What’s it take to get good B string performance?

[Tim Skaggs]

If a “B” string has adequate tension to play on a 34” scale bass when tuned up to standard pitch, the same string will have the same tension on any 34” scale bass when tuned up to standard pitch. That’s the physics part of the equation that doesn’t change.

AFTER THAT, there are many other factors that can affect the way the string plays when fretted, mostly neck relief & action, which is part of setup. Changing neck relief can make a string feel like it has more or less tension, but it’s only feel, not actual measured tension that is changing.

How the string sounds includes a couple entirely different sets of factors that includes 1). The electronics of the bass and how the string is played / plucked. 2). The density & mass of the body, rigidity & mass of the neck, mass of the hardware and how solidly the hardware is attached to the body and neck.

These groups of factors are some of the variables that make the differences in a B strings. After all that, you move on to amplification, then speaker cabinets……

 

[Lammchop93]

I think pickup location makes a big difference in sound. The two best sounding B strings I’ve heard were a Warwick Thumb 5 and my G&L Kiloton 5. Both sound massive but still tight. Pickup position is similar between the basses

 

[lordradish]

Gonna go with the construction, electronics, and wood. The low B on all of my basses is quite clear and present (Wal, Cliff Bordwell, Stambaugh, EBMM).

Like others have said, unless you're in some high-end shop, a store is usually a gamble in terms of how the bass is set up... you're also a lot more likely to be playing some cheaper basses that aren't gonna have great b's.

 

[Jogobass]

the A string sounds more dull than the D string
the E string sounds more dull than the A string
the B string sounds more dull than the E string

It's just physics and you got to let your ear get used to it.
There's nothing wrong with the 34 inch B string on my Ibby GWB205

The same factors that make the other strings sound like they do also impact the B string in the same way. Some basses sound more dull, others sound more bright. Over all the strings.

 

[Pelagic]

As other have mentioned, Scale isn't super important (although my 35's are my favorite). I recently changed to lighter, exposed core strings and am pleasantly surprised by how good they sound. I still have lighter DR lowriders on my other 35. the tension is much higher. it really comes down to your preference.

 

[MDH bass]

id say scale length/string gauge go hand in hand, string brand/type, construction and hardwear mass, and imo wood - all make a pretty big difference

theres also the variance between instruments, dont think for a second that all instruments of the same spec will sound the same, theres gonna be a lot of variation, set up also goes into thatand makes a huge difference

its also worth noting the best B means different things to different people, different folk have different tonal reqirments.

 

[MDH bass]

the A string sounds more dull than the D string
the E string sounds more dull than the A string
the B string sounds more dull than the E string

It's just physics and you got to let your ear get used to it.
There's nothing wrong with the 34 inch B string on my Ibby GWB205

The same factors that make the other strings sound like they do also impact the B string in the same way. Some basses sound more dull, others sound more bright. Over all the strings.

ok this sounds like your brain is asking for multi-scale

 

[eddybuzzard]

I think neck-thru construction is the best way to get there.
After that, the overall rigidity of the bass seems vital.
Newton's Third Law

Bolt-on = frustration

 

[Gervais Cote]

I'm a 4 string bass player so my opinion should be considered with a grain of salt.
But if I was to become a fiver, my only choice would be a Spector USA 5 string bass.
Why ? Because it’s the only one I tried and heard in person with a very good B, all of the others were so so, no matter the brand or country of origin.
I also need to mention I tried about a dozen of 5 string basses so I'm rather limited on my tests.

 

[dougjwray]

Technique.
Construction, string choice and set up are important, but the player needs to learn how to coax the desired sounds out of the B string. For one thing, as someone already mentioned, don't hammer the thing. And you can get clarity the time honored way: pluck closer to the bridge.

 

[JazznFunk]

Laklands are the 5-string basses by which I judge all others. The B-string actually sounds like it belongs on the bass with all the others. I attribute it to the 35" scale, quality bridge and nut work, thru-body stringing (my personal choice with its multiple witness points), and of course a proper setup. I don't use contact core strings either... DR Sunbeams are my choice. I played other 5-string basses before Laklands which were 34" scale and never liked them. My fretless 5-string Lakland is downright thunderous and clear on that B-string.

 

[ole Jason]

Construction and technique are the most important factors IMO. By construction I mostly mean the rigidity of the neck. You can get a great sounding B string at shorter scale lengths if the neck is very rigid.

 

[Seth DuSith]

ok this sounds like your brain is asking for multi-scale

That's exactly what I was thinking when I read his post haha. That problem is a lot less of a problem when you have a multi scale

 

[Killens84]

I don’t own a Dingwall, but this short clip from Sheldon Dingwall about B-string scale length is interesting.
https://youtube.com/shorts/IXz8TjAKitw?feature=shared

 

[FRoss6788]

I think neck-thru construction is the best way to get there.
After that, the overall rigidity of the bass seems vital.
Newton's Third Law

Bolt-on = frustration

Hmmm...

Lots of stellar manufacturers will be surprised by this...

MTD
Sadowsky
Lull
Lakland
Ernie Ball
Dingwall
Wal
Etc...

 

[gg22]

For me it's 35+" scale, strings gauge (not neccessary thicker) and electronics - some pickups and preamps are just better with the B string.
Technique also plays a role. And all my 35" basses have a better B string then all my 34" basses.

 

[Bonafide]

The best B-string basses I own (6) or have ever played are 34" scale. Construction, setup and technique are what work for me.

 

[eddybuzzard]

Hmmm...

Lots of stellar manufacturers will be surprised by this...

MTD
Sadowsky
Lull
Lakland
Ernie Ball
Dingwall
Wal
Ect...

They can't hear me

 

[David McIntire]

I spent a long time frustrated with B string performance in 1990 or so, when I started using extended range basses. Basses have improved over the years, strings have improved tons over the years. So, now, no matter scale length or other factors, I can get great B string performance on any bass. It's all about setup and installation. I meticulously install my strings, but the key is to then RE install them, especially the bigger strings, to remove the twist that happens when winding strings around the post. I've only had one bass in about 300 that refused to get good B performance. And that was because a faulty pickup install of a too short pickup had It's coil missing coverage on the B. The string sounded fine acoustically.

 

[Five or Six]

Anything you pull off the wall won't be in tune. Not to mention typically original strings are junk and may have been beat on. The first thing to do is replace the strings with what you like then, do a full setup. You won't get the true gist of "any" bass until this is done.