Venturing in to the low B

[socialleper]

I think 35" scale can make the B string feel slightly nicer to play, but it doesn't automatically provide better tone when amplified. I have a 35" scale Lakland Skyline and a 34" scale Stingray, and both have a nice sounding B string - the 35 does not sound better than the 34.

Something I like about both of these instruments is that their B strings sound good higher up the neck: a B string isn't just about all low notes all the time.

The difference here is the EQ.
I personally find that bridge pickups work better for low tunings because the are where the string is tighter and have more of mid focus. If the Lakland is a 55-02 or 44-02, if you pan to the back pickup, it will sound exactly like a Stingray.
The 35" scale provides more tension to the string, giving it more articulation. If all you want is a low fundamental, or use especially stiff strings, it isn't as important, but for a someone please quick and heavy like me, 34" scale basses sound like a mess. The B is muddy and flops around like a dead fish.

 

[Aussie Player]

"Woke up today and heard a song that is finally pushing me to get a 5 string."

This statement suggests you do not have a 5'er yet and are contemplating on a purchase as well as anticipating issues with B string distortion rather than actually experiencing it.

Firstly, I recommend 2 things:
1. Take a look at the Fender Squier Affinity Jazz 5. The cheapest and grossly underestimated.
2. Forget about problems until you have them.

Of all the Rumbles, I personally liked the tone of the 40W over all the other options and for studio work or practice, it will be fine.

My opinion was developed after about 15 years trying to adopt a 5 string where I eventually dropped it and stayed with the 4 string which created my playing style and gives me old school confidence when playing out. it is the best format for "me". My first was a Warwick Rock Bass when first introduced early 2000's, then a Squier Affinity Jazz 5, Fender AM Jazz 5, Squier Precision 5 (with Jazz Pickups) and lastly an Alembic Essence 5. I still have the Affinity Jazz 5 but fitted AM hardware and Fender Pickups and it proved the best for me in weigh, neck comfort and the growl I like.

Recommend to start cheap and explore the concept as it has to work for you as a player.

 

[burgerdj]

Thanks for your response. Maybe i mispoke on my post, I don’t play the 40 with a drummer/band. I just play it at home and was wondering how a single 10” speaker would handle the low B.

im more interested in these 5 stringers overall performance/tone since i kept reading of people having the farting sound on whatever their amp is and how it is “fixed” it needed.

You can mitigate overexcursion by putting a HPF into your signal chain and removing the ultra low frequencies. Obviously need to be mindful of your gain and volume.

 

[carlosjrf]

There's a whole club of us doing this.....has been around for years
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/the-modified-bead-4-string-bass-club.1069699/page-24#post-27932586

I played 5ers exclusively for 15 years and then realized having the G didn't help, and in my case dropping it and going BEAD has improved my lines and playing in general. If you use the BEAD from a light gauge 5 string set (120 low B) you don't have to re-file your nut or make any permanent changes to the bass....just re-string and set up......break on through to the other side.......

Awesome. I’ll give it a try.

 

[carlosjrf]

"Woke up today and heard a song that is finally pushing me to get a 5 string."

This statement suggests you do not have a 5'er yet and are contemplating on a purchase as well as anticipating issues with B string distortion rather than actually experiencing it.

Firstly, I recommend 2 things:
1. Take a look at the Fender Squier Affinity Jazz 5. The cheapest and grossly underestimated.
2. Forget about problems until you have them.

Of all the Rumbles, I personally liked the tone of the 40W over all the other options and for studio work or practice, it will be fine.

My opinion was developed after about 15 years trying to adopt a 5 string where I eventually dropped it and stayed with the 4 string which created my playing style and gives me old school confidence when playing out. it is the best format for "me". My first was a Warwick Rock Bass when first introduced early 2000's, then a Squier Affinity Jazz 5, Fender AM Jazz 5, Squier Precision 5 (with Jazz Pickups) and lastly an Alembic Essence 5. I still have the Affinity Jazz 5 but fitted AM hardware and Fender Pickups and it proved the best for me in weigh, neck comfort and the growl I like.

Recommend to start cheap and explore the concept as it has to work for you as a player.

I have been trying 5ers for months but this song was what pushed me over. I understand that “good” tone is subjective, but read it enough times for me to ask.
Regarding the bass itself, I’m probably going to start under $500 and see where it goes. The squier is definitely an option. Thanks.

 

[BASSDROID]

While it's true that a longer B string (and therefore higher string tension) provides greater clarity and improved articulation, I've found the difference between 34 in and 35 in to be somewhat negligible.

I currently have two 38 inch basses and also a 34 inch, all with a low B. With the 38 in B strings, there in an enormous and notable improvement in clarity, quickness of response, and ease of articulation. The trade offs (if they can be considered that way) are in the significantly higher tension and the adjustments to technique. Mitigation of these factors is entirely possible and worth it, given the sheer impressiveness and quality of the sound and the relative ease with which it is produced.

FWIW, I have also spent a significant amount of time owning/playing 35 in and 36 in basses. IME, 36 in is the point where there starts to be a sizable and notable benefit to increased string length.

 

[nnnnnn]

If the Lakland is a 55-02 or 44-02, if you pan to the back pickup, it will sound exactly like a Stingray.

I have a 55-02. That setting doesn't sound exactly like my Stingray, but it can be similar depending on EQ settings - noting that the onboard preamps are not the same.

With my single-pickup Stingray 5 I can pretty much always find what seems an appropriate tone for any given song by varying plucking hand position and adjusting the treble knob (e.g., cutting some treble for a more mellow tone). With my 55-02 I can't always find an appropriate tone with just the bridge pickup: depending on the song I usually have the pickup blend knob set somewhere between 75% bridge and 25% bridge. (I will occasionally go to 100% bridge pickup, and sometimes even - gasp - 100% neck pickup.)

 

[carlosjrf]

I have a 55-02. That setting doesn't sound exactly like my Stingray, but it can be similar depending on EQ settings - noting that the onboard preamps are not the same.

With my single-pickup Stingray 5 I can pretty much always find what seems an appropriate tone for any given song by varying plucking hand position and adjusting the treble knob (e.g., cutting some treble for a more mellow tone). With my 55-02 I can't always find an appropriate tone with just the bridge pickup: depending on the song I usually have the pickup blend knob set somewhere between 75% bridge and 25% bridge. (I will occasionally go to 100% bridge pickup, and sometimes even - gasp - 100% neck pickup.)

In choosing a 5 i will probably go active, although no matter which i always roll off the highs almost completely because im not so much into bright tone, other than maybe on a stingray.

 

[nnnnnn]

In choosing a 5 i will probably go active, although no matter which i always roll off the highs almost completely because im not so much into bright tone, other than maybe on a stingray.

My five-string basses are active. I like the "default" tone with all the EQ knobs centred: not too bright for fingerstyle, but bright enough that slapping and popping still work. On some songs I cut the treble a bit, or sometimes all the way, but I rarely touch the mid or bass EQ. On passive basses I almost always roll the tone knob down at least partway.

 

[carlosjrf]

My five-string basses are active. I like the "default" tone with all the EQ knobs centred: not too bright for fingerstyle, but bright enough that slapping and popping still work. On some songs I cut the treble a bit, or sometimes all the way, but I rarely touch the mid or bass EQ. On passive basses I almost always roll the tone knob down at least partway.

I guess we have similar tone tastes as i do the same on passive.