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An Observation...and a question

M

mrdey

Jan 28, 2009
7
0
#1
I can't help but notice how little the G string is played in normal accompaniment...(except soloing of course).
Has anyone experimented with replacing the G with a D as a high string followed by A, E and then a B as the low string?...Could I be on to something? You get a nice fat sound on E-string notes on the B, eventhough you're playing higher on the neck. Pros and Cons? Anyone?
 
#5
Be careful when doing this. A 4 string bass isn't meant to handle the tension that low B is going to put on it. I'm not saying it isn't possible, but you'll need to readjust your intonation, action, and truss rod if you really wanted to start playing that way. If you went out and bought a pack of 5 strings you can still put them on, just use a bit of caution and realize that it's not going to work as well as you think, but yeah it can be done.
 
#6
Also, the grooves in the nut of a 4 string may or may not be wide enough for this.

I think I use the G string more than you do. I like the timbre of notes in the lower positions better than the some notes in higher position (e.g. I prefer 2nd fret on G to 7th fret on D), for the most part. I'll play in the higher positions when it makes sense for a given part, but those parts usually include higher notes on the G string as well.

But hey, to each their own. Try what works for you...
 
#7
I guess it depends on how dark you like your chocolate! ;)

IMO, most B strings don't sound good at all above the 8th fret or so. So I suppose the question is: do prefer dealing with plinky, thin sounding notes in low positions on the G string, or dealing with mud and weird overtones in high positions on the B string?

Actually, the tension on a B string is lower than the tension on a G string, so I don't think you're likely to damage your bass with BEAD tuning, but it will certainly need a truss rod tweak and maybe a new nut.
 
#9
Depends on what you're playing. I play a lot of big band charts on upright - most of which are written with a lot of first and second position notes on the G string, so it's really not practical unless I want to be playing everything in 4th position on up. I thought about doing the same re-stringing with one of my 4-string electric basses for the reason you mention, but it would have to be a semi-permanent change, with having to re-groove the nut for the fatter strings, plus the truss-rod adjustment for whatever the new tension would do to the neck relief. Worth a try on a spare bass, though.
 

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