Should i buy a fiver or tune to BEAD ?

[RBX4]

Unsure

[oldrookie]

I bought a fiver then tuned my fours to BEAD. Problem solved.

[beatdatthang]

The advantage to buying a 5er is that you get a new bass! Everyone loves that! A 5er is already set up to accommodate the low B, also. Typically, stringing a 4 string for BEAD will require a setup and truss adjustment (at the minimum) and possibly a new nut because the strings are larger.

The only disadvantage to getting a 5er is the neck width and string spacing if you are used to playing a 4 string. Ibanez SRs have a thinner neck width and narrower spacing than most other 5ers I've played/owned.

I you don't use the G string (Like if you're playing a lot of drop-tuned metal) much B-E-A-D should be fine.

[bassingeorge]

The only disadvantage I see in tuning BEAD is not having a G! :O


Get a 5er, if you don't like it, sell it!

[RBX4]

Originally Posted by beatdatthang

The advantage to buying a 5er is that you get a new bass! Everyone loves that! A 5er is already set up to accommodate the low B, also. Typically, stringing a 4 string for BEAD will require a setup and truss adjustment (at the minimum) and possibly a new nut because the strings are larger.

The only disadvantage to getting a 5er is the neck width and string spacing if you are used to playing a 4 string. Ibanez SRs have a thinner neck width and narrower spacing than most other 5ers I've played/owned.

I you don't use the G string (Like if you're playing a lot of drop-tuned metal) much B-E-A-D should be fine.

Cool! I'm looking at the Fender Jazz Active 5

[RBX4]

Originally Posted by bassingeorge

The only disadvantage I see in tuning BEAD is not having a G! :O

Get a 5er, if you don't like it, sell it!

K

[RBX4]

Originally Posted by bassingeorge

The only disadvantage I see in tuning BEAD is not having a G! :O

Get a 5er, if you don't like it, sell it!

And true :-)

[f'nar f'nar]

I'd say that's really up to you. Personally I would look around for a 5'er because, if you're anything like me, you wont buy anything that doesn't really grab you! Then, if you find no 5'ers that really speak to you THEN I would look at tuning to BEAD. Just remember that it's not as simple as changing out the strings, most basses need to be set up properly to be able to handle long term use in BEAD.

EDIT: also a lot of 5'ers nowadays have electronics that are specially suited to getting the most out of a low B. If you simply tune a 4 to BEAD you may find after a while that your B doesn't have the 'umph' that you wanted. But it's an easy fix if that becomes the case!!

[cracked_machine]

Originally Posted by f'nar f'nar

I'd say that's really up to you. Personally I would look around for a 5'er because, if you're anything like me, you wont buy anything that doesn't really grab you! Then, if you find no 5'ers that really speak to you THEN I would look at tuning to BEAD. Just remember that it's not as simple as changing out the strings, most basses need to be set up properly to be able to handle long term use in BEAD.

They need setting up further? Really? Can you elaborate on that? I bought a new bass and restrung my old crappy cheapo bass to BEAD for a laugh. It doesn't sound great, but I always thought it was because of the revelation that the new bass had brought to me. Yknow going back to the old bass is a bit of a shocker now. Maybe I need to set it up again. It stays in tune with the low B (something I wasn't expecting).

[grendle]

How often do you play above the 7th fret on the g string? If often then a 5 would make sense. If not tune it low. Solo I do play in the higher ranges, with a band 99% or better of my playing is on the E,A,D strings so it dosent bother me to tune down if I need to. Both are cool and have their charms. You could always look for a good deal on a 5 that you can get your money back out of and give it a try as an option.

[grendle]

Originally Posted by cracked_machine

They need setting up further? Really? Can you elaborate on that? I bought a new bass and restrung my old crappy cheapo bass to BEAD for a laugh. It doesn't sound great, but I always thought it was because of the revelation that the new bass had brought to me. Yknow going back to the old bass is a bit of a shocker now. Maybe I need to set it up again. It stays in tune with the low B (something I wasn't expecting).

Yes it does. Intonation, action, and neck relief need to be set up. Same as any other time you change string brands or gauges imo. You can get it to play well though. I used to tune b,e,a d just as a standard tuning (because the guitars sounded better there) and play it like a 4 .

[zackthompson]

Definitely get a 5er if you have the money to. I used BEAD for "im broke and i need a 5 string." Then i got a 6 :P

[f'nar f'nar]

What Grendle said!
Basses are pretty damn temperamental creatures and messing around with things like string tension and tuning can damage your neck if you're not careful. Even things like hip-shot tuners can have an adverse affect on things like intonation and neck relief if you don't keep an eye on your set up. But a simple set-up and configuration is pretty damn cheap and well worth the money to save your neck from any long term damage!

[Sav'nBass]

I say get a 5 and adapt..

For many practical purposes 5 is becoming the new 4.. Back when 4 was all there was or mostly all there was it was cool.. and 4s are still cool if that's your thing.. but making a 5 your thing is not hard.. it isn't a stretch.. it isn't rocket science and it isn't something that will take very long if you give it an honest go..

A 5 will give you more options.. period.. if you love the low end it will give you more options .. on the low end.. For me a 6 or 7 will probably never happen.. if it does it will be because I just have extra cash and want one but I am not a "lead bassist" I don't do a lot of flashy runs.. mostly because I can't and will never give the time or regain the lost dexterity over the past 50+ years to do some of that amazing stuff that I see on YT.. so for me 6 & 7 string basses are just more wood to play on.. but I can do what I do OK.. and whatever it is that you do on a bass.. a 5 is just a no brainer.. Remember ... the thing that makes a 5 what it is is having the extra bottom and being able to hit that low E from the 5th fret OR the open E.. It is a 4 with more bottom.. and it isn't hard to get used to.. and once you do you won't go back except for nostalgia's sake or just to keep the bassics tight..

One of the keys is to find the right bass and to get it set up right.. Many issues that people have with a 5 beyond just getting used to the extra real estate to travel on has to do with the way the 5th string sounds.. but a good setup can fix that.

Of course it is all up to you... but I say give a 5 an honest shot.... You will always appreciate the 4 because like many of us it is probably what yo started on.. but 5s are becoming the new standard IMO.. and deservedly so. Just my opinion.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by bassingeorge

The only disadvantage I see in tuning BEAD is not having a G! :O

Get a 5er, if you don't like it, sell it!

Yup. This sums it up. For me I thought I didn't use the G that much, but after going BEAD I found out I did! BEAD works great but only if you arent' using that G string.

[topo morto]

BEAD setup wasn't that difficult in my experience - just file the nut slots a bit wider (make sure you go wider and NOT DEEPER, of course ), stick the new strings on, and adjust action and intonation like you would do any time you change strings (like grendle said). You might want to check that the bridge will handle them - a standard P bridge should be fine.

You won't really be changing the neck tension dramatically - it's still just 4 strings, the E, A, D, are each going to have the same tension as before, and the B is going to have a similar tension to the other 3. I didn't have to do anything with the truss rod, although YMMV.

[sethlow3]

trust me... I had the same dilemma 7 years ago. 5 is the way to go.

[jfh2424]

4 string with a Hipshot D tuner and a Hipshot Double Stop lever.

Problem solved.

John

[BillyIVbass]

Well you can try BEAD tuning for the cost of a 5 string set. What have you got to lose? Near nothing, if you hate it just take off the low B and add the G up top.

Buying a 5 string? You risk losing money or being stuck with a bass you don't want, but maybe you'll like it?

[jabsys]

Unless you need the G string or actually want a new bass, I'd save the money & go for BEAD.