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Cheap bass recommendation for BEAD tuning

#21
The best results I've had with BEAD has been on a 35" scale bass. That's pretty hard to find, especially at a low price point. You don't want something with too much "clank" or too muddy, which is common with cheap basses, and the low tuning will only make worse. The Squier VM Jazz and Precision have decent pickups. Those might work for you.
 
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#22
socialleper said:
The best results I've had with BEAD has been on a 35" scale bass. That's pretty hard to find, especially at a low price point. You don't want something with too much "clank" or too muddy, which is common with cheap basses, and the low tuning will only make worse. The Squier VM Jazz and Precision have decent pickups. Those might work for you.
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I have a Squier VM Jazz tuned BEAD with D'Addario XL's using a .135 B string..sounds great. I also have an Ibanez SRX300 tuned BEAD. I currently have Ernie Ball Slinkys with a .135 B, but I'll be changing those strings soon. As noted, you will probably just have to file the nut a bit, not sure about the bridge with a .145 though.
 
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#23
One nice thing about cheap instruments is that they're usually in good supply at most retailers. I'd go to my best stocked local store and see which one feels the stiffest with the stock strings (at standard and downtuned) and go from there. Even among 34" basses, I've encountered a pretty wide range of perceived stiffness with the same strings.

Also, consider hex core strings. They'll get you some extra beef without adding more diameter.

But start with something that already has most of the rigidity you're looking for. Strings will help, but a) only so far and b) there are tradeoffs.
 
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#24
socialleper said:
The best results I've had with BEAD has been on a 35" scale bass. That's pretty hard to find, especially at a low price point. You don't want something with too much "clank" or too muddy, which is common with cheap basses, and the low tuning will only make worse. The Squier VM Jazz and Precision have decent pickups. Those might work for you.
Click to expand...

That would be best, if I could go 35" scale. But I'm not expecting to be able to, so I'm compensating by using such a large B string.
The BTB suggestion might be a good idea. And I think some of the Peavey Grinds had 35" scale. I need to look a little more.
 
#25
Oh, one other thing. And this is counterintuitive, or possibly just idiosyncratic on my part, but I sometimes prefer the feel of a regular (though admittedly heavyish) strings downtuned to BEAD over proper BEAD strings because when ALL the strings are floppy, the B isn't the weird outlier that it usually is.

I feel stupid even typing that. It makes no sense. But it's been my experience.
 
#26
Watch your nut width with that 145. I think it would all fit no matter what, but just a measure twice cut once suggestion. Sometimes Ibby stuff gets pretty tight and would hate for everything to be crammed together to the point of being uncomfortable...
Also - Anyone from Luthier corner please chime it, but is there a concern about neck tension with less expensive basses?
I have my Squier Jag BEAD and it's just fine, but I know all basses aren't created equal. (wouldn't it be cool if they were tho...)
 
#29
Why not just get an inexpensive Ibanez Talman.
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#31
arbiterusa said:
I don't think that would work on a non-carbon fiber instrument.
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I was afraid you'd say that. Mine's a Gibson made, wood-bodied "Steinberger."
Though I did just fit it with LaBella flats via a headstock converter, and with both pickups on full it sounds gigantic. So I'll try to get a BEAD-suitable set of flats at some point, and see how that works out.
 
#32
One note on the Peavey grind, although mine was a five string. It had an odd property that it didn't add "boom" as you went up the neck. A note sounded the same no matter where on the neck you played it. I imagine this would be especially important on a BEAD tuned bass as you'd be playing higher up the neck more often.
It's the only neckthrough bass I've ever had so maybe it's to do with that.

I would plan on replacing the pickups though, I sold mine because the tone was boring.
 
#33
socialleper said:
Are all of the BTB 4 strings 35" scale?
Is the neck profile of the BTB slim like the SR series. I wouldn't mind get a 5 as long as the width and thickness of the neck is in the same realm as the SRs.
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I think the majority are, but unsure. The very budget friendly models certainly include 35" scale in a 4 string. The necks are not like an SR. They are bigger, more traditional in size/shape. But not bulky. Keep an eye on guitar center used inventory.
 
#35
Here's another route to consider...
I just use this for all my BEAD needs these days:
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As long as you have a heavier standard set (i.e. 45-105) it works great my basses (J's, P's, and stingray's, etc..).
No affiliation just happy with my pedal!
Of course there's always GAS. Who am I to argue with a new shiny bass :)
 
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