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Your favorite bass strings for a 5 string?

B

Brooksie

Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2015
Messages
5
I am curious as to what strings/gauges everyone uses. I am on the search for the best B string out there.
I have noticed with soooo many strings, when the B string is slapped, it is so muddy and just gives off a thud. I need a B string that is clear and punchy, especially when slapped.
My favorite strings right now are La Bella stainless steels.
 
I stick with good old regular Slinky's mostly. I'm not a slapper, though. Super Slinky's probably better for that. Cobalts are incredibly bright, too.
 
Cobalt rounds are awesome, even though I prefer slightly lower tension - I use them when I feel like pampering a bass with something extra, or when I know I'm going to be playing tuned in Eb for a project. :)

About slapping on the B-string, that's likely going to push the limits for many fivestrings. I've found that regardless of the bass as such, to get the B-string to work its best it's extremely important to wind it so you get a strong downward force on it on the tuning peg, secondly to help it form a correct break angle where it crosses the bridge saddle, and thirdly to not have the pickups crazy close to the strings - normal close is fine, but too close and the magnetic pull can result in wolf tones on the B especially a little bit higher up on the neck.

I'm currently running Cobalts on a non-EBMM fivestring of mine, and the B-string sounds amazing also when slapped, truly like an extension of the four string register. In addition the Cobalts play perfectly in tune and without wolf tones all the way up the neck on all five strings - this has not been my experience with many other brands I've tried over the years, actually only one brand/model is up there with the Cobalts for me.
 
Ernie Ball 045-130 (green pack) my favourite strings with best B in the business!
 
Cobalts are amazing on a Bongo. I use Slinkys 45-100 on stingrays. Slapping on the low B is always a challenge sonically. Best I've found are Cobalts on a Bongo 5 HS. Or a 15-rear-old Stingray 5--just keeps sounding better as the years go on!

Tom
 
Cobalt flatwounds on a Bongo 5HH with full rosewood neck. Bar none! Better for me than Cobalt Rounds, Regular Slinky, and various others from DMarkley, DR, and Dunlap. 2nd place goes to Cobalt rounds.

With Cobalt flats, I get a much more even B string tone compared to other 4 strings, crisper attack, and incredible harmonics. They feel superb! They honestly make me want to play, and also take risks and try new things. I wish I had them years ago. Sterling and company: grand slam homer on the Cobalt Flatwounds!
 
I like Cobalts for good tone on the low B and the volume balance through all the strings.
I have flats on my fretless and rounds on my fretted basses and they both sound great.
I still have the factory slinkies in some of my basses and have no complaints about those.
 
I use four different strings on my 5s:

1) My current fave for a change of pace, I have them on my Big Al 5H and one of my Dimension 5Hs - EBMM Colbalt flats, 55-110 with a 130 B added.

2) My usual - EBMM Group I flats (55-110) with a 130 B added.

3) On a couple of basses including my Bongo 5H and one of my P5s - LaBella 1954s 52-128.

4) On my Tacoma ThunderChiefs and going on my fretless P5 - LaBella black tapes 60-135.
 
I used to use marcus miller fat beams and they were great. Currently using Dunlop super brights and the B is the big weak spot. I did go with a .040 set which definitely doest help, but overall they are great.
 
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