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What's your best B?

songwriter21

songwriter21

I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
Jul 31, 2005
6,785
9,720
Baltimore-ish, MD
#1
Amazed by how good the low-B is on my ultta-affordable Schecter Stiletto Studio 5, while the other best B-strings for me have been (not sure of model years):

Ken Smith BRMW? 6
Yamaha BBP35
Peavey G-V
U.S. Peavey Cirrus
Roscoe SKB3005
Carvin/Kiesel Icon
Spector Euro LX
U.S. MTD Saratoga
Warrior Dran Michael
Modulus Q5
Ibanez BTB 1005e Prestige

No, I didn't notice a difference with Dingwall, or Sadowsky glory, but that's just me. The above basses bring the B in spades, so no need.

What say you?
 
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#7
I've owned a number of 5 string basses over the years and have only encountered a single instrument that I couldn't get a good B out of: A Washburn Taurus. Other than that, B's have all been great, from 35" basses like Lakland to 34" like my current Wilkins'. Though I will say, the tapered B on the LaBella DTFs and Sadowsky flats has sounded not good on every bass I've tried.
 
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#8
Currently my Modulus Quantum 5 and Tobias basic 5 both have 2 of the best low B strings I’ve ever had.. and I recently sold a Dingwall Abz 5, & I still concluded both the Modulus & Tobias low B strings sounded fuller & tighter than the Dingwall, after a lengthy comparison. The Dingwall had a slightly tapered low B string,I’m not sure if that’s why the Tobias & Modulus sounded better to my ears, but also I’ll admit I’ve never been much of a fan of tapered strings.
 
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#9
Same as @G On Bass, I have had a bunch of 5'rs and always had nice usable B strings. I currently play Mayones 5 strings and a Rickenbacker 4003s/5.
They have great B strings that are usable on every fret. I really love TI Flatwound B strings on my Mayones basses. I haven't swapped the strings yet on my RIC but I am sure TI flats will be killer on it.
 
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#10
Afc70 said:
Currently my Modulus Quantum 5 and Tobias basic 5 both have 2 of the best low B strings I’ve ever had.. and I recently sold a Dingwall Abz 5, & I still concluded both the Modulus & Tobias low B strings sounded fuller & tighter than the Dingwall, after a lengthy comparison. The Dingwall had a slightly tapered low B string,I’m not sure if that’s why the Tobias & Modulus sounded better to my ears, but also I’ll admit I’ve never been much of a fan of tapered strings.
Click to expand...

Come to think of it, I had a couple of Q5s, and they were indeed nice. I've heard good things about the Tobiases.
 
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#11
FunkHead said:
Same as @G On Bass, I have had a bunch of 5'rs and always had nice usable B strings. I currently play Mayones 5 strings and a Rickenbacker 4003s/5.
They have great B strings that are usable on every fret. I really love TI Flatwound B strings on my Mayones basses. I haven't swapped the strings yet on my RIC but I am sure TI flats will be killer on it.
Click to expand...

The Ric, really?? Wow, that's saying something.
 
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#14
I am also primarily a 5 string player and have been chasing Killer Bs for years. I had a so-named Tobias for awhile, but it was a Nashville/Gibson made model and just didn't live up to its name.

I had a 35" Lakland 55-02. Not impressive either. I wanted to love it, but couldn't get there and off it went.

My best B is actually a Sterling Ray35! a 34" scale bass with a roasted maple neck and blueburst quilt maple top. The thing still makes me giggle every time I crank out a monster low B or C for effect! Blows me away that this 34", under $1k import has such an awesome B string... better than most $2-5k basses I've played. I don't know if it's the roasted maple or what, but DANG.

I also recently got a Kingston MTD Super 5 in Dr. Brown's Burst. It's a 35" scale and pretty/really good on the low B compared to most 5 string basses I've had, but it's not QUITE as sharp/clear/authoritative as the Ray35. The overall tonal palette of the bass I really like. If it had the low B of the Sterling it'd be dern near perfect!

signal-2021-12-01-085721_001.jpeg
 
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#18
J33 said:
Pedulla Thunderbolt and Greg Curbow IEP for me.
Click to expand...

Always wanted to try one of Greg's monsters. Luckily, Mark Vinciguerra learned from him, and continued on with the Rockwood necks and construction skills of his mentor/teacher.

DeepThoughts said:
RESIST the LOW B! lol
When it comes to 5 er's i's like 7-up! ....."never had, it never will..."
Click to expand...

Come to the darkside. Even Prince was impressed with Andrew Gouche's 6, that was tuned a WHOLE STEP DOWN. He was floored by Purple Rain down that low on the A.
 
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#20
G On Bass said:
I've owned a number of 5 string basses over the years and have only encountered a single instrument that I couldn't get a good B out of: A Washburn Taurus. Other than that, B's have all been great, from 35" basses like Lakland to 34" like my current Wilkins'. Though I will say, the tapered B on the LaBella DTFs and Sadowsky flats has sounded not good on every bass I've tried.
Click to expand...

I tried flats on my LEJ5. TI jazz flats. They were so amazing on my 4 string J that I was hoping they'd be great on a 5. I read that they weren't... and everyone is right. The B is not great. I took them off after a few months of trying and set them aside. I have a Jazz with flats, but not yet a P. I'll grab a basic/vintage-aimed P at some point on the the normal 4 strings on that bass and probably pitch the B string at that point, lol!

Speaking of strings, what is everyone using on their best B basses? I have D'addario NYXL 45-130s on my Ray35. (my best B bass)
 
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