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05-20-2005, 10:57 AM
| | | | Low b string on a 4 string bass?
Is it possible to setup a 4 string bass with a Low b string, I mean use a 5 string set on a 4 string bass and omit the g string.
B-E-A-D |
05-20-2005, 11:25 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Michigan, USA | | | Yep, very possible.
You'd want a new nut probably, try it out with your exsisting nut. Also, you're going to need to set up the bass to handle more tension, but that's no big deal.
Timmy C has a bass strung BEAD. Give it a whirl!
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05-20-2005, 11:28 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Upstate NY | | | You'd have less tension, not more. You can tune down from standard EADG to BEAD, but as suggested, you may need a new nut if you use 5-string strings.
Last edited by bonscottvocals : 05-20-2005 at 11:29 AM.
Reason: clarification of tuning
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05-20-2005, 11:31 AM
| | | | I run 5-string sets with the G string deleted, and i like it a lot. The nut had to be filed out to accomodate the bigger strings and the neck had to be adjusted for the higher tension as stated above.
I tune C# F# B E and the bigger strings sound a lot better because they dont flop around as much. But you will have to work a little harder with your fretting hand.
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05-20-2005, 11:32 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Michigan, USA | | |
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05-20-2005, 12:37 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Upstate NY | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by bonscottvocals You'd have less tension, not more. You can tune down from standard EADG to BEAD, but as suggested, you may need a new nut if you use 5-string strings. | I use lighter strings for less tension. I should have stated, I do have a 4-string tuned to BEAD, but I don't use 5 string sets, I just use a heavier 4-string set. |
05-20-2005, 12:53 PM
|  | Bassist ordinaire | | Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The Duke City | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Mrbowtieguy Is it possible to setup a 4 string bass with a Low b string, I mean use a 5 string set on a 4 string bass and omit the g string.
B-E-A-D |
Do a search in Setup, there are lots of threads on this. Setup for a 4 string tuned BEAD. |
05-20-2005, 01:01 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Germany | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Petary791 | Judging from his comment about the low strings not flopping around so much, I'm guessing his lowest note is the C# one step higher than the regular low B. Right? Right? |
05-20-2005, 02:01 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Michigan, USA | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by phxlbrmpf Judging from his comment about the low strings not flopping around so much, I'm guessing his lowest note is the C# one step higher than the regular low B. Right? Right? |
NO dude, octave lower!
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05-20-2005, 03:15 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: West Hollywood, Ca | | | As petary mentioned Tim (Rage and Audioslave) has a bass set up like that. Uses it quite a bit it seems on the first audioslave cd and it sounds great. |
05-20-2005, 03:25 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lancaster, OH | | | C is higher than B. You'd tune up to C on a B string, and tune down to A. I have a cheapo SX J bass that I tune down to ADGC and I use the 4 thickest strings from a 5 string set.
Also, I believe that tuning down would result in lower tension, not higher, but I've been wrong before.
On a separate note, I found that flatwounds (with their higher tension) work well for de-tuning, especially on 5-string (ADGCF)!
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05-20-2005, 04:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Scottsdale, AZ | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by NicJimBass Also, I believe that tuning down would result in lower tension, not higher, but I've been wrong before. | All tunings being equal, it's the thickness of the string that determines how much tension it has when in tune. Getting thicker strings and tuning them lower wouldn't have a definitely positive or negative effect on the tension of those strings, it would depend entirely on their thickness and tunings relative to what you were using before. |
05-20-2005, 05:32 PM
| | I wish I could sing like Rick Danko. | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Shreveport LA | | | Currently my only bass is BEAD. I seriously doubt I'll ever go back to 5's. My next bass will be EADG to balance it out though because there have been times that I've missed that G. |
05-20-2005, 09:13 PM
| | | I tune BEAD and love it. I went from a 4 string to a 6 and found out that with my style I only need a 4 string tuned BEAD. Got rid of the 6 and back to good ol 4.  That's just me though. 
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05-20-2005, 10:57 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2004 Location: St. Louis, MO, U.S. | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by bonscottvocals You'd have less tension, not more. You can tune down from standard EADG to BEAD, but as suggested, you may need a new nut if you use 5-string strings. | Lower pitched strings are generally made to take less tension to get them up to pitch. A G string might need about 42 lbs., but an E might need only 36 or so. A B would take a little less, so swapping it in instead of a G should relieve a few pounds of tension.
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05-20-2005, 11:15 PM
| | | | cool idea but
But I would never use this, I'm not condoning it I just can't find a use for anything lower than E downtuned to D. I went into GC and messed with a 6 string and liekd having teh high C string but then I tried the B and was like "What am I gonna do w/ a note this low, the only people that'll end up hearing are bassists and people w/ huge ass subwoofers." I would however buy a five string and have it strung to EADGC
just my opinion
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05-25-2005, 02:01 AM
|  | Spector Dissector | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV. | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by NicJimBass C is higher than B. You'd tune up to C on a B string, and tune down to A. I have a cheapo SX J bass that I tune down to ADGC and I use the 4 thickest strings from a 5 string set.
Also, I believe that tuning down would result in lower tension, not higher, but I've been wrong before. | Not if he's tuning in the range of some of our 9 string guys (i.e. C# and F# below standard low B), using string gauges in the neighborhood of .175 for C#, .150 for F#, .125 for B, and .100 for E.
More on topic: Ross Valory (Journey) has been tuning B-E-A-D for several years now and Billy Sheehan has a few 4s with this tuning (including one of the necks on his doubleneck Yamaha).
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05-30-2005, 10:23 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Northern California | | I've been playing 5-string for quite a while now & have been thinking of tuning a 4-string B-E-A-D as I noticed that I really dont use the G string all that often. Some of the bass lines I'm doing require some rather fast 70's blues & funk lines. Much easier on a 4-string than 5 (for me anyway).
Also when playing some blues or 70's cover tunes sometimes I incorporate notes on my low B instead of an octave higher. Gives a song a whole new dimension & more booty.  |
05-30-2005, 03:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Puerto Rico | | | The Mudvayne Bassist have a similar configuration,he use a 6 strings without the g in he,s 5 stringer. |
05-30-2005, 05:48 PM
| | Spector Dissector | | Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas, NV. | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Funky Tune The Mudvayne Bassist have a similar configuration,he use a 6 strings without the g in he,s 5 stringer. |  
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