New way forward or solution for a problem that doesn't exist?

[uwe]

Not sure whether the inharmonicity of a B (!) string played at the 20th (!) fret has been that high (pun unintended) on your agenda and regularly robbed you of your sleep, but I thought I'd share for discussion ...

http://www.kempacoustics.com

Watch the B string video - yes, I do hear a difference.

Kemp's marketing slogan should probably be:

No sharp tonal bump if your string has a lump!

I'm still undecided, but I'd give a pack of these a try just to hear what they are like.

[Dave W]

I vote for solution in search of a problem.

[doombass]

Whenever I experience string problems I know where to go. 

[Rob]

I vote for solution in search of a problem.

Me too.

[Dave W]

Most string companies are always trying something new to get a leg up on the competition. Really tough for a startup. IMHO it's just another gimmick.

You would have to test his string against a wide number of brands, not just one of a type, and even then I'd guess that double blind listening tests wouldn't demonstrate a difference.

Snake oil.

[gearHed289]

Hmm... Well the lumped strings do sound better pitch-wise. I don't know who plays that high on a low B, but I'm sure there are guys going nuts over this revelation on TB. 

[Basvarken]

Well hooray, the lumped string performs better on the 21st fret of the B string. Who on earth plays at the 21s fret of a low B ?!

In the other examples the standard string performs best in the (fraction) of a second that matters most, namely right shortly the string is being plucked.
Especially on the open string -where the effect of the B string makes the most sense- the lumped string performs the worst even!

[uwe]

I'm not sure whether the immediate tone is more important than the developing and decaying tone of a note if you look at inharmonicity ... To a human ear an initial slight inharmonicity that gradually decreases is less unpleasant than the other way around.

And the performance of the lumped string in open string mode is not significantly worse than a regular or tapered string.

Fretting that high on a B string is of course unusual, but you have to look at where the inventor comes from as a player, he's all chords and melodies on bass, preferring to stay in pretty much one position und not scurry around on the fretboard. The ability to play a note up high on a string and not have it sound like crap makes sense with that particular style of bass playing where too much movement on the fretboard inhibits you.

[TBird1958]

What's a B string? 

[Pilgrim]

What's a B string? 

Words to live by.

[Dave W]

[uwe]

Ok, lumps don't influence sound then!