Is using a pedal a good idea to try out BEAD tuning?

[MIMike]

What flats do you use? Most flats have fairly high tension compared to rounds. My only concern about just tuning the bass down as is would be a lack of tension; a real concern with many round wound sets. If you’re using Chromes or Roto 77’s, or many other flats, I would think the feel could actually improve by tuning down.
As others have said, a pedal won’t really do it, unless your interest in tuning down was for one specific song, then it would probably work better than hauling a seperate instrument.

 

[DoubleK212]

Beating a dead horse here but as a former Digitech Drop owner, it wasn't that great on bass.

The Ernie Ball "Beefy" Slinky set (130 - 65) is specifically made for BEAD tuning, it's what I use for my Drop B/Drop A metal band.

I also bought these Nut Files from Music Nomad, it only took 10 minutes to widen the nut slots. They were expensive but I've used them for my other basses so not a terrible investment.

Diamond Coated Nut File

EDIT: Just noticed you said you use flats, ignore what I said about the Ernie Balls and just buy a 5 string flatwound set.

 

[Wasnex]

You have to weigh the merits and decide for yourself.
1. What are you trying accomplish
2. How much work are you willing to put in

My choice was to transition 5-string, and then later to 6-string. It took considerable time and effort to adjust and adapt. At this point I miss the B and C if the are not present, even if I don't need them to play a song. While I can still play a 4 or 5, I tend to avoid it as it quickly starts to rewrite my brain and degrades my fluency on the 6.

If you don't want to put in much effort, a pedal like the Digitech Drop may make sense. But this involves accepting compromises to tracking and tone. I would call this the easy way out.

Converting your bass to BEAD can work, but you loose some of the range on the top in of the bass. Will you ever want access to this range? The transition to a 5-string expands you range down a 4th and you retain the higher range. But learning to play a 5-string takes time and effort and of course you need a different bass. Lots of players try and fail.

In some instances Drop D or some other altered tuning may be a better solution. This can be a good solution when the band plays riffs that are impossible without using the open string. Otherwise, I would prefer BEAD, 5-string, or 5-string. This is theoretical for me as I don't tend to play the type of music associated with drop D.

 

[MikeBass]

I replied to this on Facebook.

Just no.
A Drop pedal is good on bass for 1/2 step down.
Otherwise it’s horrible.
The amount of digital artifact, noise and latency makes it IMO unusable.

Even just 1/2 step down it seriously degrades the sound.

 

[wintremute]

I have. I does not do well.

I use The Drop to switch to Eflat tuning on the fly for some 90’s cover songs, and it works great for that. But once you go below 2 semitones down it starts to sound weird and thin.

Although, the function to add a low octave and keep the dry signal sounds mega cool for some NIN songs.

This has been pretty much my experience. When I had a set that had 1 song that needed me to go down to B, then I used the pedal. Live and for just 1 song it wasn't so bad, but I wouldn't want to record that way or use it like that for a whole set.

 

[overit]

I’ve had a dedicated BEAD bass as well as different 5-strings for playing in my dub reggae band. I preferred the sound of my ‘91 Steinberger 4-string more than any modern 5s I’ve had so I primarily used that BEAD for a few years. It is by far my favorite bass and I wanted to use it for everything, the jazz band I play with as well as subbing on pop gigs. So I strung it up back to E standard and use my Helix Octaver patch and play high up on the neck for the dub stuff. It does have a different tone than not using the pedal (artificial/electronic sounding) but it works with that music. I’m also not playing fast passages or anything so tracking is fine, even if I do go down a bit to the lower register. There are a couple tunes where I go from pedal on to off because I do go below A and on the E-string and in the mix, there isn’t anything too weird sounding going on. My band mates don’t have any complaints, but then again the genre lends itself to a subby bass tone. I probably play with the octaver on in that band 80% of the time.

I think it will depend on the genre you play, the way you play and the sound you are looking for.

*edit - I use an octaver not a DROP/pitch shifter pedal if that’s what you are looking for.

 

[ghiggin1079]

I've tried every pedal that falls into the consumer space and none of them are worth much after 2 or 3 semitones unless theres HEAVY distortion. Im with that one person that said get a glarry yeah you'll have to mod the nut, but if it doesn't work out for you in the moment, you just toss the strings and nut into your junk drawer for later use and string it back up for standard...

 

[GroovinOnFunk]

It's a fine idea to try it out, as you said. And then you can see if you like it. And if you do, you'll probably just want to either make the bass truly BEAD or get a 5er. But a pedal can help scratch the itch

 

[2thAche]

I have a Digitech Drop. It will allow you to simulate BEAD, enough to get a feel for liking it / disliking it. Tracking is fine. You'll lose a significant part of your tone, feel the need to add back some treble, and notice a warble on lower sustained notes. You may note a tiny bit of latency. If you're playing with drums and loud guitar, you won't notice it as much of the tone change.

Will it accomplish what you want, which is to just see how it would be? Yes. Will it be much better to have a bass actually tuned BEAD? Yes.

