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Question about BEAD tuning

P

pierre147

Feb 7, 2008
4
0
Milan, Italy
#1
Hello everyone,

I'm seriously thinking about changing tuning from standard EADG to BEAD on an entry level Ibanez bass guitar, the EDB-500. Unfortunately, I'll most likely have to file the nut to make all stirings fit in without having excessive high-action problems in return. Now, if I decide to file the nut, will it be possible for me to return (eventually) to the standard EADG tuning without problems or will my bass remain stuck to the lower one?

Thanks in advance for any reply and please excuse my crappy english ;)
 
#4
Hi.

There's been a few threads about the subject and generally the opinion has been that if the headstock has a back-angle, the thinner strings will sit better in the wider nut slots.

What I'd be more worried about is the adjustment room in the bridge. Do You have enough room to move the E-saddle (which will obviously become the B-saddle) back as much as the difference is now between the E and A saddles? Assuming full winding strings of course. Exposed cores behave a bit differently.

Regards
Sam
 
#7
pierre147 said:
Hello everyone,

I'm seriously thinking about changing tuning from standard EADG to BEAD on an entry level Ibanez bass guitar, the EDB-500. Unfortunately, I'll most likely have to file the nut to make all stirings fit in without having excessive high-action problems in return. Now, if I decide to file the nut, will it be possible for me to return (eventually) to the standard EADG tuning without problems or will my bass remain stuck to the lower one?

Thanks in advance for any reply and please excuse my crappy english ;)
Click to expand...

When I first did a 4 string bass to a BEAD over 15 years ago I was very scared about doing it,,, after I did it I never looked back,,,, I have done this with all my bass's over the years,,,,, once you do a BEAD set-up you wont want to go back,,, so dont worry to much about putting in back to a EADG.

If you use light guage BEAD strings you wont have to file much and "if" you ever want to re-string it EADG it will be fine.

A file'ing hint on doing this,,, file more on the sides of the string slots and not the bottom of the string slots on the nut.
Not sure what kind of bridge your bass has, but make sure the strings will feed thru your bridge, if they dont then you will have to file the bridge holes just a bit.

I have about 10 bass's,, two of them are acoustics and they are ALL set-up as BEAD bass's,,,,, I even did to 2 of my stand-up bass's I had.

Once you go BEAD there is no going back to EADG,,, (my opinion of course).

Good luck and have fun with it !!!!

Cheers
Davyo

xxfaux_punkxx said:
When I tune my bass to BEAD I just leave the standard tuning strings on. You could try it without filing it though and see how well that works.
Click to expand...

That is an option,, but it would seem to me that EADG strings tuned to BEAD would be so floppy and loose it would not be a fair example of how good a true BEAD set-up can be and work.

Cheers
Davyo
 
#13
javier69 said:
It work fine! buuuuut get sure the neck endure that string tension, (I got a Yamaha like this) and the tension is a lot higher, in compare with a set of 5, same gauge on las 4 string...
Click to expand...

You sure about this? Seems the tension would be lower since the strings are tuned lower. The G-string would be a lot tighter than a D, wouldn't it? Those would be the tightest string on the neck.
 
#14
oldrookie said:
You sure about this? Seems the tension would be lower since the strings are tuned lower. The G-string would be a lot tighter than a D, wouldn't it? Those would be the tightest string on the neck.
Click to expand...

I believe he is using respective B E A & D strings instead of a standard set. Much thicker guage with higher tension. Think of the added tension of having two E strings and add extra for the fatness of the B string.
 
#15
With tension you take into account string mass and tuning, given the difference in mass of a .120 tuned to B to a .105 tune to E it seems that in general the .105 will be tenser. If you look at the tension chart for D'addario strings you'll see to get the same tension as a .105 E you'd have to use a .145 B. Obviously the tension will differ between different manufacturing methods, balanced tension strings for example are designed to minimise the effect of this effect, so you don't have to have a huge contrast in gauges to have an even tension.

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