How a stingray would handle BEAD

[DrewGK]

Hey guys, so I'm planning on stringing my stingray B-E-A-D (would love to get a 5 string ray but don't have the money ) and was just wondering how you all think a ray would handle it. Would the 34' scale matter? Would the B sound good?

any input would be greatly appreciated as I have no experience with 5 strings or BEAD strung 4 bangers at all

 

[LowEZ]

Never done it but...

Stingray5 handles a B very nicely and it is also 34". However, your nut slots would need to be widened to accommodate the heavier strings and if your Stingray is a newer one with a compensated nut I would have second thoughts. I'm not sure if you can easily get a replacement should you want to revert to EADG.

 

[mikeswals]

I use a G string constantly...more than I'd use a B.
Yup and LowEz mentioned your nut would have to be replaced when you go back.

 

[CORBS]

My advice is to purchase a new but blank for your stingray and just take the compensated one out and cut the new one for BEAD. You could just switch back whenever you change strings, they are usually only held on with string pressure and a tiny bit of glue, if any. Nut blanks are very inexpensive and you can get any type you want - graphite, tusq, bone, etc.

I think the stingrays pickup position would be a lot better for getting a decent sound out of a B string then some other 4 string basses. I would try it! You can always go back and the bass is as good as new.

 

[DrewGK]

do they make nuts precut for BEAD anywhere?

that would to toooo convenient

if not where can you get a blank nut?

 

[mikeswals]

No because every bass is different, and every bass's setup is different for every player.

 

[Bromosapian]

Why bother? the B will probably fit fine. Jeff Caxide of isis tunes to BF#BE on one and it sounds great.

 

[Fresh Eddie]

I setup my early 2000's Ray (non-compensated nut) BEAD just for the heck of it a while back, with absolutely no modification whatsoever... switched it back a year or two later and it still plays fine with 100-40 gauge strings.

 

[DrewGK]

its actually a Ray34! Thought id get more insight by saying stingray at first (as you may know some people are oddly biased towards mid level instruments)

do those have compensated nuts? can't find any info on it anywhere..

 

[Ric5]

Hey guys, so I'm planning on stringing my stingray B-E-A-D (would love to get a 5 string ray but don't have the money ) and was just wondering how you all think a ray would handle it. Would the 34' scale matter? Would the B sound good?

any input would be greatly appreciated as I have no experience with 5 strings or BEAD strung 4 bangers at all

Pretty much any 4 string bass can be strung BEAD. 34" scale is not a problem.

2 things you need to do if stringing BEAD.

1 - widen the string slots in the nut.
2 - back off the truss rod because BEAD is less stress on the neck than EADG.

You will probably have to adjust the intonation as well.

 

[dukeplaysbass]

I have strung several MM basses BEAD, mostly StingRays. They actually take it quite well, better than almost any other axe, IMO. I always have at least two that way for one of my bands (about 30 gigs per year).

You DO NOT need to get a new nut blank. In the 10-12 times I've done it, over several bass manufacturers and models, I've never replaced a nut to switch to BEAD - or back to EADG.

You can do this if you very carefully widen the slots. In fact, you rarely need to widen anything other than the 4th string slot. The other 3, in my experience, will fit the larger strings fine most of the time. If you don't want to buy a real nut file, take the new string and use it as your file by gently rubbing it back and forth on the slot (stop giggling, Beavis!). Just keep it square to the nut, and don't dig in too deep. Stop when the string sits in the bottom of the slot.

You will need to re-set-up the bass to accommodate the different tensions. In fact, I generally do a small adjustment, then wait 24 hours because the bass will settle in.

When you go back to EADG, you should be able to switch strings and re-set the bass without changing out the nut.

EDIT: One more thing. Try different strings to find a tension you like. I HATE floppy B strings, and generally like Ken Smith Rock Masters with a tapered B @ .130 for my MMs that are BEAD. I really dislike DDTs, there's a whole thread here about that love/hate thing.

Good luck!

 

[Vintage Guy]

I strung my Fender "P" BEAD with GHS Bass Boomer Medium Lights. No nut mod was needed. It all depends on what strings you use.

 

[georgestrings]

I setup my early 2000's Ray (non-compensated nut) BEAD just for the heck of it a while back, with absolutely no modification whatsoever... switched it back a year or two later and it still plays fine with 100-40 gauge strings.

IME, what you're saying doesn't seem possible - atleast not done properly...


- georgestrings

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Before I had a 5 string, I used to tune my E to B for one song (and the other 3 were A D G). As floppy as that string was, it still sounded great. That was on my 94 stingray.

I think many people get too caught up in how stuff should be done. But when money is an object, you do what you have to, to get by. I can just picture so many guys cringe when reading about what I wrote above. But it worked, sounded good, and the audience loved it. Even other bass palyers from the other bands playing before/after me said it was wild and gave me props for it...especially when I did it with a fretless.

Just put the strings on and have fun!

 

[tylerwylie]

BEAD tuning cures the weak G string issue too.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

I tune my Ray and my Sterling to C. No nut slot filing required.
Though you do have to spend a few days intonating and adjusting the truss rod.

 

[LiamPodmore]

IME, you can do it without changing the nut slots. My 5 string was a christmas present, so i for about a month beforehand i had my Ibanez (GSR200, so proper entry level) Tuned BEAD without any problems whatsoever, and i didn't need to do anything to it either (I found this strange, i was atleast expecting a truss rod adjustment to be needed).

Liam

 

[lonote]

its actually a Ray34! Thought id get more insight by saying stingray at first (as you may know some people are oddly biased towards mid level instruments)

do those have compensated nuts? can't find any info on it anywhere..

The Ray 34 does NOT have a compensated nut. I would try stringing it up BEAD first and if you have a problem, then modify the nut.

 

[dukeplaysbass]

IME, you can do it without changing the nut slots.

The Ray 34 does NOT have a compensated nut. I would try stringing it up BEAD first and if you have a problem, then modify the nut.

Good advice. In a few cases, I didn't need to widen the slot; the B just sat down in it fine. In most of them, I needed to make it a bit wider to get the string to sit low enough to be reasonably playable.

Sure you could tune down the whole thing using strings that are usually EADG and forget about any adjustment whatsoever. I did that one night when I brought the wrong bass to practice (luckily, not a gig). It'll play sorta sloppy and buzz like a ziploc bag full of angry hornets, but it'll work.