BEAD instead of EADG?

[Darkstrike]

Taking it to an extreme: Jauqo tunes his bass to C#-F#-B-E (over an octave below standard tuning) on a 34" scale. Some people tune an octave up on a 34" scale (Stu Hamm I believe). It's all in the string mass.


Regarding losing range, keep in mind you're also loosing positions, harmonics, and timbres. There's a bigger difference between a 4 and 5 string than just the extra range.

The octave up is called piccolo bass, I have one set up that way, its pretty cool, ever hear Jeff Schmidt, he's an utter master of piccolo....

 

[dirtythirtyix]

I've been playing my 4 string carvin tuned BEAD for about a year. I changed up to 110-50 gauge strings. It's not bad, but the tension is still rather low for my liking (34" scale).

 

[EADG mx]

I've been playing my 4 string carvin tuned BEAD for about a year. I changed up to 110-50 gauge strings. It's not bad, but the tension is still rather low for my liking (34" scale).

Try .065-.120.

 

[Nyarlathotep]

I use D'Addario ECB81-5 Chromes for both my 5er and my 4 banger tuned ADCG. 34" scale, and no probs with tension.

CB045  	G  	 	0.045  	1.14  	 	45.7  	20.73
CB065 	D 		0.065 	1.65 		52.0 	23.58
CB080 	A 		0.080 	2.03 		43.7 	19.82
CB100 	E 		0.100 	2.54 		38.4 	17.41
CB132 	B 		0.132 	3.35 		35.9 	16.28

 

[RLT]

I've played a Peavey Foundation like that for years. I'm usually going for the deepest foundation, so I never use the G string anyway.

On my bass I didn't have to modify anything. It just fell right in place.