• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

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

#43
Bassamatic said:
You should definitely be able to find a used Cirrus 5 under that amount. simply the best.

And David - thanks for the hints on the B string installation.
Click to expand...
This would be my recomendation as well. A great 35" bass in every aspect with a skinny neck.

Especially good since you want a thin neck and several of the other basses also mentioned (nice as they are) are not particularly thin-necked. Prices are increasing, but you should still be able to find one for less than 1.5k. Maybe even one of the more interesting custom shop wood combos. I'm not a skinny-neck fan, but I can't deny that my Dad's Cirrus 4 With redwood top is a thing of beauty and sounds and plays exceptionally well. Nice and light also.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Thundar
#49
Leonid Nidis said:
Well the US made l2500 I owned had a 1.75 nut,that's a 4 string 57p bass neck on a 5 string.seems thin to me.
Click to expand...

That’s true about the nut with and the string spacing too, but the profile is fairly deep. Looking for some numbers but mine is a chonker. I’ve heard more recent US models were slimmed down so OP should definitely try to feel one if slimness is important.
 
#50
David McIntire said:
I've had on B string on a bass guitar defeat me in many, many years. It is all about the installation of the string. For the first few years I used Low B equipped basses, I also found it hard to get my B string to play and sound like the others. One day, whenI was changing my B, I realized it had twisted due to the ball end being held in position while the string twisted around the tuner's post. On my next install, I tuned the string to a half step below pitch, then loosened the tuner til I could remove the string's coil. The coil rotated once loose. I re installed the coil after lining it up with the post, tuned up. The B was far better. I then set the witness points, and tuned again. My B string improved dramatically, so I've used this technique since. My B strings play great all the way up the neck, no matter scale, or brand or gauge or type of bass. The strings also last longer. There are many ways to remove the twist of the bigger strings. But this way works great for me. I believe careful installation is key to a great B string. I hope it helps you.
Click to expand...

Just seeking some clarification here. When you say you reinstalled the string after aligning the coil on the tuner peg, was it the ball end that turned at the bridge? Or were you able to fix it at the tuner end?

I've had similar issues with the B string on my Yamaha recently and I think it may be due to the string being twisted. But I installed mine going through the body rather than top loading, so once they're installed there's no hope of fixing a twist. I think I will top load my next set of strings and see if that helps avoid twists.
 
  • Like
Reactions: David McIntire
#51
lyralain said:
Would a thicker string gauge help?
Click to expand...

I would think a thinner string would be the key, not thicker. I really like 120 B strings on 35" scale

lyralain said:
And atm it's the roundwounds that came stock with the EHB. .045 through .130.
Click to expand...

Ibanez stock strings are trash.

I had great luck with DR Lo-Rider Steel 45-125 on my EHB1005. Really improved the B string and tightened up the whole bass.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aloe and AlexanderB
#56
Hear me out on this, as it might change your view on the problem at hand.

You will get A LOT of single B strings for experimenting with, if you compare to the cost of upgrading to a different bass!

I have a "first year" (2007) MIC Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V, from before the steady decline in matrial and QC sets in. (Fading quality...) While a low cost bass, the wood used, and the 15 years of setting in, has made it a stable and even sounding bass. (Not the stock pickups, but that is a different issue.) The neck is a bit smaller and quicker than all Fender fivers I have tried.

I have so far used three different sets of strings on it, with the same goal as OP. (Did the same procedure for my MIA Fender Jazz Bass Plus V a few years ago, with good results.)
As already mentioned, the thicker, less compliant B string will sound tubby and dull. My solution for the Squier ended up similar to what I used in the above Plus V, namely stainless rounds (my preferred choice for any Jazz so far,) with a tapered B string.
Works really well, sits nicely in the mix and feels consistent to play. The typical downside is the out of tune harmonics once you approach the 12:th fret and up, but for me, that is a non issue. The meat and potato part of the neck offers a Bstring with articulation, sustain and good transition to E string. The "lowly" Squier Affinity works surprisingly well in the mix, and sounds very close to my once top of the line Fender...
Good luck.
 
#57
lyralain said:
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?
Click to expand...
Schecter Stilleto 5, try it 1st for width tho.
 
#58
AlexanderB said:
Hear me out on this, as it might change your view on the problem at hand.

You will get A LOT of single B strings for experimenting with, if you compare to the cost of upgrading to a different bass!

I have a "first year" (2007) MIC Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V, from before the steady decline in matrial and QC sets in. (Fading quality...) While a low cost bass, the wood used, and the 15 years of setting in, has made it a stable and even sounding bass. (Not the stock pickups, but that is a different issue.) The neck is a bit smaller and quicker than all Fender fivers I have tried.

I have so far used three different sets of strings on it, with the same goal as OP. (Did the same procedure for my MIA Fender Jazz Bass Plus V a few years ago, with good results.)
As already mentioned, the thicker, less compliant B string will sound tubby and dull. My solution for the Squier ended up similar to what I used in the above Plus V, namely stainless rounds (my preferred choice for any Jazz so far,) with a tapered B string.
Works really well, sits nicely in the mix and feels consistent to play. The typical downside is the out of tune harmonics once you approach the 12:th fret and up, but for me, that is a non issue. The meat and potato part of the neck offers a Bstring with articulation, sustain and good transition to E string. The "lowly" Squier Affinity works surprisingly well in the mix, and sounds very close to my once top of the line Fender...
Good luck.
Click to expand...
I suggest a Fender Stealth String Retainer (get them on Amazon for $25), that increases the break angle of the string (along with the right strings I like EB cobalts for flats and Kalium Hybrids for rounds)and made my Jazz 5 killer on the B
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: AlexanderB
#59
lyralain said:
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?
Click to expand...
Used Stingray 5...with some haggling skills ;)
 
#60
Willie5String said:
I suggest a Fender Stealth String Retainer (get them on Amazon for $25), that increases the break angle of the string (along with the right strings I like EB cobalts for flats and Kalium Hybrids for rounds)and made my Jazz 5 killer on the B
Click to expand...

Good suggestion! Shielding, new pickups and (now) the Strongarm (?) retainer are all on my to-do list for that bass. And a new pick guard, because I want...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back