Low B questions?

[Gamr23]

I recently purchased my first Sterling 5 less than a week ago, love the tone and playability, the E A D G sound amazing, (great slap bass). My question and concern involve the Low B. Either my ears are getting old, or to me the Low
B doesn't sound very strong, and at the 3rd and 5th fret sounds weak and a little dull and flat. (Not sure why) this is my 3rd fifth string bass, and I have never noticed the tone of the Low B on my other basses ever sounding dull in my rig. (Love Ashdown equipment by the way) Is this a characteristic of the Sterling 5's, or is my bass in need of serious luthier work? Any advice or comments are welcome. (Glad to be a part of the MM family)

(Also what guages of strings and brands are most of you using?)

 

[nurnay]

I switched back to Super Slinkys on my Stringray 5HH after trying the regular Slinkys for a while, it made all the difference for me. Much brighter!

 

[Chuck B]

Welcome to the MM family
When I played a Ray5 I used the regular Slinkys (green package) and the B worked well. Okay, I didn't use it very much.

 

[TSanders]

Ive used a StingRay 5 as my main bass for over 10 years now. I also have a Sterling 5H, that has quickly become my main player.

What you are describing seems like you may just need some new strings. Ive also found that MM basses are very particular in response to touch. Move that right hand around, mess with the eq, see what hand positions work better for the fretting hand, and so on and so forth. May just help you get where you wanna go. My Sterling 5H is so tight and punchy played at the bridge, but cut the highs, follow with a slight mid cut (VERY slight) and a slight bass boost, play over the neck, and it like a blanket its so big and round. Not bad from a one trick pony.

 

[keko]

Is this brand new Sterling 5, or second hand?

However, probably "dead" string, or need for good setup, ...it's hard to say from a distance!

Stick with factory strings and gauge (I use regular slinkies, or Coated regular slinky set #3836)!

Just one more, low B sounds much brighter to me when played over the bridge H pickup!

Hope it helps!

 

[CElton]

Make sure your B string is seated in the saddle. Loosen the string a bit and press hard on the string over the saddle. Tune up and see if that helps.

String could have been twisted during initial install or, as others have suggested, could just be a dud.

I use 45-125 gauge stainless steel.

Welcome to the club...

 

[Gamr23]

Thanks for your quick response and comments, and suggestions. For a little more detail I bought this bass used, (it was manufactured Jan. 2009) not a scratch or ding on it, absolutely perfect. When I bought it I accredited the flat sound to old strings and bought the bass. I put brand new strings on the day after, D'addario round wounds, 125, 105, 85, 65, 45 were the guages I used. (I really prefer a 125 to a 130, so I don't know if this is what could be making the difference. I also set intonation, and tightened every screw, adjusted the action, (i like tight action) with the torsion wheel (Cool design) and set the saddle height according to my liking. STILL THINK IT SOUNDS WEAK, AND FLAT AT THE 3RD AND FIFTH FRET. Wonder if the 125 gauge B string could be the issue. Thoughts or comments again would be greatly appreciated. Also thanks for welcoming me to the MM family.

Here I will follow suit with many of my new family.

2009 Sterling 5 HH Pacific BlueBurst, (with rosewood fingerboard)

Ive used a StingRay 5 as my main bass for over 10 years now. I also have a Sterling 5H, that has quickly become my main player.

What you are describing seems like you may just need some new strings. Ive also found that MM basses are very particular in response to touch. Move that right hand around, mess with the eq, see what hand positions work better for the fretting hand, and so on and so forth. May just help you get where you wanna go. My Sterling 5H is so tight and punchy played at the bridge, but cut the highs, follow with a slight mid cut (VERY slight) and a slight bass boost, play over the neck, and it like a blanket its so big and round. Not bad from a one trick pony.

 

[keko]

For a little more detail I bought this bass used, (it was manufactured Jan. 2009) not a scratch or ding on it, absolutely perfect. When I bought it I accredited the flat sound to old strings and bought the bass. I put brand new strings on the day after, D'addario round wounds, 125, 105, 85, 65, 45 were the guages I used. (I really prefer a 125 to a 130, so I don't know if this is what could be making the difference. I also set intonation, and tightened every screw, adjusted the action, (i like tight action) with the torsion wheel (Cool design) and set the saddle height according to my liking. STILL THINK IT SOUNDS WEAK, AND FLAT AT THE 3RD AND FIFTH FRET. Wonder if the 125 gauge B string could be the issue.

I think this is the main problem (bold section), this bass match the best 45-65-80-100-130 gauge, and get rid of this D'Addario trash, I tried one set and definitely had a problem with low B and short lasting time!

EB Coated regular slinky rules! Trust me, I play Sterling 5 too!

 

[Gamr23]

Thanks for all your great advice!

