Suggestions Please

[flyer103]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for suggestions on ways to get my low B string to sound better. Over the years I've played a variety of 5 strings mostly straight in to the amp. I'm wondering if maybe a little compression or extra gain might help. Any suggestions appreciated. You all have a great day!

 

[Zooberwerx]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for suggestions on ways to get my low B string to sound better. Over the years I've played a variety of 5 strings mostly straight in to the amp. I'm wondering if maybe a little compression or extra gain might help. Any suggestions appreciated. You all have a great day!

What’s wrong with the B string response as-is?

Riis

 

[flyer103]

Hi Riis, low B seems to have a little less sustain and the tone is not quite as well defined as the other strings

 

[DonaldR]

My B string sounds better on my active vs passive. Maybe have a look at an eq pedal?

 

[Zooberwerx]

Hi Riis, low B seems to have a little less sustain and the tone is not quite as well defined as the other strings

Hmmm…could be a string, string install, or set-up issue…or combination. Are you setting witness points and such? Per your comments, this appears to be a chronic issue.

If we’ve eliminated all of the above, I’d recommend a HPF, compressor, and maybe a character pedal but that’s just me. I’d expect a balanced response across the string set even without the peripherals, though.

Riis

 

[bassbrad]

Getting the Lo B string notes to speak begins with good setup and technique before throwing any processing into the mix IME. Trying to "fix" anything with effects will always be the first mistake that usually only gets worse. I went through a lot of experimenting to find the proper setup for my Lo B basses between finding the right string set, proper witness points and pickup height but once it was right it was magic. I also find that a softer touch helps those low notes to speak. EQ, gain staging and compression can help to tighten things up once the basic tone is working.

Another concern is finding the sweet spot on an amp and having a speaker cab that can handle the lower fundamental. Oddly using an HPF can actually help to tighten things up.

 

[flyer103]

Thanks. What is a "witness point?"

 

[Zooberwerx]

Thanks. What is a "witness point?"

Essentially, the clean delineation of the vibrating string path. Make sure you have adequate break angles over the bridge saddles and nut slot (3+ wraps). Once tuned-to-pitch, press down the string firmly / forcibly on the leading (fingerboard) aspects at the saddle and nut slot. This creates a well-defined bend in the string which, in a sense, isolates the string from the non-vibrating afterlengths.

Riis

 

[Medicine Man]

Sometimes it can also be a limitation of your cabinet or other amplification/signal chain stuff.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Thanks. What is a "witness point?"

Push the string down in front and behind the saddles.And behind the nut.
Push the strings from the pegs straight if necessary.
This is "setting the witness points"

Edit:Because of the pressure that is needed,I use a screwdriver handle to push down behind the saddles.

 

[Michael Jewels]

Never underestimate a good set up.

And if/when you get a set up, ask the tech all the questions you have.

I dismissed set ups as just the opinions of others, until I had my first bass set up, about 10 years ago.

I couldn't believe the difference.

Excellent advice in this thread so far.

Mike

 

[Reedt2000]

This is all over your B string I assume? If it's just open look at the nut material and/or nut slot. But I'm with @Zooberwerx eliminate instal issues on the string first. Maybe try stainless strings, I find they help with low end clarity (I'm playing mainly spector basses, though I like them on my Warwick and sadowsky metroline pj too). Maybe amp eq, but adding outboard stuff is the last thing I'd try.

 

[faulknersj]

I have had luck trying out different strings…stainless steel…tapered…different gauges etc and don’t sleep on adjusting pickup heights.

If you have 2 pickups, Listen to what your b string sounds like with the neck pickup and bridge pickup solo’d. Usually, the Bridge pickup will produce a more defined tone in my experience so I adjust pickup heights to optimize the tone of the B String with both pickups on full.

 

[JC Nelson]

If you share which bass and what strings you are currently using, perhaps someone has the same and could give helpful advise.

I traded my 5 string Fender American Pro P Bass for a Mensinger Short Scale 6 String that has a Monster B string.
This would lead me to believe you may just need a new bass

 

[scottfeldstein]

This is one of the reasons why there are basses with scale lengths beyond 34". That length was decided on well before low B strings were a thing. And the fact is, a lot of them don't sound good at that scale length because there isn't enough string tension. Increasing that length even just to 35" helps a lot because you have to increase the tension more to reach pitch, making it sound more defined and more "piano-like." If you really want a great B string sound, you might look at an extended scale length or a multi scale bass.

 

[J Wilson]

My best advice would echo Michael Jewels advice above:

IF you are not well-grounded in how to set up your bass, I would urge you to find an experienced, professional guitar repairman (NOTE: Not 'some guy bubba knows that works on geetars' or the kid on the counter at Guitar Center), take a new set of your preferred strings in with it. Explain your concerns and see where he takes you.

B-strings are in terms of the B-string can be fussy in terms of pickup clearance, string up issues (the witness points mentioned above), and other factors a guitar tech would spot.

Plus you only ever make adjustments that involve listening for balance, tone, etc., with anything but brand-new strings: Played in strings will never give you an accurate picture. Longer than 34" scale instruments are always an option, at the expense of sometimes larger/longer instruments, and the new fanned-fret axes are also a choice. I will say some can hear a difference, but not everyone does.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

@flyer103, if you listen to the DI with headphones it will probably sound much, much better, maybe even close enough to perfect. Have you tried this?
I really want to hear your answer, thank you.

 

[IronLung1986]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for suggestions on ways to get my low B string to sound better. Over the years I've played a variety of 5 strings mostly straight in to the amp. I'm wondering if maybe a little compression or extra gain might help. Any suggestions appreciated. You all have a great day!

It's tricky. You shouldn't need anything outside the bass, like a compressor or EQ. The string should be able to be made viable on its own. But, it comes down to very fine adjustments of the bridge saddle height, pickup height, and truss rod. Between the three, it'll get there. It's a matter of almost microscopically small adjustments. I've never met a B string that could be lower than the E string, following the curve of the fretboard as you'd expect. That always leads to them bottoming out or not having enough energy in my experience. They have to be pretty much the same saddle height as the E string, making them disproportionately far from the fingerboard than the other strings. The string gauge can be a factor too. You just have to try stuff.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

@flyer103, if your cab is ported and is marketed as for electric bass (the usual brands we talk about here), there's a "95%" chance that it sounds bad at 31Hz, or even at 41Hz, by design (you're expected to cut that off with a HPF).

Almost no one notices this, but it disappointed and bothered me very much, and it might be what is bothering you.

If you have a USB interface you can plug the bass into and listen with headphones, that would be another way to bypass the cab.

 

[Pep]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for suggestions on ways to get my low B string to sound better. Over the years I've played a variety of 5 strings mostly straight in to the amp. I'm wondering if maybe a little compression or extra gain might help. Any suggestions appreciated. You all have a great day!

What are you playing through (amp & cab)?