Low B flat wound options to tune up to E

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Before anyone asserts that I must be crazy, I'll concede that at the beginning. That stipulated, I have a very specific question: I'm a DB player currently practicing like crazy on a new Rob Allen Mouse 30 that I'll be taking with me on an international trip soon to play a few concerts and teach jazz clinics for my university music program. After much experimentation with strings, I ended up with TI flat set originally meant to be strung B-E-A-D-G tuned up a 4th to E-A-D-G-C. Here are some thumbnails of the bass and strings:



I love the strings on this bass because they make it feel like playing a miniature horizontal DB as much as such a thing is possible. You can dig into them more like a DB than a BG because of the tension, and they cut the unwanted mwahhh effect of the bass by a factor of 10, which is the sound I am looking for.

The one string that I'm not totally happy with is the B/E string, which feels a bit huge (to be expected, I know) and has a bit too little growl and response to it. What slightly smaller flat B strings with a tad less tension might be good to try? I'm traveling soon and will be ordering a backup set of the TI flats to take with me in case of breakage, and would like to try another option or two for that B when I place the order. Any and all advice appreciated!

P.S. - I have tried the heaviest E strings I can find, and they don't seem to be a match for the TI "up a fourth" set. Looking for strings originally intended as B strings.

 

[HaphAsSard]

What slightly smaller flat B strings with a tad less tension might be good to try?

Very tricky one. Users of flatwounds on five-string basses aren't exactly legion here let alone in real life. I may open a thread later on this specific topic. No personal experience with flat B's, up-tuned or otherwise, either. What I can offer as a serial time-squanderer on TB is a linking to the two flats most associated with the "growl" descriptor on these boards, namely (post-2011) Fenders
Fender 9050 Stainless Steel Flatwound Bass Strings - 5 String Set
and Ernie Ball Slinky (Cobalt) Flatwounds
Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky Flatwound Bass Strings - 5-String Set
both of which I'd suggest you get, give the respective B strings a fair try, and flip the remaining 4-string sets here (the Fender L set is a little better received than the M).

Bump for more opinions.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Very useful reply, thanks!

One aspect of the issue I should probably mention is the actual gauge of the strings in question. The TI flat B gauge is .136

The B of the Fender set you mentioned above is .125

The Ernie Ball set B is .130

I can never seem to navigate the BSO single strings page correctly, but I wonder if those B's might be available as singles? The Fender especially interests me as it is noticeable thinner than the TI. If they were available, i could simply order a normal medium scale TI flat set to tune up A-D-G-C and play with the B strings (probably what I'll do whether I find a B or not), and then just play with the different B's.

On another note, I happened by the shop of the best BG setup guy in town yesterday, a guy I've known for some 30+ years now, and had him look at the mouse pre-trip to check that nothing screwy was going on with the neck because of the tension of the oddball set that's on there. After looking at it, he said that the neck appeared totally straight and actually could use a little relief; this would clear up the few buzzy spots. He mentioned that most players would hate that setup for normal BG usage and that the bass would be an injury machine for anyone not used to it, but for a DB player looking to apply a similar DB-type leverage to the LH it might feel more natural. Will start tweaking today and see what shakes out.

 

[Mike N]

Wow... I've never tried tuning flats up, but I have tuned them down. I have some unknown flats on an SX Jazz that measure .105", .085", .070" and .050" that were insanely stiff at EADG. I tuned them BEAD and (at least to me) they feel and sound just about right.

Maybe I'm the one who is crazy??

 

[JustForSport]

Wow... I've never tried tuning flats up, but I have tuned them down. I have some unknown flats on an SX Jazz that measure .105", .085", .070" and .050" that were insanely stiff at EADG. I tuned them BEAD and (at least to me) they feel and sound just about right.

Maybe I'm the one who is crazy??

I did the same with a 5 string set that was a .110 set with an .032 for the G.
Balanced set and played like a light set.

 

[Mike N]

I did the same with a 5 string set that was a .110 set with an .032 for the G.
Balanced set and played like a light set.

I've always preferred a light tension string. For years I played D'Addario Slowwounds, which were as light as they came. The whole tuning unknown flats down to BEAD was a complete fluke..... which pretty much accurately describes my Bass playing career.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I can never seem to navigate the BSO single strings page correctly, but I wonder if those B's might be available as singles? The Fender especially interests me as it is noticeable thinner than the TI. If they were available ...

I forgot to be explicit on this point but nope, I'm afraid singles are not available for these two makes/models,* hence my pointing to whole sets.

*(EB non-cobalt flats in turn are available as singles, and they're firmly in the "modern/bright flat" camp according to those who've used them, but I've never seen them described as anything resembling "growly" or "snarly" or what have you. Then again I may not have paid enough attention.)