What creates a good low B?

[DrBnz]

I've been studying that for the past year. I have a few personal conclusions. Hope I don't get beat up too bad for sharing them. HAHAHA.
- My issues with a B string is not being able to distinguish which note it is. I its just a low freq rumble (to me). I can't tell one note from the other and/or a billowing tone that blossoms slowly.
- I've tried a few (34 inch) and lotsa strings. It's not a "string" thing so much as it is the instrument. Whether that's in the EQ or the physical characteristics I dunno. Example:
- Fender Jazz Ultra 5 just aint right when it comes to a B string. I've tried 4 types of strings now and the "B" is still not my favorite. Sure it works.... but there are better sounding....
- EBMM B string sounds fine, right out of the box. Why is that? Is that the pickups.... the EQ? Dunno, but it is.
- G&L has a very nice, thick, rich B string (that doesn't sound like an EBMM). The best of this bunch (to me).
- I do believe a longer (35 inch) scale would be better. I don't have experience with those (yet).
- B strings typically need a little more room (raising the saddles) to eliminate buzz (from floppy strings)
- B strings typically sound better as you shift the balance back towards the bridge pickup
- B strings often need a little "touch" and don't take well to being played "hard"
- I pay attention to the beak angle over the bridge. Some B strings need to have the saddle pulled WAY back to get the intonation right. For those, I wouldn't string thru the body. I avoid sharp angles over the saddles. Long story.... no I don't wanna bicker about it. That's just my opinion.
- My G&L came to me with La Bella Super Steps TAPERED strings installed and that eliminates the saddle - break angle issue really. They sounded so good I put a set on the ULTRA V last week .... It helped considerably and was the best B string that I've tried on that bass. I have a .118 "B" on one bass and a .128 dia. on the other. If it is a "string thing" then I'd say I'd prefer these types.

 

[CryingBass]

Coming from an upright primary beginning, I am not used to EB's being setup with extremely low action.
Yet that seems to be a major selling point in many basses that I have heard talked-about and sold.

Could it be that a "too floppy B" often means "too floppy for my really-low setup?". Vibes need space man

 

[Topkat13]

Your ears.

 

[Das Jugghead]

I wonder if the use of a pick or fingerstyle has any influence on the performance of the B string.

 

[Jefenator]

IME a not so great B string can still produce some useful lower notes, but sometimes you have to hit it at just the right spot with just the right strength. Pick might help, but I wouldn't choose that technique just for that.
A bridge pickup really factors in as well IME. I'm usually more partial to the neck pickup sound, but I will blend in at least some bridge when I know I'll be wanting the lower range.
Another thing worth considering is tapered core strings. This is subject to debate - the instructions with my Roscoe specifically say not to use them. But the Dingwall and the Warwick both go that route and their Bs are next-level.

 

[JW56789]

I know we're talking about the "floppiness" of the B string but a heavier B-string will vibrate across a wider arc than a lighter G-string. I don't get how the same 34" string could be floppy or tight on different basses if other aspects of construction are good. I get that there will be some mechanical factors that will impact the B string but assuming similar construction characteristics...?

This has me wondering if what we are hearing is a problem with the string tension or a variation with the pickup which is sensing the string? I would describe a P pickup as a less distinct sound (which is why I love them) and single coil pickups are more distinct. I prefer the wider sensing area of a soap-bar sized pickup to the narrower Fender style Jazz pickup which sounds like it has more "body" and is a little less "clinical" or "exact".

I am wondering what type of pickups are on the basses that people say have a "tight" B-string? Is it a P, a narrow Fender Jazz style, a soap-bar - single coil or humbucker, TV Jones/Gibson mudbucker style? Is what we consider a tight B-string is actually really more to do with the pickup type than the instrument's physical construction. If is a Jazz V with matched pickups does the B sound as tight with just the neck pickup dialed in?

My PJ has a more defined lower end of the B-string when I have a bit of the bridge pickup dialed in with the P pickup. I think that this has to do with how the pickup senses and reproduces the the narrower arc of vibration that occurs close to the bridge (that bridge pickup "twanginess"), and in-part perhaps also has a bit to do with the harmonics "chiming" a bit more more clearly from the bridge pickup.

A little disclaimer here too; personally, I quite like the sound of my low B on the P pickup alone but it is muddier and less distinct. That said, I read here about the Fender Precision V having a great tight low B.

Outbush, I have the Squier Precision Five . . .

. . . . and the low B has plenty presence. Like any PBass, you pick between the pickup and bridge for better articulation. These are exceptionally interesting basses in that I wasn't sure what it was going to be like (bought mine online) and have been happily pleased that it just sounds like any PBass, but just happens to have a few extra low notes. What a hoot.

 

[Max Bogosity]

I suspect part of the problem is just that the fundamental frequency of the low B is pretty close to the lower limit of the ear's frequency range and the capability of most amplifiers. When we get down to the bottom of the range, the fundamental-heavy sound that works on the higher notes becomes hard to reproduce and hard to distinguish pitch if you can reproduce it. That's why we tend to like more bridge pickup and/or round wound strings and/or playing near the bridge on a bass with a low B - all emphasize the higher harmonics and make the lower notes easier to hear.

 

[tanr26]

Fast forward to 2025. I just got my first 5 string bass which is a yamaha TRB5P. Stringed with SIT power wound 45 65 85 105 125 custom gauge from the shop and plekd. The low B is floppy and it would vibrate too much if I dont pluck carefully. Its bothersome to have to adjust my plucking strength for the low B from the rest of the strings. Even then the lqck of output from plucking softly creates another problem.

Last night I tried putting a block of foam between the low B and E string and it worked wonderfully. Now my low B is tight and defined. It still sustains and it doesnt vibrate wildly like it was before. I dont have to adjust my right hand everytime i play the B string. It is now balanced and clear. I resort to putting foam between strings instead on underneath them because 1. Its easier to put on and off and 2. It doesnt mess with my intonation as much as putting it under the strings.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

It's all about the scale length and string size.
Longer scale, tighter string, same with larger gauge string.