 

[Rayjay]

I use an OC-5. I got it to replace an old MIJ OC-2 that I didn't want to beat up on stage, which is my favorite pedal, and I actually like the OC-5 even more. I use it for low-B notes and bring a 4 to a lot of gigs.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I like the octave pedal BETTER than using a low B. When you go through subs, it's glorious.

 

[GotGroove]

I use an OC-5. I got it to replace an old MIJ OC-2 that I didn't want to beat up on stage, which is my favorite pedal, and I actually like the OC-5 even more. I use it for low-B notes and bring a 4 to a lot of gigs.

I guess I'm in the minority, but I like the octave pedal BETTER than using a low B. When you go through subs, it's glorious.

So what you're suggesting is to set your strings from ADG up to BEA? I'm wondering if the neck of your bass would like that and what the effects would be when using this tuning for an extended period of time. It sounds like you're going to need a new neck every few months tops. But I could be wrong.

Or are you saying to just use the octave down full open with no dry and ignore the tuning? I guess that could fix the sound issue to some extend if that's the tone you're looking for, but not the tuning question. And the sound engineer and PA system won't thank you for it I think, unless you bring your own amp that can fill the room on it's own.

PS: I'm not trying to be snarky or anything. Just curious how/if that would solve OP's problem.

 

[lomo]

That involves enlarging the nut slots. Then, if a B just isn’t going to work, a possible nut replacement. Just trying out a 5 string in the store is the real deal way to go.

Usually but not necessarily. I have been playing BEAD 4 bangers for about 1.5 years using light gauge (120B) strings. I have 4 basses and 3 did not require filing the nut slots. I use thicker gauges on the 4th one and filed that nut. Regardless, for purposes of messing around for a week to "see if it feels like pursuing" , even larger strings not sitting correctly in the nut slots would probably be acceptable for many players. All that said, regardless, the bass will need significant adjusting to intonate and play reasonably well. After 15 years of playing only 5ers, I am loving BEAD/ not missing the G whatsoever and do not anticipate going back.

 

[KidAmnesia]

It's way cheaper to get a new set of strings in a suitable gauge and trying them out on one of your basses than getting a good pitch shifter.

 

[Rayjay]

So what you're suggesting is to set your strings from ADG up to BEA? I'm wondering if the neck of your bass would like that and what the effects would be when using this tuning for an extended period of time. It sounds like you're going to need a new neck every few months tops. But I could be wrong.

Or are you saying to just use the octave down full open with no dry and ignore the tuning? I guess that could fix the sound issue to some extend if that's the tone you're looking for, but not the tuning question. And the sound engineer and PA system won't thank you for it I think, unless you bring your own amp that can fill the room on it's own.

PS: I'm not trying to be snarky or anything. Just curious how/if that would solve OP's problem.

You're overthinking. I use a standard 4 and step on the OC-5 for notes below E. I love the tone so much I use it for the whole range sometimes. If I'm not mistaken, this is exactly what the OP is asking.

I use a 5 string sometimes too, and the low B isn't as huge sounding as the OC-5 to my ears.

 

[BassBrass]

I'd use an EH pitchfork down a 4th full wet, into the right overdrive (that's able to add girth like the full solidgold BetaPreamp... maybe a EQ Blumes
but that's for fun, it isn't a musical instrument....

 

[pecBass]

What about the use if an Octive pedal?

 

[joeLowB]

Rather than buying/buildings/converting a bass to BEAD tuning, what are the thoughts on picking up a pedal? Do they sound good? I play mainly with an Ibanez SRxxv4 with flats. If viable, any recommendations? I don't have a clue about using pedals with my bass.

To offer a contrary opinion...

To try BEAD, to explore if it'sworth it or not, you do not have to alter the nut.

No.

Just buy a B string. Don't alter the nut. Tune it. Play. See if you like it or not.

Yes, the action will be high. No, you won't gig with it.

But, if the objective is to see if you like BEAD tuning, just try it. If you like it, file out the nut and go for it. If you don't, you've settled the matter. A win either way.

My 2c!

.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

It's theoretically possible, but pitch shifting, even down, won't sound the same. It's something that might be useful for that one song you do in the set that needs BEAD to avoid changing basses.

In terms of getting a cheap bass and restringing it, maybe look at getting a cheap 5er instead.

I might use an octaver to add a whole octave down but only to double and fill things out. Rarely do I need anything below a D and I can just retune the E string for a song - it only takes 5 or 10 seconds. I might use synth sounds that go down an octave and play higher up, effectively getting the BEAD range, but that's a bit different.

If you want to try the sound in a practice situation, if you have a laptop and a sound interface, then just grab a DAW like Reaper and try the pitch shifting effects on that before investing in a pedal.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Another option (with the right string choices) is NST (New Standard Tuning) from Robert Fripp - CGDA. It's only a semitone above the low B and an extended open string range. I tried it for a while. It does require relearning the fretboard and moving your hands more. It makes more sense on the shorter scale length of a guitar.

 

[allanhearn]

It will sound terrible. MOST pedals can do 1/2 or maybe 1 step down. Anything more is trash. Try a 5ver. You can a budget one for pretty cheap.