B string on a 4 banger

Bass_man91 · #1 05-19-2009, 06:42 PM

Hi everybody, has anybody ever put a B string on a 4 string guitar and tuned it to an E... I was woundering how hard it is to do? I know I have to file the nut and it looks like the bridge too. But is that all? And before you guys start asking my why... I'll tell you why I wanna do it. I think it will be a little unique to have a 4 string with a B string on it... I may even get a little warmer tone with it but thats not why i'm doing it.

i hate username · #2 05-19-2009, 07:02 PM

are you planning to but a b string on and tune it up to e? If so i wouldnt do it,youll probably ruin your neck. I did that before but tuned it BEAD but i think the B string has more tension than the E so i had to re-adjust the truss rod after a few days. I didnt leave the B on longer than a few weeks anyway cause i was afraid it would bow the neck.

kenlacam · #3 05-19-2009, 07:04 PM

so....why are you doing it, then?

Darkstrike · #4 05-19-2009, 07:08 PM

I've done it, I have a bass which has super high tension Steve Harris flats, and as its a quickloader, I have a round set to alternate on it.

Now no rounds match the Steve Harris set, so, to get the same tension I need to use a lightish(.125 B) BEAD set tuned up to EADG, well, thats not completly true, I have a standard G on it.

Works fine. If your bass is set up for it, which is, nut reamed out a little, truss rod, intonation.

Alcyon · #5 05-20-2009, 12:16 PM

If you really want that extreme a tension on the E string, you can do it... But for regular tuning it's going to be ridiculous and will take a lot of adjustment to protect the bend of your neck.

Darkstrike · #6 05-20-2009, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alcyon

If you really want that extreme a tension on the E string, you can do it... But for regular tuning it's going to be ridiculous and will take a lot of adjustment to protect the bend of your neck.

Its really not all that extreme, about the same as a se of Steve Harris flats, IME.

fenderx55 · #7 05-20-2009, 01:51 PM

I had a beater P with a B string tuned to D-Db depending on the song. I just added a little bit of an upbow to the neck and I was good to go. It's really not that big of a deal.

**If you ruin your bass it's not my fault, YMMV.

Bass_man91 · #8 05-20-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderx55

**If you ruin your bass it's not my fault, YMMV.

It's just a cheap Stagg bass so Its not going to be the end of the world if I ruin it. It's not like i'm doing it on a $1,000 Fender.