Should BEAD sets be made available?

[Jay2U]

Dear subsonic friends,

On another thread I asked for the availability of BEAD string sets, specifically flatwounds. As far as I know they aren't available from the major brands. Why? I think we, TB-ers, can make a stand, letting the manufacturers know that strings should not only be packed EADG, BEADG or BEADGB, but also BEAD from now on.

[FunkMetalBass]

I don't know that the BEAD market is even close to being as large as the 5- or 6-string (BEADGC, by the way) markets to warrant a BEAD, especially in the flatwound community. In fact, demand for a Drop D set is considerably larger, but I don't see too many of those around.

Plus, most string manufacturers sell single strings, so piecing together a set is always an option for the non-standard tunings.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

There are a few available:

Rotosound Drop Zone 65-135
DR DDT's (Drop Down Tuning) 65-125
Dunlop XH Drop 60-120
CircleK

And yes of course, you can always buy single strings...

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

I don't know that the BEAD market is even close to being as large as the 5- or 6-string (BEADGC, by the way) markets to warrant a BEAD, especially in the flatwound community. In fact, demand for a Drop D set is considerably larger, but I don't see too many of those around.

Plus, most string manufacturers sell single strings, so piecing together a set is always an option for the non-standard tunings.

It's hard over here, if not impossible, to buy four single flatwounds. The altrernative is an EADG set and a single B, but this simply costs more than a BEADG set. In my opinion, manufacturers like d'Addario, Labella, GHS... should be able to just pack BEAD, like EADG and BEADG. It's only a matter of putting them together in a set. They are being produced anyway. Many six stringers tune to BEADGB, matching the guitar, but yes, the sets are being sold as BEADGC I guess.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

There are a few available:

Rotosound Drop Zone 65-135
DR DDT's (Drop Down Tuning) 65-125
Dunlop XH Drop 60-120
CircleK

And yes of course, you can always buy single strings...

There certainly are some sets available, but, unfortunately for me, no flatwounds.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

There certainly are some sets available, but, unfortunately for me, no flatwounds.

There are some Flatwound manufacturers that sell their strings individually...

GHS
La Bella
Thomastik-Infeld

D'Addario is working on selling strings individually again for ALL strings, at this time they only sell select singles...

[wcriley]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

Many six stringers tune to BEADGB, matching the guitar, but yes, the sets are being sold as BEADGC I guess.

It would need to be BEADF#B to match the intervals of standard guitar tuning.

I agree that prepackaged sets for BEAD would be nice.
Of the sets SLaPiNFuNK listed, only the Rotosounds (and, of course, CircleK) would be heavy enough on the B string to suit me.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

La Bella has a B string up to .150 ... FWIW...

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

La Bella has a B string up to .150 ... FWIW...

I just noticed this the other day when I was looking for the .145 you told me about.

Warwick, D'Addario, LaBella, Conklin, Octave4Plus, Circle K, and Ken Smith all make .145 (or larger) B-strings.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

SIT also has them in their "Extended Bass Range" line... Those are not made year round from what I understand.

Dean Markley has .140 strings for many of their lines... Almost there!

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

SIT also has them in their "Extended Bass Range" line... Those are not made year round from what I understand.

I thought SIT's larger strings were made specifically for Conklin ERBs and not sold anywhere else. Am I mistaken?

[mmbongo]

So what's the difference in an BEAD set and a regular 5 string set with the G string unused?

[hdracer]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

So what's the difference in an BEAD set and a regular 5 string set with the G string unused?

About $5.00 or $6.00

[Ironderby]

Yes! this is a great idea.

Also, on the subject of strings, just wondering, do anyone elses guitard friends complain about string prices? when its like half the price for 3 sets of strings

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by FunkMetalBass

I thought SIT's larger strings were made specifically for Conklin ERBs and not sold anywhere else. Am I mistaken?

SIT does have a separate Extended Range of bass strings...

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Jay2U

Dear subsonic friends,

On another thread I asked for the availability of BEAD string sets, specifically flatwounds. As far as I know they aren't available from the major brands. Why? I think we, TB-ers, can make a stand, letting the manufacturers know that strings should not only be packed EADG, BEADG or BEADGB, but also BEAD from now on.

I take it youve considered buying a 5 string set and just not using the high G string.
It wouldnt be that bad of an idea for people who'd like to tune their 4strings BEAD, I guess.
But, Im also wondering how that would offset the cost?
Would a BEAD set price somewhere between a 4string EADG set and a 5string BEADG set?
I cant imagine the market for a set of strings like that would be very large.

Originally Posted by Jay2U

It's hard over here, if not impossible, to buy four single flatwounds. The altrernative is an EADG set and a single B, but this simply costs more than a BEADG set. In my opinion, manufacturers like d'Addario, Labella, GHS... should be able to just pack BEAD, like EADG and BEADG. It's only a matter of putting them together in a set. They are being produced anyway. Many six stringers tune to BEADGB, matching the guitar, but yes, the sets are being sold as BEADGC I guess.

From a sales/marketing standpoint, it just isnt that simple, though.
For one, not too many people want to tune their basses that way.
Two, the amount of material required for a BEAD set of strings is going to be more than the amount material for a EADG set, so now the cost is going to be effected.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by hdracer

About $5.00 or $6.00

It would cost the manufacturer more to add another string set to their catalog, print new packaging, and dedicate shelf space than it would be worth.

Plus, a place like Guitar Center is not going to clear out shelf space for a set of strings that they might sell 3 sets a month of. They barely sell anything outside of 45-105 as it is.

A set like this would have to purchased from a high end string shop like Bass Strings Online...and guess what...he already does it. He has those dedicated sets, plus you can put together whatever string set you want from the singles he sells.

But here's the kicker...a BEAD set of singles will cost you more than a BEADG pre-packaged set. So...like I said...buy a 5 string set. That way you'll have a set you can use on any 5 string, or just don't use the G if you want to tune BEAD.

They don't need to make sets available, there are already thousands available.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by hdracer

About $5.00 or $6.00

5 or 6 dollars less if you have a friend you can sell your unused G strings to.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

SIT does have a separate Extended Range of bass strings...

Ah yes, I see the custom Jauqo set listed on their site. They don't show that they're available, but Conklin probably has them in stock.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

Plus, a place like Guitar Center is not going to clear out shelf space for a set of strings that they might sell 3 sets a month year of. They barely sell anything outside of 45-105 as it is.

Fixed