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A Fast way to Tune to BEAD without Changing The Nut?
- Thread starter Gare Boo
- Start date
Depending on the type of headless "headpiece" you are referring to, slipping in a different nut seems even easier. What do you mean by "unscrewing the headpiece"?
There is other setup to be done such as intonation, string height, relief. Swapping the nut, if needed, seems an easy part of it.
There is other setup to be done such as intonation, string height, relief. Swapping the nut, if needed, seems an easy part of it.
The fastest way is to tune down the strings you have and play really soft.
That’s not the best way, but it’s the fastest and easiest.
How well was the nut filed originally? What strings? A lightweight B might fit a nut that was intended for a heavy duty E string or a nut that wasn't cut very accurately in the first place.
Easy. Just put on the strings and deal with the high action and buzz.
Sometimes, if the original strings were very heavy (say a 110 E), and the BEAD strings are very light (say a 115 B), you can get by with no nut work.
Realistically, you're going to have to modify or swap the nut. I'd swap it, and keep the old one in case you want to change back.
A little more info might help. Are you trying to constantly go back and forth between EADG and BEAD tunings on the same bass?
Yes, that's exactly what I meant! Is it possible to change tuning back and forth within the same gig? Thank you!
That's a pretty tall order. As mentioned in an earlier post, it would require heavy EADG strings and light BEAD strings. Also, you would likely need to lighten your touch in BEAD. Depending on your neck, you would require some adjustment for action because of the difference in tension. Some intonation adjustment could be required as well. That many frequent setups would likely wear down some hardware, and possibly even the neck wood itself.
It's not impossible. But it's impractical. A second bass, or getting a 5 string, seem like a much easier solutions.
No. Just get another bass.
Or a drop-tune pedal
Or a drop-tune pedal
Buy a 5 string, it's the easiest way but not the cheapest!
I'm only missing the top five notes of EADG tuning (no money there anyhow), so I've never had a need to swap back once I'm in BEAD.
Necessity is the mother of invention, and this is the scenario that necessitated the invention of the 5-string bass guitar.
Yup. Not to harp on it too much, but my 5s have BEAD and EADG on them. 
I played BEAD for years without adjusting the nut. Depends on the original strings you are already setup for. I started with heavy gauge EADG strings tuning down for a few years, then moved to 5-string packs, sacrificing the G. IF you find you like it, getting the nut adjusted or swapped out isn't that big of a deal and certainly helps dial in the setup.
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