I just tuned BEAD - some issues .

[magnusdeus123]

Like the topic mentiones , I've done a drop B tuning on my bass . I've not changing the strings , to those of higher gauge's , just tuned them down , and this is the issue ;

Pros :

1 It's seriously MUCH more comfortable . The strings are easier to press down , and I am being able to move much faster over the frets now . Some really fast lines that I wasnt able to do before are really comfortable now .

2 It's opened up a vast amount of technical and tonal variation . I can play with a pick now , not to say that I couldnt play with it before , but now it sounds much more like what it should sound . Slapping is much more defined and deep . Poping is heavenly . Hammer-ons, pull-offs and Tapping are beyond great . Sustain has improved .

Cons :

1 I'm traditionally a very traditional guy , and disciplined . Doing this kinda tuning seems kinda like......wrong . I'm just feeling a bit guilty or something , and I keep getting the urge to tune it upto standard again because I keep getting this feeling that stuff is gonna break .

2 The strings are floppy . This was expected . But this is not that disadvantaging , since I'm very much in control over my fingers and previous to the detuning , I used to be very used to just lightly brushing the strings to get a fatter output , and in this case I'm getting very deep round tones . So this should be a good thing , but I still have the psycological twang .

3 I'm not really sure whether the loss of the G-string will be an issue in the future . I think the only difference will be that the lines I come up with are gonna be in a different key , and are gonna be more heavier .

Anyways , what do you guys gotta say to this ?? Hopefully something that will help overcome my psycological twang .

[lemur821]

What gauges are you using? I tuned my bass the same way, but changed out the lowest two strings for a 125 and 95. They were way too floppy for me otherwise. But I definitely prefer having a low B to a high G, if I'm going to have only one of the two.

[magnusdeus123]

Right now it's the standard gauges . 105 - 85 - 60 - 40

Surpisingly, they are floppy , but not that floppy . I'm trying to search for a guage of strings that arent . I've found the Rotosound RS66LH should do the trick .

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by magnusdeus123

Right now it's the standard gauges . 105 - 85 - 60 - 40

I like the light high strings (45 & 65) myself, but the low ones really need more tension in my book.

[mutedeity]

You are probably better off getting the appropriate strings. I know someone else who uses this tuning. I considered it for my fretless but have yet to try it out. If you are serious about using this tuning though I would suggest you get the strings and have the nut modified if necessary. Nut modifications aren't that expensive usually but you don't want the strings slipping or potentially breaking the nut. Not a problem if you have a brass or other type of metal nut, but you could break a plastic or even bone nut potentially. Slipping might be an issue either way.

Otherwise I would say that tuning down a set of 40 - 105s would sound horrible in my opinion. Not to mention the lack of tension you are going to experience. If I were even going to consider tuning down E-G specified strings I would be using 50 - 110 at least. Even if I were to tune down a tone on all strings I would go for this gauge. Even at that I still believe the best solution is using strings made for those lower notes.

[chutsk10]

But I definitely prefer having a low B to a high G, if I'm going to have only one of the two.

Did you know there's a crazy thing out there that allows you to have BOTH!!! It's called a 5 string bass.

[funkydanbass]

Couple of points:
If you intend keeping this tuning make sure you have your neck adjusted for the change in tension. If you want a BEAD tuning on a four string, (and don't want to play a 5), then I would recommend actually using the BEAD strings from a 5 string set, and having your nut adjusted.
They're made to be played at a certain scale/tension. Tuning an E all the way down to a B is not going to help intonation due to excessive vibration or sag in the string.

Just a few thoughts. I *would* recommend getting a 5 str though.

[mutedeity]

Originally Posted by funkydanbass

Couple of points:
If you intend keeping this tuning make sure you have your neck adjusted for the change in tension. If you want a BEAD tuning on a four string, (and don't want to play a 5), then I would reommend actually using the BEAD strings from a 5 string set, and having your nut adjusted.
They're made to be played at a certain scale/tension. Tuning an E all the way down to a B is not going to help intonation due to excessive vibration or sag in the string.

Just a few thoughts. I *would* recommend getting a 5 str though.

Good points. Good to see you mentioned the truss rod, it slipped my mind in my post

[magnusdeus123]

Suprisingly , I am not sure , but I dont think my bass actually has a truss rod {--"} . It's an Ibanez GSR 390 .

In any case , I'm gonna try getting a 125-60 gauge set for the strings and a new nut to put the higher gauge strings into . I've tuned down the thing back to EADG . I realize how much difficult it's to play the fretboard again , with the tension packed strings .

[meev992]

same here, with my current band, we only play standard stuff, but I play it on a BEAD bass....I have a hard time getting back to a EADG fingerboard.

[mutedeity]

Originally Posted by magnusdeus123

Suprisingly , I am not sure , but I dont think my bass actually has a truss rod {--"} . It's an Ibanez GSR 390 .

In any case , I'm gonna try getting a 125-60 gauge set for the strings and a new nut to put the higher gauge strings into . I've tuned down the thing back to EADG . I realize how much difficult it's to play the fretboard again , with the tension packed strings .

It has one. It is under the badge on your headstock, at least the access is.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by chutsk10

Did you know there's a crazy thing out there that allows you to have BOTH!!! It's called a 5 string bass.

Oh, you.

[funkydanbass]

If your bass is hard to play in standard tuning I suspect that your action must be *VERY* high!?!?!