A Real Alternative To A Five-String?

I actually did this just the other day. Personally I think it's a great alternative and I'm glad I didn't buy another bass instead. It's all down to personal preference though, and how much you use the G. Plus, if you're tuning to BEAD it kinda has to be relatively permanent, because you need to get some heavy strings (I'm using 130, 105, 85, 65), which means filing out the nut grooves - if you want to switch back to lighter strings for standard tuning, you'd need another nut. Definitely worth it if you have multiple basses and are willing to have one permanently drop tuned, though.

 

I have a 4 string beater I strung up BEAD.....works fine lasts a long time.

I have 2 5 strings, a Warwick Corvette $$ 5 and a Lakland 55-01 fretless. I just recently (like 2 weeks ago) bought an American Standard Jazz bass 4 string to use in a blues setting. I see so many pro players using the Jazz and never owned a Fender so I popped that bubble finally. Love the bass. Learning to play a 4 string after essentially learning on a 5 string is a challenge.....Low fret keys drive me nuts. The Jazz neck is so playable that I'm hanging in there despite E/F key madness and open string exceptions.

If I ever give up on the 4 string Jazz, it'll get recommissioned as BEAD.

 

Yes....BTW, enjoy consistent fingering positions for every key starting on a B-string fret.

 

I was just in this situation this past year. I played 35" active 5ers my whole life & after years of 3-hour shows, my neck, shoulder and back couldn't take the weight anymore.

I BEADed a G&L SB-1. Worked great! Definitely felt strange at first and takes your brain a second, but well worth loosing that weight in scale-length, extra string, on-board preamp, etc.

Plus, I never played anything super high on the G anyway, so those notes were covered by simply moving up the neck.

I'd definitely say try BEAD first. You're only out a set of strings If you don't like it. Or get a 5-string set and keep the G. Then just use those on your new 5

Also, if you BEAD, just make sure to check your neck as the string tension will be different.

 

You know you will have to file your nut to accept the larger diameter strings, and reset the intonation.

Once you have enlarged the slots, and if you want to go back - you will need a new nut. Are you OK with that?

I know you're a bit aprehennsive on getting a 5er, but you just might like it - you can do a 2 octave scale straight accross the fretboard, and it just feels so natural. If you want the lowest string to be a "C" just capo the first fret.

 

The 5th and 6th are always on the same string "two frets apart" on any bass, and in any key....maybe I'm missing something?

 

I see, because you don't have to fret the open E you can keep your hand in the higher position.

You know, with the right technique you should be able to play a major(or dominant)scale keeping your hand in the same position. It's easier the further you move up the neck which is an advantage to having a low B string...if you're playing in E you can grab your low E on the 5th fret and pretty much play any note in the scale without having to change positions.

 

Interesting thoughts.

Mmmmh, I used to play 4-stringers in the past.
When I returned to the bass in the last year, I got myself a 5-stringer.
I just wanted to have the option of the lower notes.

But my style of playing changed with the 5th string:
1. my thumb isn't resting on the neck pickup anymore, but now on the B-string. But the thumb isn't "wandering" to the next string when I play on the G-string for example.
2. I used to play some former deep tunes at the 5th fret now, it makes me play faster and more comfortable.
3. I used to play the B-string only with the thumb, not only for slapping but also for regular fingerstyle. I watched Sting's playing style and found it very comfortable and logic. I combined it with the few slapping fill-ins I sprinkle in my tunes.

So - the low B-string was the perfect step for me.

 

Drop C (CGCF). You only lose the low B, and an uber high D & Eb...

 

I tried BEAD. I thought I didn't need the G string. but that soon proved wrong. I only wish I'd tried Drop C too as I didn't think of that and it seem like a much better compromise that BEAD which trims the whole top string off.

 

A 4-string tuned BEAD is not that similar to a 5-string.

 

Not necessarily, as far as filing the nut. I have done it on several basses without having to file the nut slots. Try it first before automatically filing the nut.

 

I already play in D standard a lot, and I was short funds for a fiver, so Drop C was a natural progression. And it works surprisingly well

 

The G string (no jokes plz) is my least favorite due to the tone, but it's a necessary evil for me... without it, I couldn't play a lot of cover tunes without extraordinary gymnastics or bass line rearrangements.