open B tuning with standard four string

[Greevus]

anyone do this regularly? i have been playing a five, then switched to BEAD fours, now i am debating de-tuning again. love the pitch of "B", but lowest i've detuned was C# a la Sabbath. it seemed very low at the time, but B is the new low for me. the larger gauge B strings are freaking killing my right hand. i use a pick and it's really aggravating my carpal tunnel. i also dig the ridiculous sliding/bending with de-tuning.

[lowendfriend]

Did you go with the appropriate gauge strings for the BEAD or just tune down the strings you had?

Just put 130's and lower for BEAD on my ole kickaround to get it more useful to me for practicing vs. my normal 5 string.

[Greevus]

Yo man, by "larger gauge B strings" I was implying you know the "larger" ones, ie 130s or 125s. So yeah, was using the "appropriate" ones. I guess if people on here would "read" the thread instead of just answering with "well what i do is...", then it would like maybe "help" someone. Just being sarcastic for effect. I've been using the top four strings from fiver sets, so I do understand. It's the 130 width that is killing my right hand. The pick just isn't coming off as quickly as with lighter gauges. And standards are so much freaking cheaper than custom sets. I was just wondering how many players dropped down to open B instead of E with regular strings. I got a five and loved it, so I got my guitarist to using a baritone. He wanted to go back to his baby guitar, so he did with heavier gauge strings. Now I'm the one that wants to go back and he doesn't. Damn guitards.

[RickenBoogie]

If you tuned a .105 down to B, it would be all flop.

[ChrisBowsman]

When you say "open B," do you mean BEAD, or something else?

Tim from Rage/Audioslave claims to have used a .110 B string to record, then ultimately settled on .120.

[Greevus]

Talking about using standard gauges for BEAD tuning. I guess I should say "B standard" instead of open B. I have always just called standard tuned basses "open E".

[RickenBoogie]

If you go BEAD, try a 5 string set, and save the G string.