• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Inexpensive 4-string for BEAD - can't decide

S

Sijjvra

Mar 31, 2009
486
271
#1
Just what the title says. I want to pick up an inexpensive 4 string to mess around with some alternate tunings, specifically BEAD tuning. I have a 5 string tuned BEADG, but we may drop this down to a C tuning and I don't always like having to tune up and down between songs. I rarely use the G string so it'd be no great loss.


Yes, SX is in the running and I know all about them. Same with Squier. But I'd like to hear of some other options and suggestions and if people have had particularly good experiences with other basses for BEAD.

Thinking of a Peavey Millineum as well. Has anyone tried out one of the AXL basses? They get good reviews. I'm trying to stay in the below 300 dollar range, because I don't have a lot of extra money to drop right now. With tax time also seems to come big bill time :rollno:

Are there some decent 35' or string-thru options for this budget range? I know that can sometimes help sustain a low-B a bit better.
 
#3
any bass would work if its set up properly. my band plays in drop B ive only used 4 strings for years until last week when i picked up a 5 string simply to play in b standard and have the extra string compared to dropping a 4. so really its up to your taste, you'll just have to make the correct adjustments to sadle hieght and intonation and most basses are ready to go. you may have trussrod or nut issues but those are pretty easy fixes too. you may have problems with pups with exposed poles tuning down that low too so you may want keep that in mind, or just try tuning it down and trying it out before purchasing anything.
 
#6
I have two Peaveys and an SX set up that way. All three work just fine. My favorite is the eary Fury with D'Addario Chrome flatwounds on it. Had to widen the bridge hole and the nut slot on all of them. About 10 minutes of careful work.
 
#7
Thanks for the input. I'll poke around on Ebay and the classifieds here to see if there are any Peaveys to be had for cheap - I'm leaning towards one of those as I've always heard good things about them anyway. Unfortunately none of the music stores in the area carry them (or much of anything except Fender and Ibanez) so I can't try before I buy, but oh well. For a few hundred I'm not expecting something amazing anyway, just want a good beater bass to string BEAD.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back