Changing strings to lower register

[bassinplace]

Hello,

Disclaimer: I am very new to bass playing so please indulge me in asking what may very well be a dumb question.

Just wondering: Is it possible/advisable to string my bass B,E,A,D? I like the idea as theoretically it seems to me it would produce a heavier sound, but as I said, what do I know? On the other hand I'm thinking it might create too much stress on the guitar. Bad idea?

[Rick Auricchio]

Yes, you can do that. But there are a few reasons not to expect much from it. First, you can't simply detune standard strings to BEAD; they'd be way too slack. You would use a 5-string set and discard the G string.

1. You'll have to cut the nut slots wider to fit the thicker strings.

2. You may have to change tuners for the same reason.

3. You may not be able to intonate the B string due to limited adjustment range of the bridge saddle.

4. As for a "heavier sound," you're still going to be producing the same notes, just with different strings. The tone difference might not be much.

A cheap 5-string may be a better alternative.

[bassinplace]

Ah, I see, thanks! So that makes me think of another question. The reason I thought of doing this is because my thinking is that it will give me a "lower register" to work from.

The reason why I find this desirable is because-I know this sounds odd-I just don't care for the sound of the G string all that much and I find the added possibility of having a lower bottom end below the E to be a good one. Seems like it would give me a fatter, heavier "tone palate" to work from. This may just be wishful thinking on my part.

So I'm just wondering why I could get those lower notes from a 5 string bass and not a converted 4 string?

[greenboy]

Lots of guys do it. And very few basses will have any trouble intonating for the B. Other than slotting the nut and maybe redoing your setup - truss rod may have to be loosened because of lesser string tension and you may want to raise action a tad - you are good to go.

[GeoffByrne]

I used both a fretted & fretless 4 strung & tuned for BEAD in a blues band I was in about 2 years ago - mainly because of the keys we were playing in.

Absolutely what has been stated above.

If you do this, you'll need to *widen* the nut slots - make sure you don't cut them deeper if they have already been cut properly.

As Greenboy says, contrary to popular belief, BEAD has less tension than EADG, and so you may need to relax the truss rod a tad.

From my experience, if you wish to reverse this conversion and go back to EADG, you may find that on a Fender-style headstock the lighter gauge strings might move around in the nut slot during heavy playing, necessitating a new nut. I found, however, an angled headstock did not suffer this problem to any great degree.

Personally, I'd pick up an OLP or an Ibanez RD 5 & use that, after a proper set up.

[Oric]

If you want to get really low, you could get a Warwick Vampyre- they're tuned F#BEA!

[lunarpollen]

Lower register does not automatically = heavier sound. It just means lower in pitch. "Heaviness" in sound comes more from things like dynamics and tone.

Of course what you are looking to do is possible and something that many others have done. And certainly, for instance, a low E played on the low B string will sound thicker and fuller than an open E string. But playing notes lower than E doesn't automatically create a heavier sound overall.

[bassinplace]

Originally Posted by Oric

If you want to get really low, you could get a Warwick Vampyre- they're tuned F#BEA!

Sounds nice!

Cool, very helpful, thanks all!