Skipping the Low B, Tuning 6-String Bass E-F low to high

I've had a Carvin LB-76 since 1994, and its a great bass, but the low B string is a real liability. I try to avoid the string as much as possible, but sometimes I need to use it, and you can really hear the difference in the quality of the note, especially past the 10th fret. You can hear that in a few of the pieces here, http://www.bentorrey.com/musicforthesix-stringbass.zip.

This has bothered me for years. I've taken the bass to a great area guitar repair shop, and I was told that the problem is basically physics, a 34" scale B string just isn't going to sound good. So, basically, I've played on 5/6ths of my instrument all of these years.

Years ago I tried the high G string from a piccolo bass set, stringing E-F, but the piccolo string was unwound, and it really didn't work. That was 1996-1997, and I've now found out there are more strings out there to choose from.

I've now ordered 2 single F strings, .018 guage, that I hear are wound from http://www.conklinguitars.com/accessories.html

I then ordered SIT 4-string sets from http://www.juststrings.com, (E-0.95, A-0.80, D-0.60,G-0.40) and some high C SIT singles (.030 guage), and will again try to string the bass E-A-D-G-C-F and see how it works this time.

I even ordered a Hipshot Extender direct from Carvin for $60 and will install it when I get the strings. I find that dropping down to D, C or B is part of my vocabulary now, but don't want to sacrifice a bad sounding string to do it. Considering the Hipshot, I might want to get a heavier guage E string, so I'll see how this works.

When I get all setup I will post some sound clips.