Low B Comparison with Fender, Lakland, Sire, and Ken Smith 

dude you hit it right on the head. its such a challenge to find a bass where the b sounds like it belongs with the rest of the strings.

@@bassyboii Yes, I had to get a used bass in the $3250 price bracket in order to get a B string that matched the other strings in timbre. I wanted the fretted E (on the low B ) to sound like the open E string. I went with an F-Bass BN5. New the F-Bass BN5s are $4500 (used to have a new one in 2006, stupidly I sold it.). Anyway, no Fender, Ibanez or Stingray could get even close. I am under the impression that the F-Bass is the most affordable boutique bass with a killer B string. I mean it is a huge piano sounding B that sounds like the rest of the strings- bright with a monster low end. You have to play the Ken Smith basses to get a baseline of how a low B should sound. That being said, the BN5 has the BEST low B in the business- I think better than Smith basses. The neck is ROCK solid and provides and excellent foundation for the low B. You do not have to worry about a used F-bass being unplayable. I bought

that's been solved by fanned frets. a 38" low-B is the most glorious sound on earth.

@@pusanghalaw Nah, definitely a niche fad. Some of the best recorded electric basses aren't even close to that scale. Besides, the majority of people using Dingwalls are playing root notes with a pick through a Darkglass anyways hahaha

@@miket2646 picks? i didn't notice. i prefer more traditional pizzicato or slap on the low-b. and my dream bass would be a "38 fanned fretless BEAD. with fret lines to be sure - not enough muscle memory to stay in tune on that scale length.

Very well constructed but they are heavy.

Me too ! My go-to bass is my Lākland 55-02

I love the look of Lakland. One day, I will get one. They are just beautiful

The low B from the Fender and Sire seem too loud

Alleva Coppolo

F-Bass BN5 - (small Canadian builder) check out their low B - more monster than the Smith, I played them side by side. Ok, I'm a fanboy, but these basses are affordable at $3500 used- am killer.

@@grungebox that’s actually what I’m eyeing next.

@@outsider462 I’m getting the F-Bass logo (the “F”) tattooed on my arm. I cannot tell you how much I love this bass. It made me quit playing guitar altogether. 😀

@@grungebox I just picked up a F Bass and it’s amazing!

GeroLubovnik thanks for the comment. I can’t remember what strings are on these Basses. I believe the smith has some nickels, the fender has Dunlop super brights stainless steel. Sire has nickels and lakland I’m not sure. I no longer have the lakland.

You hit it right on the nose! I’m ordering a sire immediately (im not at all joking) I am a studio musician for a living. I don’t play much outside of work situations. Other than the occasional after session jam. And I’ve carried the same couple basses not because I don’t want or like to play boutique basses it’s just every single time I’m talking 99% of the time I’m asked to bring a jazz or P bass. A lot of times the studios are set up for this sound or engineer is familiar with those Basses. So I got a custom shop fender deluxe ( my arsenal 71’ P & 77’ & 79’ one passive aggressive & the other with a Michael Pope 3 band flex core & nordies) that can pretty much can pull off what those Basses are capable of doing. But from a standpoint of a studio player that Sire was best for recording. The fender was very a close second. I’m gonna get V10 & P7 after doing a little research after seeing this video.

It’s a great bass. The electronics are fantastic.

Just got one. Absolutely nuts

I was looking at the P7 but ended up with the V7. P7 will be my next one for sure. Great, quality instruments

The F-Bass BN5 has a low B that is considered the best in the business. It is also affordable $3500 average used.

Good point. I wish I did it with all the same strings. It’s hard to demonstrate feel/playability over YT but the smith us the best feeling B. Which is why I still have that bass. Thanks!

Jay Sci thanks Jay. I have a few ideas how I can show case some more for these instruments. All of the basses are different tools for different projects I’ll be doing. I’d say the Smith is the best for feel and playability but the Sire is the best for value. I reach for the fender and Lakland most though. I prefer single coil pickups.

Wizdumb lol. Ain’t got time for that. Yes I did miss the mute button unplugging on the first bass but I saved your ears on the rest.

They do not. This was a quick impromptu comparison as I was testing my basses personally. Thought I’d share with everyone.

Thanks! I the fender is my main player. The Lakland is good but 34” low B strings play and feel plenty good. I don’t have the sire or the Lakland anymore.

Great feedback! Glad you enjoyed.

@@outsider462 After rewatching this, I have to adjust my impression: Now I prefer the Sire's B string over the Fender's. Great value bass! But still, the Lakland is my favorite by a mile, and now I even prefer its B string over the Ken Smith's. I think it's because I use a different pair of headphones now.

The Ken sounded much thinner than the rest

I had a 55-02 in the past that I sold. Can’t remember exactly but the B on that might have even been better than my 55-94. No joke. Might he have been the strings but it was very good.

@@outsider462 Thanks very much =)))) That will be my next bass 😊

Thank you

I believe all the Sire v series Basses are 34" scale, but they can be strung through the body.

Sires 34 Lakland 35 I have both v7 vintage,Lakland 55-02

Obvio, sería una vergüenza que por ese precio un bajo de mitad de precio sonará igual o mejor

Thanks for the comment! I wouldn’t say too much vintage. I didn’t showcase what the electronics can do and when engaged there is a lot of versatility to it. Especially with the mid controls. So you can dial in a large amount of tonal variety.

@@outsider462 Haha you right. Stupid question! and Wise answer!

It’s all good!

Alder body. I wanted a black bass and alder was the only body wood option available.

It’s the lakland pickups. I believe this lakland is a 2016.

It's a 35" scale

I still own the fender and smith. Others are gone.

@@outsider462 nice there’s something about fender you can never go wrong like ever I don’t understand the dislike some ppl have for them

Check out the F-Bass BN5 - considered the best low B in the business. From an Fbass Fanboy

Alder

The Smith has the lowest action followed by the fender and then Lakland. Sire had the highest. But all relatively lower but not ultra low

@@outsider462 thank you Tim but what do you mean with low? 2.5mm 2mm lower than 2mm?

@@Midemabass smith 2mm, fender 2.5mm at last fret

@@outsider462 thank you so much Tim!

Yes, first gen.