Help needed! Tuning bass

[olibass123]

I am getting a fender precision bass, 4 string.

At the moment I am a 5 string player, but want to go back to 4 string for a while

for my bands tuning i play C, D, A, D, G

but the new 4 string i want it to be C, D, A, G

Is it just a case of buying a B string and putting it obviously in the E string section, and tuning it to C,

and the same with the A string, buy an E string and put it where the A string goes and tune it to D

Suggestions please!? Thanks

[PJSShearer]

Yes and no ...
Yes to putting a B where the E should be, E where the A ...

But

The Truss rod may need adjustment - let things settle down for a day after changing the strings before you do anything, the intonation will almost certainly need attention, as will the pickup height.

[lopxtc]

I may be wrong on this one, so if I am someone correct me ... but wouldnt the nut also require some attention depending on the bass. Given that the OP is looking to put thicker strings in the place of thinner ones, the nut on his current bass may not have openings big enough for each string.

Aaron

[Turnaround]

Originally Posted by lopxtc

I may be wrong on this one, so if I am someone correct me ... but wouldnt the nut also require some attention depending on the bass. Given that the OP is looking to put thicker strings in the place of thinner ones, the nut on his current bass may not have openings big enough for each string.

Aaron

Quite right. And failure to address this before installing the heavier strings often ends with a broken nut.

[olibass123]

Thanks for that.

How exactly do I see to the nut before I put the strings on?

[GeoffByrne]

Originally Posted by olibass123

Thanks for that.

How exactly do I see to the nut before I put the strings on?

You need to widen the slot *but not deepen it* - it's too easy to deepen the slot, ending up with a too-low slot & a buzzing string.

I've done this with a couple of 4s - fretted & fretless. It works best with headstocks which have a tilt-back angle.