The best sounding low B

[Machines]

I am a total fanboy for Dingwalls so am going to big them up, however that is BECAUSE of the B string. For clarity and harmonics, I think nothing beats them.

[Bass Direct]

35 minutes ago, spacecowboy said:

The very best sounding B string for me is on my Ken Smiths. Then my Warwick Streamer S2. I play both over the neck pickup 90% of the time. 

 

There's a lot of variables in the answer to your question though, scale length, setup, strings, pickups. 

 

Take up Bassdirect on their offer. 

Smiths always have a great B string, pickup placement really allows the punch of the note to shine through too  

[lemmywinks]

Just spotted this on Bassbros' site, seems like an astoundingly good deal:

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/shuker-custom-5-2/

[Hellzero]

By the way @Amando, check the Alembic basses as their "entry level" models resale at the price you're willing to pay and these have the thunderous low B you're looking for plus an extraordinary note definition and if you find a model with one or two Q filter(s), you'll be over the moon.

[Hellzero]

And there is even one in the ads here: 

 

[Bigwan]

The 2 best B strings I've played, I own. A Vigier Excess 5 and a Spector Euro LX 5. I'd give the edge to the Spector if you twisted my arm. Only have GAS for more Spector's now...

 

Honourable mention to the Stingray 5 I had in the late 90s which had an OUTSTANDING B string.

 

I've tried a few including custom builds from Shuker and ACG, Dingwall AB1, Fender RB5, MM Bongo, Lakeland, Sire... None were awful but I'm coming round to the idea that stiffness of the neck is rather more important than scale length to a good B string. 

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

The best low B I've ever heard is on my NS-design CR5M electric upright. It probably has something to do with its 41.73″ scale length

[Owen]

55 minutes ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

The best low B I've ever heard is on my NS-design CR5M electric upright. It probably has something to do with its 41.73″ scale length

I used to gig one of those. I made quite a few sound engineers's eybrows go up and then smile

[Terry M.]

17 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

Just spotted this on Bassbros' site, seems like an astoundingly good deal:

https://bassbros.co.uk/product/shuker-custom-5-2/

I tried this when I last popped in there. Lovely bass but wasn't for me personally. Somebody else will love it.

[Mrbigstuff]

On 20/08/2025 at 13:04, WinterMute said:

Warwick Thumb NT 5 string without a doubt

Wanted to say the same 

[Woodinblack]

Sei flamboyant 42"

[Terry M.]

I have an NT AND a BO Warwick 5 and neither B string is better or worse than the other one. So I would say any German Warwick 5 based on that as I've owned a few in the past for comparison.