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Converting to BEAD

B

BradWardOnBass

Nov 29, 2024
7
3
#1
Thinking of converting all of my basses to BEAD from EADG. I've done it to 1 already and I LOVE it but, has anyone else done this and found limitations in collaborations/writing? I'm probably going to leave 1 EADG but I feel like, as a bassist who plays many genres of music, the low B string affords the song added warmth and depth.

Thoughts?

"If you don't have anything nice to say, you're probably Liam Gallagher."
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#5
I'm getting ready to do my first BEAD tuning and I was looking at these: Invalid Link Removed.

Earlier this year SonoJono got a number of sets of Black Smith Bass Strings. I got a set of them free and tried them on a friend's build (he was going as cheap as he could). I thought they sounded as good as any other nickel wound string and he loves them. I found them here: Invalid Link Removed. I'll likely get a set of the 5 string .045-.130 Long scales, as they are less expensive than the EB's BEAD set.
 
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#7
As someone who plays exclusively metal music, almost every artist that I'm interested in uses some different tuning that doesn't corelate with BEAD, and so in my case it is particularly difficult to find songs that I am interested in learning in that tuning. I use BEAD because one of my bands plays in Drop B and I prefer to use standard tunings when I can.

I've remedied the learning situation by taking some of my favorite metal songs that are mostly in E standard and transposing them up the fretboard to give myself something to learn and practice. Paranoid and Children of the Grave (originally in C# standard) are both excellent examples that I can play in BEAD, but in their original key.

And then when it comes to writing, the open low B gets a lot more use.
 
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#9
I've been experimenting with 5 strings and a couple BEAD 4 strings over the past couple of years. I didn't really gel with the tuning as much as I did 5ers, it's hard to completely sacrifice the G string. I'd personally advise against doing it to ALL your basses especially if you're doing a wide variety of genres, there are several that never use notes below a low E and use a lot of higher notes. Tunings all have different benefits and drawbacks, sometimes you need a G string to accompany a wide variety of instruments, sometimes you need a B for playing metal. If you have different instruments, set them up for different jobs.
 
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#11
After 15 years of nothing but 5ers I reverted to BEAD 4 bangers almost a year ago. I don't miss the G at all and won't go back. I believe eliminating the G string made me a better bassist in the sense that my lines are now more rhythmic/ percussive....... a little less scalar/linear & wandering. That suits the music I like to play and those I play with a bit better. That said.....whether it's a good thing for any bassist depends on the individual.....there's no absolute correct answer here....it's not algebra. Removing the G certainly removes some options.
 
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#12
How many basses are you talking about when you say all of them (or all but 1)? Is there any drawback to converting one or two of them, seeing how you like it, then changing more over if you find that it's really working well for you? Only reason I ask is that it's easy to file out a nut to accommodate heavier gauges strings, but if you find you want to go back that's not quite as simple.
 
#14
I have a G&L JB2 that wears a set of .143 equal tension Kalium hybrids in B. I love it. I also have a 60’s Jazz set up to D standard. A Pbass in standard. My Q5 in drop G wearing a .168 equal tension hybrid set. I say do it. I keep a bass in drop C because metal-core lol.
 
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#16
Interesting topic!
I've been in a non 4 banger mode for years now although a while ago I did explore BEAD about the time that Rage Against The Machine hit the scene as I believe that was one of Mr Commerford's go to tunings & that's what propelled me towards a 5 & then 6.

To quote a few others on this thread, there really are no absolutes although I always thought it to be another example of doing more with less or "less is more" kinda a thing but to me it was a stepping stone to other non absolutes lol

What I seem to gravitate to is ADADG with an added C for the 6 and that covers it for all drop D stuff with the natural progression/extended range the A gives to the D.

A while back Hipshot made a device called a "raised lever" which you could drop the E of a 5er but for some silly reason they stopped making them SO if anyone out there has one, send me a PM and I'll be glad to take it off your hands!

With such a device you could add another drop tuner to the B and drop to A & D at will!

Sorry to go off here but I consider BEAD to be an important part of my journey & highly recommend it ....
 
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#18
I ran BEAD on my 4s for a few years, loved it and never missed the G string. Then I forced myself to spend quality time with my 5s and now I use all 5 strings very consistently and miss the G. …but just tonight I was thinking about going back to BEAD just to shake it up. It is a cool option
 
#19
BradWardOnBass said:
Thinking of converting all of my basses to BEAD from EADG. I've done it to 1 already and I LOVE it but, has anyone else done this and found limitations in collaborations/writing? I'm probably going to leave 1 EADG but I feel like, as a bassist who plays many genres of music, the low B string affords the song added warmth and depth.

Thoughts?
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I totally agree with you on the B string, but my solution was to go to 5 string, and I've been there exclusively since Y2K.

Context: I'm essentially a free agent, playing in a bunch of bands in a bunch of different styles including originals (but mostly classic rock TBH). I avoid the G string whenever possible, but it is a necessary evil (so to speak), and NOT just because of All Right Now. :laugh:

Bigger reason: five string provides a two and a half octave range in each fingering position. This is a huge benefit! As noted I'm not afraid of position shifting to avoid the G, but there are times when that just isn't feasible.

I'm not proselytizing, just explaining where I come from. Best of luck with BEAD. I actually considered stringing a fiver F#BEAD, but again, I do need that evil G at times.
 
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#20
BradWardOnBass said:
Thinking of converting all of my basses to BEAD from EADG. I've done it to 1 already and I LOVE it but, has anyone else done this and found limitations in collaborations/writing? I'm probably going to leave 1 EADG but I feel like, as a bassist who plays many genres of music, the low B string affords the song added warmth and depth.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Thoughts? A 6 string extended range with a 36" scale is a beautiful thing.
 

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