Hi, I recently acquired a Warwick 5 string fretless thumb. I intend to epoxy the fretboard. I'm trying to get some feedback on whether to go with a high C or keep a low B. I've heard low B's make good thumb rest or move air and not much tone/notes. I'm interested in hearing debates for or against the low B and the high C. I know how I am once the strings are on, I'll likely not change back. Tom
i have both a 5 with a high c and a 6 string with a low B and i have to say, i hardly use either of the 'new' strings, though i use the C more. this is probably because i cant convince my guitar player to play in any key besides D and since its eaiser to just drop tune, my B goes down to an A. not very usefull. its cool for some tricks but for the most part its unused. in conclusion, id say the C is a tad more usefull but it depends on the genre of your playing.
Personally I'd say stick to the low B. I'm a 6er but in truth I'd be pretty much jsut as happy with a 5 string bass as with a 6 string bass. Although the high C is a snazzy wee thing to pull out and use every now and then I jsut feel it's pretty much redundant in most situations wheras I can often find a use for the B string. Of course this is my opinion and it does go agains the post above me, but that's how I feel.
The Fretless aspect has me weirded out a bit with the low B. I guess I'll just have to try both and see. Adding the epoxy as well will be a big change. I love the sound of the Warwick fretless basses a lot. But I love the sound of the epoxy as well so hopefully the conversion shall be a synergistic combo. I'm leaning towards the high C right now. Any reasons not go with the B vs the high C on a fretless? Other comments? The more the better. Tom
I think it honestly depends on the type of music that you play. I thought I wouldn't use the low B all that much when I got my 5er, but it's really growing on my for non-rock stuff (with the except of pulling out some 311 or Incubus tunes.) Smooth jazz or RnB or Reggae, do the low B. A lot of people in jazz use a low B as well, Gerald Veasley comes to mind. If you want to play a lot of solo stuff, go for the high C to give yourself more range in that department. Honestly, it's all preference, but if you ask me high C or low B are luxuries, so you can't really go wrong either way.
With a Low B, you could get that fretless tone of a low E because you could play the 5th fret of the B string.
Well, I have some fretteds and 6 string, so I can use those for the higher notes/solo stuff. They are not fretless though. I suppose given a number of basses, I could turn the 4 to a higher note set up and leave one normal(but then it's like which one do I do this to?). The Warwick might just keep the low B. I think I'll play a bit more like a particular style(Jazzy, smooth, fatter warmer sounds) with it. The other basses tend to be brighter sounding. This is a tougher decision than I thought But I like the comments made here: helpful. One of my main things for having a fretless was the fact it broke me out of the fret mode and challenged me to new sounds, finger work, and style. So I want to retain that part. Tom
The B string does make a good thumb rest. That said, if you want to challenge yourself, find a way to make use of that low B. It seems you already know what you'd do with the high C.
Very good point Beta! I think it being a thru neck with epoxy fretboard, it should hold the lows really well. An extra inch would help but oh well, always a trade off. I wonder what thumbing and slapping such a fat string will do or if it turns to mud. Humm...yet another challenge to get clean eh? Tom
I tried the high C. I like the low B on this bass. Sounds quite nice and little mud factor. Has a nice fat sound that works well. Since I have other basses, this one will be more the fat groove bass, and the others will have the higher end. I still need to epoxy the fretboard and detail a few things. Tom
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