A good 4 string bass to tune B E A D

[ivyman]

Jaguar bass works well

 

[TheDarkReaver]

Ibanez ATK Paul Gray Signature Model is factory tuned to BEAD.

I managed it pretty well with my Epiphone Goth Thunderbird IV as well.

 

[SchecterSkills]

Not to threadjack, but I figured this was relevant enough. In which situations is tuning to BEAD more beneficial than just playing a 5er with the addition of the top g string?

 

[ivyman]

its like getting the fiver sound without buying anew bass just new strings

 

[D.Don]

Not to threadjack, but I figured this was relevant enough. In which situations is tuning to BEAD more beneficial than just playing a 5er with the addition of the top g string?

When the beater you love doesn't exist as a 5 string and you want the B string more than the G ..



D.Don

 

[lowtide]

Certain Schecters and ESPs are built for BEAD tunings like the DF-404 or the Scorpion Bass.

This Schecter SB1 is 35" scale and came strung BEAD
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[TheDarkReaver]

Not to threadjack, but I figured this was relevant enough. In which situations is tuning to BEAD more beneficial than just playing a 5er with the addition of the top g string?

Some people don't like to play 5s, prefering the feel of a 4, yet still want that low B

 

[kdog15]

I have two jazz basses (MIA,MIM) tuned to BEAD. Like someone already said make the slots in the nut wider, and set it up, and you're good to go. I usually use just get a set of strings for a 5er and throw the G in a drawer.

 

[bassfuser]

I've never tried this, but I was reading in a Gary Willis book that you can increase the tension by adding about a half inch to the string by sliding the string through a circuit board spacer before stringing it through the bridge.

 

[D.Don]

I've never tried this, but I was reading in a Gary Willis book that you can increase the tension by adding about a half inch to the string by sliding the string through a circuit board spacer before stringing it through the bridge.

That was quite intelligent, you can even get those in brass!!

But how does it affect the ability to make a proper intonation ?

D.Don

 

[Darkstrike]

I've never tried this, but I was reading in a Gary Willis book that you can increase the tension by adding about a half inch to the string by sliding the string through a circuit board spacer before stringing it through the bridge.

That is a myth, there is no way it will work, a string's pitch is determined by the tension within the speaking length (nut to saddle), any change to the string beyond this, headstock or bridge, will not affect it, it still has to come to the same tension to give the same pitch.

This technique might work on taper core strings, in effect pulling the taper beyond the saddle, and out of the equation, but I've never tried it with tapers.

 

[nrssab]

The Sandberg Terrabass: canadian maple neck, alder body, 34" scale and factory strung BEAD. I own one and it's a great bass for the price. Be shure to check it out.

Also there have been many threads asking this! And I posted my clue for the Terrabass in pretty much all of them...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/search.php?searchid=8492066

 

[bassfuser]

That is a myth, there is no way it will work, a string's pitch is determined by the tension within the speaking length (nut to saddle), any change to the string beyond this, headstock or bridge, will not affect it, it still has to come to the same tension to give the same pitch.

This technique might work on taper core strings, in effect pulling the taper beyond the saddle, and out of the equation, but I've never tried it with tapers.

Like I said, I never tried it and you may be right. I've tried to think of the physics of making the string longer. May be worth a try. Since the string is longer there would need to be more tension to get it tuned up. (I think)

 

[Darkstrike]

Like I said, I never tried it and you may be right. I've tried to think of the physics of making the string longer. May be worth a try. Since the string is longer there would need to be more tension to get it tuned up. (I think)

Only if you make the string longer between the nut and bridge saddle, as in a scale length change. How much string you use beyond the nut or saddle cannot change how much tension it needs to reach a pitch. This has been done to death on the forums. Another one was adding a string tree to strings that don't normally have them(eg, B-E), this also dose not work.

Also, fyi, I did in fact try it(and the string tree method) on a few different B strings, just to see, and it had no effect whatsoever. For BEAD tuning, on a standard 34" bass, all you need is a good set of strings. I've tried it with 5 string sets and standard light guage 4 string sets, all you need is the right strings for you, and a good setup.

 

[dystopiate]

Regarding the OP, I've tuned several basses B-F#-B-E for one of my current projects (currently using a Zon and a Cort). They all sound fine and they're all 34". I use 135, 90, 70, 50 D'Addario Nickels (ordered as inidividual strings through D'Addario's site).

 

[14736251]

Sure!

I spelt it wrong by the way, it's Taranis. Basically it is a Corvette body, with the H/S combo that is on the Jazzman basses, factory tuned for BEAD.

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yep,
The Taranis is available as 4-string in the B/E/A/D tuning
it's made for metal

 

[bassfuser]

The more I thought about it the more of what you said makes sense. The tension between the nut and bridge would still need to be the same.

I guess I'm going to have to email Willis and give him some crap.

Cheers.

Only if you make the string longer between the nut and bridge saddle, as in a scale length change. How much string you use beyond the nut or saddle cannot change how much tension it needs to reach a pitch. This has been done to death on the forums. Another one was adding a string tree to strings that don't normally have them(eg, B-E), this also dose not work.

Also, fyi, I did in fact try it(and the string tree method) on a few different B strings, just to see, and it had no effect whatsoever. For BEAD tuning, on a standard 34" bass, all you need is a good set of strings. I've tried it with 5 string sets and standard light guage 4 string sets, all you need is the right strings for you, and a good setup.

 

[ChemicalFire]

Ibanez ATK Paul Gray Signature Model is factory tuned to BEAD.

Yeah I was gonna say that.

You may as well just buy a 5er, they are easier to play than you may think.

 

[Mongo Slade]

How about a Peavey G Bass?
35" Scale, Graphite neck by Modulus, about 7 1/2 lbs and a single humbucker in the sweet spot. Beat Hammon Engr. to the Dark Star low B!

Peace

 

[pablomigraine]

Reviving old thread here:

My guitar players, after having INSISTED on drop-C tuning, are now deciding to switch to drop-B (BF♯BEG♯C&#9839. This after I just got rid of my 5 string to accomodate drop-C

See, I dont care for dropped tuning much, I prefer to just play in standard and transpose what they're playing, so at first I tried tuning my five string up to C-standard. After a few weeks I decided this just wasnt comfortable, so I offed my 5 string and got a 4 string jazz, which I upgraded heavily with a new bridge, full shielding job, super-hot Dimarzio pickups and a neck refinish.

Now, they want to do Drop-B, which means I either have to trade out my hard-worked 4 string or sell it for a 5 or 6 string...OR just tune my jazz bass to B standard transpose.

My Jazz sounds so good I think Im just gonna tune down. I was planning on replacing the nut with an ABM adjustable nut, so I'm gonna string the thing up with D'Addario mediums (130 - 55).

I use a very very light touch and prefer high tension, so we'll see how it goes. The neck on this bass is finicky, so we'll see how it takes the change.

will report back next week!