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B-E-A-D on a P or . . . ?

B-E-A-D on a P?

  • Yes

    Votes: 79 56.4%

  • No

    Votes: 9 6.4%

  • Maybe

    Votes: 19 13.6%

  • Get another bass

    Votes: 20 14.3%

  • "Shut up and eat yer carrots..."

    Votes: 13 9.3%
  • Total voters
    140
  • Poll closed .
#21
Gorn said:
You could string it up and try. Before you even intonate it or possibly mod the nut you could get an idea how you'd like it in about 10 minutes.
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This. For the prize of a set of strings, you can find out if you like it or not. Just try it and go from there.
I tried it and all my 4-strings basses are now tuned BEAD and some 5-strings have joined the herd. FYI, I can do almost everything on a BEAD 4-string that I want to do on a 5-string. Your miles may vary.
 
#24
I'd probably drop the whole tuning on another bass, rather than BEAD and lose the top string.

Even after MANY tries, I still can't get my brain to wrap itself around 5/6 string instruments, much less and instrument that was "missing" that top string (can't play piano to save my soul, but can tell you where all the notes are! LOL). Yet for some reason, I CAN easily handle the idea of dropping the tuning (even with my regular axe tuned DADG!).

ARG! I'm at work and completely distracted by this concept now!!!!
 
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#27
LinusKarlsson said:
BEAD on a P-bas coupled with distortion and a Ampeg 810 cab is the most fat, gutsy, ball kicking, omfg this can kill small furry animals-type sound I have ever known. I say do it!
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Agreed, even if I'm "only" tuned down to D!!!

Even though the specs and the nay-sayers will tell you (and me) that an Ampeg 810 will barely make it to the fundamental of a bass guitar E string (42hz), there is still something to be said when that cab (and the right upstream gear) make it "roar in the right key"!

When I kick in my Earthtone Pi (Green Russian Big Muff clone) it becomes a "hold onto yer instrument" moment for me and a "get ready to change yer gitch" moment for the other players! LOL:bassist:!
 
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#28
howlin said:
It could just be the change of seasons but I've been seriously thinking of converting my P bass to a B-E-A-D tuning. Yes, I could just get a 5-string but my experiences haven't been all that rewarding due to weight and other concerns. Thing of it is my P has been out of action lately and on an occasion or two I've been asked of my other bass will go lower.

So, I'm wondering if anyone out there in TB land would care to share their reasons - for or against - using B-E-A-D on a P. Thanks.


[BTW, no 35" scale. The string tension is too high for these aging hands. Otherwise, I'd just go for a Peavey G bass.]
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I converted an Ibanez bass to BEAD, about seven years ago. I never changed it back. For most of the songs I don't need a G string. So if you don't miss that G string either, then modify it. To keep the B string punchy, I wouldn't go below 0.130".
 
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#31
Yes, try it. I strung my Sting Ray 4 BEAD, I had to write Music Man to get a larger saddle for the B, but they sent me one no charge. The nut was big enough to handle the thicker strings. Ultimately I converted to (mostly) 5-strings, I play five-string exclusively in four bands, one other I can play four- or five-strings.
 
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#33
bassbully said:
I tried a BEAD P for a short while but the string low tension got to me. Finding the right 5 string was key and in my case a Lakland 55-01 was perfect.
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me too, exactly. You have to find a 5 you can play. did you change the pre? I'm now liking a Schecter VM5, same width but shallower neck, great pu's, passive.
Anyway, Just Try It. Most P are very good as BEAD, I have an oldish Ibanez RB400 tuned that way, a bass that copies a Stingray, heavy and med wide neck, Labella Flats (which have a rather high tension) usually using single coil P sound.
 
#34
I basically only play 5s and 6s. If the B is my lowest note, my brain is fine with whatever number of strings may follow.
When I play a 4 that's EADG, I often mess up chord changes because I either forget that I Don't play a bass with a B string and end up a string too low or, even better, I already transposed the fingers in my mind but when the change comes up, I transpose again and end up a string too high.
So I'd suggest for anyone who messes with strings to check where the brain is anchored - mine obviously dangles from the lowest string.
 
#35
BEADG on a P-bass

5s%20001.jpg
 
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#36
5-string is the way to go IMHO. Much more flexible to use, and you keep the G-string. And a very comfy thumb rest when you don't use the B-string lol. I prefer the bigger necks too.

Can you really feel the difference between 34" and 35" ? I really can't, its such a tiny difference over all the frets.
But there are great 34" fivers as well, even some P-basses.
 
#37
Before I bought a 5-string I needed a low B for a project a friend was working on. I loaded a PB for BEAD with no mod to the nut, and it worked and sounded just fine. If I planned on leaving it that way I might have either made a properly cut nut, or had one made for it, in case I ever wanted to switch it back. But I got my Spector fiver shortly afterwards so it wasn't necessary.

Suggest as others have you try it without filing the nut first and see what you think. After a week you can better tell if it works for you and go from there.
 
#39
My advice..
Do not go lower than D-standard with a standard 4 string P-bass.

Any lower and you start loosing the punch and growl of a good old P-bass.. And I do not think you will miss the notes below the low D in a band mix..
Just add a thicker string set.. Lets say you play nickel roundwound 40-100 in standard E.. Go to 45-105 in E-flat and 50-110 in D-standard..
 
#40
That's how I started my journey to 5 strings, BEAD on a 4 string and like it a lot, not really missing the G string for the songs I was playing.
If you like it than first try Ibanez SR for a narrow neck and Yamaha TRBX for a narrow at the nut and regular at the bridge spacing, both are 34" with Yamaha having a better B string (over Ibanez they had in the store at that moment) and wonderful neck (for my hands at least).
Don't buy a single B string to put over your current strings, which are older: disappointing mismatch.
You can try DR DDT-65 which is a 4 string set for BEAD (and other downtuning).
 

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