The best sounding low B

[jonno1981]

Sadowsky, musicman, Dingwall, lakland, Warwick, fender etc all produce high quality 5 string instruments. 
I’d never, ever consider buying one without having it in my hands first, as I’ve had some that were miles better and worse than others. 
In an ideal world, I’d settle on a specific model than I’d want to try about five of the same model to pick the best one and avoid an expensive lemon. If only there was enough stock around in a single dealer to do this. 

[Hellzero]

Go to a well assorted store, and try as many as you can with an identical amp as yours or bring your own amp, you'll certainly find what you like around your price tag.

 

Then, if you don't find THAT tone, go to a luthier and have a discussion with him about what you want, but more specifically about what you don't want.

 

I have owned way over 500 basses and a lot were six strings basses, all I can say is that when it comes to quality of tone, the luthier basses are unbeatable.

 

The more than 34 inches for a better low B alongside the thicker strings are pure marketing.

 

The best low B I can think of are from 34 inches basses with 0.125 to 0.130 string gauge, proving that it's all about the construction.

 

Furthermore with thicker gauge string appears the intonation problems, the thicker the string the more out of tune the intonation is : You can't change the laws of physics.

 

I guess that by thunderous you don't mean crystal clear and with the fundamental of the low B being present, like a piano...

[Hellzero]

By the way, for half of the money you want to spend, there is this in the ads here and maybe exactly what you're looking for: 

 

[Amando]

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Edited just now by Amando

[fretmeister]

1 minute ago, Amando said:

Unfortunately I live in Manchester 

 

Have a day out or even a weekend break - good Bass shop and then go down the road to Warwick Castle for a bit of tourism. It's an amazing place.

[BigRedX]

19 minutes ago, Amando said:

Unfortunately I live in Manchester 

 

If you've got £2.5k to spend on a bass the surely you can find the time and means to get to the best shops for trying out the widest range of basses.

[lowregisterhead]

This is a near-impossible question to answer. There are so many variables that contribute to what any one player would perceive as being a great B sounding string - construction, scale length, string type and gauge, electronics, amp setup... the list is endless.

 

As has already been suggested, I would encourage you to go to as many (preferably bass specialist) shops as you can, and try out literally everything. You might be surprised by what will float your boat. My personal preference is for 35"+ scale just because in my experience, it adds more tension and clarity to what can otherwise be a rubber band added to a 4-string bass as some kind of afterthought. Other people's experiences will obviously vary!

 

At the last count (yes, I have a list) I've owned approaching 200 basses over the 50 years I've been playing, the majority of which have been fivers. The best B strings for me have been a Lakland 55-94 and 55-02, a Dingwall Afterburner, if you can cope with the fan frets, and I'm currently using a Mayones Jabba Custom EP VF5, which is also multi-scale. None of them are the Holy Grail, but they're all very good, and leave most of the other contenders in the dust. In my opinion.

 

The perfect bass probably doesn't exist of course, but you can have great fun looking for it!

[itu]

I agree with the notes written by @Hellzero. Try several basses. When you find a nice feeling one, start the hunt of the best strings. Visit a local luthier for a pro setup. 

 

Most of the pickups are like SD, EMG, bartolini, and all sound like they sound. But the setup and choice of strings make the best out of the instrument. We do can discuss endlessly about brands, pickups, scale lengths, etc. "No matter what others try to say, my choice is always the best and the only one." 

 

Someone said that the amp and cab should go to 30 Hz, and that's nonsense. A good cab that can produce 30 Hz within 3 - 6 dB of 60 Hz is huge and heavy. A good cab is able to go down to 60 - 80 Hz area (first harmonic), because ear creates the lowest end. Usually all frequencies below 50 Hz are more or less eating your headroom out: cannot be heard, but need lots of power. Handling noises and very lows are better to be tamed by an HPF. Try one and set it by listening. You'll be amazed of the frequency after you have set it right. Cannot be heard, but does a lot. 

[Bass Direct]

We've played 37" B strings that have been pants and 33" that have worked wonderfully, and the other way round too.. So its all personal

[Stub Mandrel]

6 hours ago, SimonK said:

...dare I say "the best sounding (thunderous) low B" may have more to do with the amp and then the set up of the bass?

 

I was going to say this. I have three relatively inexpensive fivers, one 35" and two 34", two active one passive. My GRBASS at212 and even my little pjb C4 reproduce the low b convincingly,  although only the GRBASS is 'thunderous'.

[Amando]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

Go to a well assorted store, and try as many as you can with an identical amp as yours or bring your own amp, you'll certainly find what you like around your price tag.

 

Then, if you don't find THAT tone, go to a luthier and have a discussion with him about what you want, but more specifically about what you don't want.

 

I have owned way over 500 basses and a lot were six strings basses, all I can say is that when it comes to quality of tone, the luthier basses are unbeatable.

 

The more than 34 inches for a better low B alongside the thicker strings are pure marketing.

 

The best low B I can think of are from 34 inches basses with 0.125 to 0.130 string gauge, proving that it's all about the construction.

 

Furthermore with thicker gauge string appears the intonation problems, the thicker the string the more out of tune the intonation is : You can't change the laws of physics.

 

I guess that by thunderous you don't mean crystal clear and with the fundamental of the low B being present, like a piano...

I find that a good quality low B  IS  crystal clear and that’s what I want not something that’s muddy and inaudible