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What's your best B?
- Thread starter songwriter21
- Start date
My best B even on 5 strings with killer B strings is often the seventh fret on the E string.
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Its futile to ask why you felt compelled to participate in a post of this nature with your anti-5 feelings.
So I won’t. I guess…
I don’t know if there’s any point in posting 7 pages in, but why not on a day at home under the weather….
I have yet to own a bass that I couldn’t get a solid B string tone from. Fenders, Lulls, even Stingrays.
I think it has a lot to do with the setup of the bass and being careful with the witness points of that B string.
Of course, my 35” Lulls have great B string performance. But my 34” Stingray does a good B string as well.
Strings are D’addario EXL170s.
I even have Hipshot D Tuners on the B strings of all 3 basses. Low A, you ask? Sure, just don’t pluck it too hard. Makes a decently solid A and it’s a great effect for ending big songs in the key of A…
I have yet to own a bass that I couldn’t get a solid B string tone from. Fenders, Lulls, even Stingrays.
I think it has a lot to do with the setup of the bass and being careful with the witness points of that B string.
Of course, my 35” Lulls have great B string performance. But my 34” Stingray does a good B string as well.
Strings are D’addario EXL170s.
I even have Hipshot D Tuners on the B strings of all 3 basses. Low A, you ask? Sure, just don’t pluck it too hard. Makes a decently solid A and it’s a great effect for ending big songs in the key of A…
Lull takes the cake over the ones I've tried - Xotic, Spector, Fender, G&L Tribute, Brice, Prat, Squier, Ibanez, Sandberg, MTD Kingston, Yamaha, Sire, Bluesman, Clement. I wouldn't have kept any of these around if the Bs were bad (more adapting the playing style around it) but the Lull had no need to adapt my playing to - it is just even, focused and balanced with the other strings moreso than any of the other basses I've had.
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Does anybody have a recording differentiating a "bad" B and a "good" B?
I had a Jazz 5 that seemed good to me.
I have a Peavey Dyna 4 tuned BEAD which sounds pretty good to me.
Both 34" scale so they should be on the bad side...maybe I don't know what a good one sounds like.
I had a Jazz 5 that seemed good to me.
I have a Peavey Dyna 4 tuned BEAD which sounds pretty good to me.
Both 34" scale so they should be on the bad side...maybe I don't know what a good one sounds like.
For the heck of it, I jammed my Mayones Slogan MBC5 today to all songs that really use the B string extensively. Even if it's just Eb on the 4th fret for songs like "Superstition" or "Pride and Joy".
It's wearing TI Flat's with the super fat .136 B string. It simply puts a huge smile on my face. To say it brings instant joy would bean understatement.
It's 34 1/4" scale.
It's wearing TI Flat's with the super fat .136 B string. It simply puts a huge smile on my face. To say it brings instant joy would bean understatement.
It's 34 1/4" scale.
I was juuuust thinking about putting these exact strings on my SR5… never had a chance to try TIs though. Might just go for it though after this little sentiment.
I don’t know if there’s any point in posting 7 pages in, but why not on a day at home under the weather….
I have yet to own a bass that I couldn’t get a solid B string tone from. Fenders, Lulls, even Stingrays.
I think it has a lot to do with the setup of the bass and being careful with the witness points of that B string.
Of course, my 35” Lulls have great B string performance. But my 34” Stingray does a good B string as well.
Strings are D’addario EXL170s.
I even have Hipshot D Tuners on the B strings of all 3 basses. Low A, you ask? Sure, just don’t pluck it too hard. Makes a decently solid A and it’s a great effect for ending big songs in the key of A…
Someone else here also mentioned the importance of a prime setup (for your style). It really does start there. If the skeleton is built properly, than it can be adjusted to perform optimally, so string consistency shouldn't ever be a problem for the player.
My BBN5 II has a great B. Not by coincidence, it has a great neck, with tight, straight grain. I don’t even need to adjust it seasonally. I adjusted the truss rod when I put my strings on, and haven’t touched it since.
My Kiesel JB5 also has a great B.
Definitely the low B on the Stingray 5 HH. A close second would be my Ibanez Soundgear SR506.
Definitely my Spector NS5CR. It is absolutely bombastic but I think a great setup helps in that regard too. My Pentabuzz was a close run second.
I've had some less than great low B's too. Nothing shocking but something like say, my old SR3006 didn't have much going in there. Great bass overall but the low B was just serviceable rather than being like standing next to a Bösendorfer.
I've had some less than great low B's too. Nothing shocking but something like say, my old SR3006 didn't have much going in there. Great bass overall but the low B was just serviceable rather than being like standing next to a Bösendorfer.
Best B in my *current* stable is my Stingray 5HH, followed by my Yamaha BBP35.
All of mine have good B strings even though only one is 35" scale.
