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05-11-2006, 12:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto, ON | | | Low B in a 4-string?
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Has anyone ever tried putting a low b on a 4-string and getting rid of the G?
I know Pino tunes down to a C# sometimes, but I've been thinking about putting a B on my 4. Has anyone had success doing this? |
05-11-2006, 02:19 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Baltimore | | | 5
Quote: |
Originally Posted by Bennito Has anyone ever tried putting a low b on a 4-string and getting rid of the G? | i believe there have been many similar threads like this... and the best thing i can tell you to do is get a 5er... that way you can have both the B and the G.. never know when you'll want to use either so its good to have 'em |
05-12-2006, 08:33 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2001 Location: Orangevale, CA 95662 | | | Search for: BEAD tuning.
This is a very viable method, and one that I want to employ with my extra P-bass. The right way to do it, is have the nut replaced and correctly sized for your favorite string gauge. A setup and intonation is required. Truss rod adjustment might be required, as the total tension is a few pounds less.
The nut change makes BEAD semi-permanent, but it should perform as well as a 5-string from the same manufacturer.
Looking over my string tension chart, I see in every case that BEAD is less total string tension than EADG stringing. The G string commands higher tension than does the B string. Less tension is probably a plus for Jazz sized necks. |
05-14-2006, 06:30 PM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Coast of Canada | | | Go with D'Addario EXL 160-5s. .135 gauge lo-B! |
05-15-2006, 04:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Toronto, ON | | | I tried a search but I guess I just didn't search the right words. Anyway, thanks for the tips! Now to buy an old 4-string to mess with. |
05-15-2006, 04:23 PM
| | | Spector make a bass specially for this purpose, the Euro 4LX-35.
Go to: http://www.spectorbass.com/NewFiles/euro.html
Scroll down the page and you'll see it.
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Basses: 2008 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass, Archer Kasim Sulton Signature model.
Amp: Ashdown ABM C210T-500 EVO III Combo.
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05-15-2006, 06:40 PM
| | | | Low b
My suggestion is to get a five or stick with just four. I ve talked to several professional bassist about that before and was told it could warp or twist the nesk from the tension. I just bought a five string and it will open doors to a new world. Good luck with your decision. |
05-15-2006, 07:19 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boston | | | That doesn't make sense |
05-18-2006, 01:50 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Canton, Ohio, USA | | | search for "BEAD" |
05-18-2006, 02:44 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: South Africa | | | I believe the best example of this would be Tim Commerfors from the former Rage Against The Machine. He is now playing with Audioslave.
To the best of my knowledge he used this technique (there was an article in some bass player magazine that covered this I believe)
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05-21-2006, 02:30 AM
| | | | I know a couple of people who tune that way, whatever floats your boat I guess. Just make sure you get it set up right. |
05-21-2006, 11:05 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2001 Location: Orangevale, CA 95662 | | | BEAD tuning is less total tension on the neck. Always.
In almost all cases, the D string is the highest tension and the B string is the lowest tension.
One could build a hypothetical case for BEAD warpage on a 4-string with the B and D on the edges. One could justify their case for a 5-string where the D string is in the middle of the neck, and that neck is wider/stronger.
BEAD could hypothetically pose a problem on an ancient Fender jazz necks that are already prone to warpage. I play P width necks, and do not see this is any cause for worry. |
05-21-2006, 11:20 AM
|  | Registered User
Endorsing artist:see profile/Current Setup | | Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: CHICAGO,IL. | | Bassist Ryan Ghedotti(over at Low down sound)has a killer 4 string tuned BEAD made by Laggan Bass works,that over all was just a pleasure to play and the B string response on it was one of the best I've ever heard. http://www.lagganbassworks.com/ |
05-21-2006, 11:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Atlanta | | | I tune down to ADGC. I use a conklin .150 as my low A and the top 3 out of any .105 or .110 4str set. No neck warpage, just a lot of fret clack. That set up serves my purpose, but you could easily just use any 5er set of strings, and just toss the G. Have a good pro set it up and go from there. I love 4strs set up to play that low. Also, after playing like that for a while, a standard set and tune will feel like a toy. |
05-28-2006, 07:15 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Tacoma, WA | | My Carvin BB70 is currently tuned BEAD with D'addario Pro Steel strings, gauges .145, .125, .105, .075 (I believe). It's been in this configuration for a few months, and it works pretty well, but I'm still tweaking the neck. Then again, I like super low action.
If it's a good instrument, it should be able to take the change well.
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