Actually I might of got this wrong on the brand, I actually order my strings in bulk from Musician's Friend, and specify my guages. (I usually order 5 sets at a time) they may be D'Addario, or something else not quite sure. Also I am unfamiliar with the strings you reccomended, also when you specify they are coated, what are they coated with? Lastly is the .130 most commonly used on the Sterlings? If yes I gotta retrain my fingers, as I have been using .125's for almost 15 years now, since I got my first 5 string.

Thanks again to my new MM friends, great to be a part of the family, you guys are awesome!! (Your excellent advice, and comments are greatly appreciated!)

2009 Sterling 5 HH Pacific BlueBurst (with rosewood fingerboard)
Ashdown MAG C410T-300 EVO II (You gotta hear an Ashdown! If you haven't try one, and feel the thunder!)

I think this is the main problem (bold section), this bass match the best 45-65-80-100-130 gauge, and get rid of this D'Addario trash, I tried one set and definitely had a problem with low B and short lasting time!

EB Coated regular slinky rules! Trust me, I play Sterling 5 too!

 

[Gamr23]

Hand position is a big deal!

Thanx for the great advice! I did experiment moving my right hand around for sound and playability, and man what a difference, in sound and feel. I do now have a new favorite hand position and it is just at the very back edge of the bridge pickup, (i was playing a lot over the rear humbucker, and not getting the sustain or punch I was used to on the low B. Also the EQ on this bass is extremely responsive, as the bass boost was set full on, and as I see now it was greatly over driving my cab, (as I was starting to hear some overdriven pops) which was greatly effecting over all low B performance and sound. What I have come to learn about this bass already, is how responsive it really is, (compared to my other 4-5 strings) never quite played anything like it. It really is a bass you must really learn to adapt too, and grow with. Within an few short weeks it has already improved my style, and has become a great new experience with playing bass all over again. Hat's off to MM they really know what they are doing...helping good bass players...become great bass player. I have playing bass for 33 years and I am still kicking myself for never having one sooner, eventually we will all see the light!

2009 Sterling 5 HH Pacific Blue Burst (with rosewood fingerboard)
Ashdown MAG C410T-300 EVO II (You gotta hear an Ashdown! If you haven't try one, and feel the thunder!)

Ive used a StingRay 5 as my main bass for over 10 years now. I also have a Sterling 5H, that has quickly become my main player.

What you are describing seems like you may just need some new strings. Ive also found that MM basses are very particular in response to touch. Move that right hand around, mess with the eq, see what hand positions work better for the fretting hand, and so on and so forth. May just help you get where you wanna go. My Sterling 5H is so tight and punchy played at the bridge, but cut the highs, follow with a slight mid cut (VERY slight) and a slight bass boost, play over the neck, and it like a blanket its so big and round. Not bad from a one trick pony.

 

[CElton]

Lastly is the .130 most commonly used on the Sterlings? If yes I gotta retrain my fingers, as I have been using .125's for almost 15 years now, since I got my first 5 string.

The .125 will be fine. EBMM instruments all have great B strings due to the excellent construction. Use the gauge you prefer.

 

[Gamr23]

First of all, hats off to you guys, your advice and comments are greatly appreciated, my new MM family is amazing. I took all of your advice and did again consider the issue of new strings. I was recently at a Guitar Center and grabbed up a set of Regular Slinky's .45-.130. (Wanted to try coated strings, but none in stock) Also I found an amazing luthier only a 1/2 hour away. And all I can say is........."OH MY GOD!!!!" This bass is amazing, never did I think it could ever play this well and sound this good!!!! (SLINKY'S are the bomb!!!!!!) To all you guys out there who do not have a good luthier make a few calls and find one. Everyone at times needs a good surgeon, and this guy brought this bass alive. (He even asked where I got it and said he wished he had jumped on it intead of me) Now my only problem is having to wait to play out in a few days!

2009 Sterling 5 HH Pacific BlueBurst (with rosewood fingerboard)
Ashdown MAG C410T-300 EVO II (You gotta hear an Ashdown! If you haven't try one, and feel the thunder!)

 

[misterjessie]

nothing like better gear to send ya back to the woodshed! I've always found the B string to be all about finesse... misjudge and you'll get buzz or short yourself on sustain etc etc. I play mostly fingerstyle and the other four strings I can kind of flail at and have good tone, but it's when I'm not keeping some level of discipline or focus about what I'm doing when I go for the B that I get into trouble. Seriously... the EB's have killer B's- whether .125 or .130 gauge... and better than any longer scale 5 I've played too! I personally think string-thru helps a bit with a good B, but it's not a dealbreaker, my S.U.B. I used to own had one of the tightest B's I've ever played.

 

[laneline]

" Seriously... the EB's have killer B's- whether .125 or .130 gauge... and better than any longer scale 5 I've played too! "

BIG +1 there misterjessie, I had 4 high end 35" scale basses before MM's and now they are all gone never to return.