Is downtunning to BEAD with EADG strings a bad idea?

[Donald Thompson]

I play a squire branco with flats.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Well the widths of the neck on the bronco and Mikro, at nut end and body are pretty much the same. So you would be used to feel. Anyhow you have a good short scale. So like Michael T said, if you want less tension go with D standard. If you like the feel, well and good. If not you can go back to EADG without having touched the nut. If you want to go lower and down to BEAD with heavier string for B and a little nut slot adjustment than that's fine too.. It's how you like the feel of stuff in the end as far as comfort and less finger/ hand stress. Even though I'm fooling round with D standard on my Mikro and find too low tension on the low string with current string set, I could live with it if I had too. I'm coming off a badly sprained left wrist, and the Mikro has helped maintain some play time. Lower tension + short scale is good in that regard.
Something to keep in mind too is that BEAD on a 4 stringer is still going to require you to buy short scale sets for 5 stringers. Though some manufacturers do sell a heavy gauge short scale as a single in .125+ gauge, it is typically a bulk buy purchase ( minimum of 6 strings purchase for a Dunlop flat .125 for example). I read that you say you cut long scales down to length.Haven't done it myself. Best practice advice is to not do it. Be interesting to hear what your experience has been cutting long scale flats down to fit your bronco ie non tapered string around the posts. I think you would encounter problems with a no tapered B string at the tuning peg end. Food for thought.

 

[pepj]

I did it on a rock solid neck on a Stingray with 100's.
The string was pretty floppy and only really useable on one track.
Thereafter, I went for a dedicated 5st so I don't think this is doable unless you go to heavier gauge strings ..like 110..and even then???