B strings from the top down (no pun intended) including past instruments:
1. Stingray 5HH (34" scale) - MONSTER B String .135" EXL D'Addario
2. Yamaha BBP35 (34" scale) - Excellent B Sting .130 EB Cobalt Flat
3. Ibanez SR675 (34" scale) - VERY good B String .130" NYXL D'Addario
4. Lakland DJ-5 (35" scale) Good B string .130" NYXL D'Addario
5. Carvin XB75 (35.25" scale) .128" LaBella SL
6. G&L Tribute L2500 .130" NYXL D'Addario
7. Lakland 55-01 with Nordstrand big splits and Audere preamp (35" scale) .130" NYXL D'Addario
8. Carvin LB75 (34" scale) tried EVERYTHING on that bass
Numbers 5-8 are basses I no longer own. The Carvin XB75 had a very good B string but the overall tone was average at best (but it WAS beautiful). The G&L Tribute was a pretty impressive instrument all the way around but I never clicked with weird G&L controls. The Lakland had a good B string but the tone of the instrument was just so generic, that I never really had any affinity for it.
Finally - the Carvin LB75 (circa 1996) had a terrible B string. I tried EVERYTHING, brands, gauges, materials, winding types - EVERYTHING. The B string was just never good. I ended up replacing the nut and stringing it EADGC and played it like a 4 string. The XB75 that replaced it had an infinitely better B string and overall tone, but it wasn't until I got my first Stingray that I learned how good a bass COULD sound. The Yamaha is OVERALL a better bass, tone wise, but the 'Ray has the best B of the bunch. I used to think that only 35" basses had really good B strings but that has obviously changed. FYI, the strings chosen have made HUGE differences in B string tone ESPECIALLY gauge of the string. Not that the 'Ray has the heaviest gauge B String (.135). I have been unable to find a .135 B string in a Flatwound, and the Cobalts just sound SOOOOOO good. On the DJ-5 I believe the voicing of that instrument with the single coils keeps the B from being anything more than good.
All of mine have good B strings even though only one is 35" scale.
B strings from the top down (no pun intended) including past instruments:
1. Stingray 5HH (34" scale) - MONSTER B String .135" EXL D'Addario
2. Yamaha BBP35 (34" scale) - Excellent B Sting .130 EB Cobalt Flat
3. Ibanez SR675 (34" scale) - VERY good B String .130" NYXL D'Addario
4. Lakland DJ-5 (35" scale) Good B string .130" NYXL D'Addario
5. Carvin XB75 (35.25" scale) .128" LaBella SL
6. G&L Tribute L2500 .130" NYXL D'Addario
7. Lakland 55-01 with Nordstrand big splits and Audere preamp (35" scale) .130" NYXL D'Addario
8. Carvin LB75 (34" scale) tried EVERYTHING on that bass
Numbers 5-8 are basses I no longer own. The Carvin XB75 had a very good B string but the overall tone was average at best (but it WAS beautiful). The G&L Tribute was a pretty impressive instrument all the way around but I never clicked with weird G&L controls. The Lakland had a good B string but the tone of the instrument was just so generic, that I never really had any affinity for it.
Finally - the Carvin LB75 (circa 1996) had a terrible B string. I tried EVERYTHING, brands, gauges, materials, winding types - EVERYTHING. The B string was just never good. I ended up replacing the nut and stringing it EADGC and played it like a 4 string. The XB75 that replaced it had an infinitely better B string and overall tone, but it wasn't until I got my first Stingray that I learned how good a bass COULD sound. The Yamaha is OVERALL a better bass, tone wise, but the 'Ray has the best B of the bunch. I used to think that only 35" basses had really good B strings but that has obviously changed. FYI, the strings chosen have made HUGE differences in B string tone ESPECIALLY gauge of the string. Not that the 'Ray has the heaviest gauge B String (.135). I have been unable to find a .135 B string in a Flatwound, and the Cobalts just sound SOOOOOO good. On the DJ-5 I believe the voicing of that instrument with the single coils keeps the B from being anything more than good.
I've been gassing for a Spector, and have thought about ordering one. There's none in my area to play, but I'm thinking of taking a chance, even if only on a Legend.
1st - not surprisingly - Lakland 55-02
2nd - surprisingly Fender Player MIM V String
2nd - surprisingly Fender Player MIM V String
If you're ever in Northumberland, England you can come try mine. Otherwise just order one!
All mine are 'great'.
I've bought 2 basses blind, which was considered dodgy at some point, and those 2 basses weren't expensive.
My feeling is that basses of a certain age suffered in the early days, but far less of a factor now.
I tend to consider poor B strings and dead spots as red herrings today in that they might still exist but they are fixable.
I've bought 2 basses blind, which was considered dodgy at some point, and those 2 basses weren't expensive.
My feeling is that basses of a certain age suffered in the early days, but far less of a factor now.
I tend to consider poor B strings and dead spots as red herrings today in that they might still exist but they are fixable.
I see you have a MM in the picture. Can you tell me how different the neck and string spacing is on the MTD bs the MM. I asked because I use Jazz and a. MM Bongo but have been thinking about the MYD Kingston Ag5.
