be a fair comparison, but playing up on the neck at the same frets across strings, the B always seems significantly duller than the other 4. If I apply the onboard bass boost or a shelf afterwards, the B gets WAY too boomy as well. Would need a fair bit of dynamicEQ/multiband comp to tame.

So, tl;dr questions-
1. The title- what would your recommendation B for a 5 under $1.5k that both sounds good & is playable (especially for small hands?)
2. If I were to decide to keep the gorgeous, playable EHB1005MS, other than post processing, how would you address the B? Would a thicker string gauge help?

How old are the strings on the EHB? Have a look at the Ibanez SR series. Even the bottom of the range is well-made.

 

[DeepHz]

Roscoe Bass! You can find some used in that price range if you look real hard.

 

[chris_b]

My vote is for a Lakland.

 

[Bill Murray]

B strings take time to dial in. They require a certain touch to tame. The bass you have currently has a decent B string and if you’re not loving it I’d blame technique and/or the preamp more than anything else.

All Ibanez’s are fairly treble/hi-mid forward. You really can’t dial that out of their basses and I find that specific EQ does any B string no favors.

That being said I’d actually recommend trying a new set of strings and adjusting the pickup height before parting ways. I’d had a similar issue on my stingray and adjusting the pickup height alone fixed it instantly.