Can I put the bottom 4 strings of a 5 string set on my ESP LTD B-104???

I wouldn't worry about neck tension. There will actually be less tension on your neck when tuned BEAD rather than EADG.

 

Anytime dude.
Even though the B string is bigger, it requires less tension to bring it up to pitch.

 

Hello there,

Well, a couple of weeks ago I bought a 5 string D'addario set for my 4-string Yamaha ... It works great, and it's also tuned B E A D ..
The only problem is that the B string doesn't fit the nut perfectly ... and that can cause some intonation problems ... you can change the nut though .. but people told me it's expensive ... and a bit dangerous ...
Anyway, I had to change it too coz the normal E string was very floppy after I tuned it B ...

 

Uh?

 

Hi Oysterman

A little while ago, I opened a topic about the same problem ... this is what people answered:

If your B string doesn't fit then you are probably going to have intonation problems at 1st - 3rd frets and if you play the string "vigorously" you might make it pop out!!

The solution is to widen the nut slot with a needle file - but this is probably not something for a beginner to try as you risk splitting or breaking the whole nut! Also if you widen it and then decide you want to go back to a normal string - the buzzing etc. will be much worse and the string will move around in the slot.


Than I asked this question:
Isn't it possible to CHANGE the nut with a wider one, and when I put the original strings back on, to change it again ?

The answer:
Well this would probably be worse than the needle file exercise. Nuts are almost always securely glued in place so they won't move and when you try to change them they split and crack and are generally destroyed in the process. Usually I would recommend that nut change is something that only a qualified guitar/bass tech should attempt and they will charge you for their time!!

 

Still can't see how changing the nut translates into "dangerous" and "expensive" (sure, they will charge you for their time, but it's not like it will take a whole day). And I am yet to see one of those "almost-always" glued nuts.

 

Ok, maybe I have used the wrong words ...

 

I had no problems converting to BEAD...It's actually quite easy. The only hard part is getting the action right after you change over.