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What’s in an inch?
- Thread starter Sean150
- Start date
I watched a video on that one which got me back on this whole MS thing. I wasn’t a huge fan of the tone of the Fishman pickups though.
Leaning towards a Yamaha at the moment. Maybe a BBNE2 or a BBP35. I have a really bad habit of researching basses, deciding on a Yamaha, buying something else for some silly reason (got to have a real Fender bass right
) and then buying the Yamaha anyways and being much happier. Might skip the middle step this time.
Is there any scientific proof of difference in feel between string-through-body and string-through-bridge-only? My stock Ibanez ATK-305 strung-through-body has a more solid feel with a .130 Slinky than my Squier VMPV w/Hipshot Kicka$$ does with a .135 Slinky, but that’s hardly scientific proof on its own. A search revealed that the topic has come up a few times over the years, but not a lot of proof to back up any assertions made.
(In my case, my thumb rests closer to the bridge on the ATK, but I use a pick more than half the time at about the same place on either instrument and still notice.)
(In my case, my thumb rests closer to the bridge on the ATK, but I use a pick more than half the time at about the same place on either instrument and still notice.)
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Lowendtech
Happily trending in my own peculiar direction.
A mile.
If you let them take it.
And on topic, Dingwall super series ftw in regular tuning.
If you let them take it.
And on topic, Dingwall super series ftw in regular tuning.
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my personal preference is for a low B to be 35" scale. My four strings are all 34"-ers. I will say though that ergonomics matter. My 35" NS Design CR5s feel like much less of a stretch than my 34" Geddy Lee Jazz. I'm 5'11" with decidedly average size hands. The position of the bridge in relation to where the body of the bass sits on my body makes a big difference in what it feels like to reach out to the first few frets. YMMV.
I have a 6 string that initially was tuned B-C. I never liked the C string because it just didn’t have enough “meat” in the tone. I tuned it F#-G. Moving the B string over a saddle to the E string slot completely changed the sound and feel of the B string. It’s amazing! It’s so clear and punchy even above the 12th fret. The best B string I’ve ever played.
I see nothing wrong if you want to go multi-scale, but I do not personally.
A 34" scale Bass that is set up WELL, has a B between .120 - .130 is best in my experience. (I use a D'Adarrio set of balanced tension Tapper core steels .127 - .107 - .085 - .063 - .043) I also understand that tuning AEADG requiers that my right hand technique has to have some finesse to it...!
I just prefer the overall Tember of the Bass in 34" scale. I have also found 34.25" and 34.375" to be workable. The first time I picked up and played a Brubaker 5 string I could tell it wasn't 34" or 35" either and it sounded fantastic!
A good setup, including a well executed nut is the key to any Bass having best performance...
Recently I got back on a short scale kick to reduce reach and weight due to chronic shoulder issues.
I saw Birdsong and Rob Allan basses had short scale 5s but there were none affordable for me to try.
That was until my buddy to the north TBer rojo412 had his ACF Custom P5 for sale with a 33.5” neck. I thought “hey that’s cool” and the weight (about 8 lbs) for a five had me contacting him.
I made a visit to him and bought that bass this weekend and it’s fantastic!
Adams builds and attention to detail are outstanding and that 33.5” scale he built has a B string that amazes me.
So I’m learning an inch one way or another might be in the bass and the build to support a good B string.
If you have never checked out rojo412 and ACF Customs in Cleveland,Ohio ...do so.
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I played a short scale Brice bass which was cheap but it did have barts in it and sounded good...the B string was tight on it..no flop at all..maybe it had heavier strings than I'm using which are DR hi beam lights but that B string was nice on that short scale..I almost bought it but I asked about it here and everyone said it was a cheap bass so I walked away from it...
Pretty much all 5 string sets have a B that is too light a gauge to maintain equal tension compared to the other strings. My Jaguar has a custom 34/35" fan-fret neck with the straight fret on the 12th. When I used a BEAD string set I can confirm that it was a better overall feel with tension and tone across the neck with standard 5-string sets right out of the pack. Before I always had to order a custom set with a heavier B.
This.
Or even finding a different type/brand of string can make a big difference, and their compliance varies a lot. But going up in gauge is a sure way to get a less floppy string, although it's still going to vibrate with large amplitude so setting them up for very low action can be tricky.
On the multi-scale thing, I often hear 'look at grand piano strings' (or could also say Harps etc.) to demonstrate how lower strings should be longer than higher strings. As a Dingwall owner I'm sold on that concept, but there is the counter argument is that a Bass isn't necessarily aiming for the same timbre/string tension/sustain etc as a Piano or Harp and everything from Violins to Guitars to Double Bass work well without multi-scale.
As others have said, string length is part of the equation but other factors and type of strings play an important role too, so a 34" B string can sound good on a good Bass with the right type of strings.
As others have said, string length is part of the equation but other factors and type of strings play an important role too, so a 34" B string can sound good on a good Bass with the right type of strings.
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What 32" 5 string do you have, if you don't mind? I've been contemplating the move myself, but have been unsure about the B string. What gauges do you use for it?
