Dropped tuning

[b-strung]

Is is possible to make a 4 string comfortable to play tuned in CFBbEb or should I suck it up and get a 5 string. Also will a longer scale bass facilitate this tuning.

[deshi00]

we play a few songs In drop C - i tune CGCF, kinda close, but im sure anything is possible. The bass just has to be properly set up for that tuning.

[ourworldisgrey]

Get some heavy gauge strings. Maybe even take a light gauge 5 string set and just don't use the G.

[lowendfriend]

Get a 5 string.....all that screwing around with tuning is a p.i.t.a.

Shift your hand position to an Eb or D starting point in a millisecond.

[jabsys]

Originally Posted by ourworldisgrey

Maybe even take a light gauge 5 string set and just don't use the G.

That's what I would do, it's only half a step up from BEAD which plenty of people use on 4's.

[rockerjeff]

There are a lot of 4-string basses with 34" scale length.
There are a lot of 5-string basses with 34" scale length.
There are quite a few, but less, 5-string basses with an even longer, say 35", scale length.

So, lots of basses are tuned lower than what you're aiming while using the same scale length as your 4-string (assuming your 4-string is 34").

Like ourworldisgrey said, just get heavier gauge strings and make sure to setup the instrument so the neck is still fairly straight and the intonation is on.