I like my Warwick Corvette. I also had a Schecter Stiletto Elite 5 that had a pretty good sound. I've dabbled with my buddy's Yamaha(the particular model eludes me) that I enjoy playing, although I don't think the B is as good as my Warwick.
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Good thing you don't have any expectation bias. They're completely different internally.I personally wasn't a fan of the Bartolini MK-1's and don't imagine I'd feel much better about the BH-2s.
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!
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Good thing you don't have any expectation bias. They're completely different internally.
Dude I've listened to the bh-2's in demo of the EHB line and they sound just about as bad as the mk-1's did.
Fair enough but they get ragged on endlessly as though it's a must do to change them out, and I don't think it's required especially in a live bass. Still it's down to preference.
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.
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)
. . . . What say you?