To those who play 4-strings tuned B-E-A-D.

[BrickIsRed]

Do you feel limited without the high G-string?

I want to play songs in B, but I don't want to buy a new 5-string bass. (out of cash after buying a 4-string Warwick)

[J-D1000]

Yh dude i tottaly agree. I always play B-E-A-D but its often a nusiance to retune em every time.

[lemur821]

Nope. I don't have any business playing that high anyway.

[uethanian]

i totally would tune my bass BEAD if i had my own group, but playing jazz and all i really do need that G string to walk up. it really depends on the music i guess. if ur playing rock/metal, go for it. other stuff not so much.

[Nyarlathotep]

I feel a lot more "free" without a g-string. Maybe its just me, but......

[Darkstrike]

Not really(I wank over the low notes way too much when I have 'em), but if you have a 24 fret with full access, you'll have as far as the 19th on a G string, thats pretty much the range of a Fender V, well barring one note.

[EmmSee]

The waauub-waauubb of that 4-string tuned B string is intoxicating.. just nasty. It works just fine if you're good at moving down that D for the higher notes with good speed, or you're just playing nasty deep grooves and won't even touch the D!

[coolrunner989]

I only miss a high G-string if I'm slapping and playing in A - it makes hitting the octave akward (5th fret on E-string and 7th fret on D string rather than open A and 2nd fret G-string) but other than that, nope.

[thetawaves]

I think it depends what style you're playing. I ended up being in stupidly low tunings when I was in a thrash metal band! Even when playing softer songs in other bands I came up with basslines in terms of the new tuning as opposed to "oh damn...where's that G string" - then again i was rather hooked on Audioslave at the time, and Mr Commerford has most of his fenders in BEAD.

I supposed it just takes some getting used to being that low?

[levis76]

Yeah, I tune A#,F,A#,D# and I don't miss the high notes at all. I almost never use that high string anyways.

[Kevindm215]

i wana get a 4 string but tune it BEAD, wud a normal 4 string pickup sound ok for this? or are there special kind of pick ups? if so, what are they??

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Kevindm215

i wana get a 4 string but tune it BEAD, wud a normal 4 string pickup sound ok for this? or are there special kind of pick ups? if so, what are they??

A normal pickup is fine.

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by BrickIsRed

Do you feel limited without the high G-string?

I want to play songs in B, but I don't want to buy a new 5-string bass. (out of cash after buying a 4-string Warwick)

I have a 5-string for those occasions, but my beater is a 4-string stringed up in BEAD ..

D.Don

[Ric5]

I tried normal tuning, E flat, DGCF, and BEAD ...

I finaly ended up with BEADG ...

[dirtbeard]

To All,
Do any of you use a different gauge strings for tuning B-E-A-D? Such as a heavy guage or go to a five string set for the low B. Enlighten me on your preferences.

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by dirtbeard

To All,
Do any of you use a different gauge strings for tuning B-E-A-D? Such as a heavy guage or go to a five string set for the low B. Enlighten me on your preferences.

Indeed, I bought a 5 set and ditched the G-string (that is always a funny word to use), nut had to be remade, and I had to file just a lil on the bridge too to get the B string to get through the "E" slot.

D.Don

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by dirtbeard

To All,
Do any of you use a different gauge strings for tuning B-E-A-D? Such as a heavy guage or go to a five string set for the low B. Enlighten me on your preferences.

Yes, I use a 5-string set without the G. My opinion: there's no other way to do it*, unless you're the kind of guy who uses a .85 for his E string already.

* Except buying single strings in the appropriate gauges or buying a set meant for BEAD tuning, obviously.

[Ekim]

I keep thinking I should do this on my Stu Hamm Urge II bass. I'll only be out a nut if I don't like it. And I want the low B bad.

[Darkstrike]

Originally Posted by D.Don

Indeed, I bought a 5 set and ditched the G-string (that is always a funny word to use), nut had to be remade, and I had to file just a lil on the bridge too to get the B string to get through the "E" slot.

D.Don

Originally Posted by lemur821

Yes, I use a 5-string set without the G. My opinion: there's no other way to do it*, unless you're the kind of guy who uses a .85 for his E string already.

* Except buying single strings in the appropriate gauges or buying a set meant for BEAD tuning, obviously.

Thats how its done, my No.1 is set up this way recently, and I love it, though I prefer flats for BEAD, or 5 strings, so I'll have to get a set soon.

[D.Don]

I use halfs (d'addario) ...



Will change to labella flats next time... Jamerson and a .130 B ...

hehe

D.Don