Is there a 4 string B Bass?

[Voci]

A pair of Ibanez ATKs. The black one is a PGB1, tuned BEAD from factory.

 

[Maynjo]

The schecter C-4 Apocalypse EX is tuned BEAD, im sure there are a few more out there as well.

Edit: The Apocalypse EX is also a 35" scale, so the strings will be less floppy. Just make sure you look for the EX model and not just the regular c-4 Apocalypse as that one is 34" and EADG.

 

[Amajew]

Not all 4 strings are capable of a BEAD restringing.

I had my Lakland 44-01 redone to a BEAD setup and the neck would never stabilize. The neck wasnt thick enough to take on the extra tension.

 

[John Le Guyader]

Yes, the first one I saw was a Dingwall and it was referred to as a simulated 5-string

 

[HaphAsSard]

extra tension.

Extra tension? What gauges did you use for EADG and BEAD?

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Some Nashville guys have tuned their vintage P / J to BEAD so they have the five string low notes and maintain the vintage look.

 

[alder]

any long scale 4 string bass plus 4/5 of a set of 5-strings

or just get a single low B string and shift the rest

you'll need to enlarge the nut slots and maybe drill out the bridge holes

that low B is a real fatty

and reset the intonation

I made a couple of 25" E basses that way

 

[Paulabass]

Why the fear of filing the nut. It was done when you bought your bass, and had it set up initially, why not now?

 

[lz4005]

I had my Lakland 44-01 redone to a BEAD setup and the neck would never stabilize. The neck wasnt thick enough to take on the extra tension.

That's not how necks or strings work.

B strings in every commercially available set have the same or fewer (usually fewer) lbs of pull than the G string of the same set. The EAD would stay the same.

What gauges did you use?

 

[wintremute]

Not all 4 strings are capable of a BEAD restringing.

I had my Lakland 44-01 redone to a BEAD setup and the neck would never stabilize. The neck wasnt thick enough to take on the extra tension.

Extra tension? What gauges did you use for EADG and BEAD?

Yeah, that's weird. Ibanez aren't really known for their thick necks, and I haven't had any issues.

 

[stigbeve]

I believe Warwick came out with the Rockbass Corvette Taranis in February.
Soapbar pickups, 35" scale and BEAD tuning.

 

[gln1955]

Why the fear of filing the nut. It was done when you bought your bass, and had it set up initially, why not now?

I've filed nuts to take BEAD and later switched back to EADG with no issues. Not a big deal at all for tech to do if you are squeamish about doing yourself.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Not all 4 strings are capable of a BEAD restringing.

I had my Lakland 44-01 redone to a BEAD setup and the neck would never stabilize. The neck wasnt thick enough to take on the extra tension.

A BEAD setup has LESS tension than a EADG setup.

 

[BazzaBass]

if you don't want to do it yourself, you could buy the 4-stringer of your choice and get a local tech to do it for you. Your search may be limited otherwise – I don't recall many manufacturers offering an off-the-shelf 4-stringer tuned BEAD.

I think Schecter did one about a decade ago called the Scorpion but I haven't seen it for sale since.

I did just this with my Sons old Bass - put on the bottom 4 Strings of Low Tension LaBella Flexible Flats 118, 100, 075, 056. It is a beast

 

[LowEndHum]

A BEAD setup has LESS tension than a EADG setup.

That depends on the gauge of the strings. If using a standard .125 string, it's about 30lbs tension whereas .135 is almost 38lbs. This, however, varies by string manufacturer. It is a preference for which tension the player needs.

 

[jmon]

Epiphone made a Les Paul style Vinnie Hornsby (Bassist for Sevendust) signature bass that was tuned BEAD. However I had a Warwick Thumb Bass that I had a luthier set up for me back in the day when I was playing metal tuned ADGC. Paired that up with a SWR 750 Head and 2 SWR son of Bertha 15 cabs. That sound was HUGE. Like shake liquor bottles off the walls huge. Even backed a few rappers with that set up. Awesome sounds.

 

[Solarmist]

Any 4 string bass can be tuned BEAD with a little nut filing and other minor adjustments.

Yes, and I just had it done on my Ibby SR by a local Luthier. He made a new nut out of bone (so I could keep the stock one just in case I wanted to go back), and polished my frets for $60. I did the new setup myself, and am quite pleased with the new tuning.

 

[bumperbass]

I was thinking of doing the BEAD thing on a MIM Pbass, but for some reason, I thought my E string bridge saddle would not adjust far enough back to intonate the B. Still not sure.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Not all 4 strings are capable of a BEAD restringing.

I had my Lakland 44-01 redone to a BEAD setup and the neck would never stabilize. The neck wasnt thick enough to take on the extra tension.

You must have had an issue with low tension, not extra tension. The "B" string of a 5 string set generally has 5 - 10 lbs. less tension than the "G" string depending on the gauge of the set. Some B strings are 15 lbs lighter tension than the G string in their set.

 

[Ric5]

So my friend got to chat with Alessandro Paveri at a Gemini syndrome show the other night. I told him to ask him if he would design a drop down bass. Says he plays one already. Said he plays a B bass. So is there a 4 string drop b Bass. Not a Frankentstien . Not a 5 string. I found B Bass by ESP . Anyone know anything about this?

any long scale bass should work with the proper strings and a good setup