Questions about tuning a 4-sting down to A.

[sebif]

Hey all,

I listen to a lot of doom/sludge metal bands, and want to start making that kind of music. Most of these bands are known for tuning down real low. I'm trying to play down in A. Thing is, my two basses are 4-strings. I have an Ibanez GSR200 and a Squier Fretless Jazz Bass. So I have questions. Which bass would be better to use for tuning to A and what's the best way to go about it? I thought I could simply buy some 5-string bass strings and slap 'em on either bass, but the man at the shop pointed out I forgot to take into consideration that the strings need to fit through the bridge and the nut. Looking at the bridges, the bridge on my Ibanez has holes big enough to fit in thicker gauge strings while my Squier does not, so it seems the Ibanez is the one to use for my doom endeavors. But after that, there's still the nut, which doesn't seem like it'd fit thicker strings. So in this instance is there a way to make the slots on the nut bigger or a way to just replace it? And with that, am I at risk of damaging the neck by adding the heavier strings and increasing the tension on the instrument? Is it possible to do this, or would buying a 5 string just make life easier? Thanks in advance!

 

[Thunder Pulse]

Using the lowest 4 strings from a 5-string set is the correct thinking. You just need to enlarge the slots in the nut so the larger strings will fit. If you don't know what you're doing it would be better to have someone else do it.

Your neck won't be damaged at all by using 4 lower pitched strings. In fact, I guarantee that it'll have less tension on it. You'd be swapping the G for a B. If you look at the individual string tension specs on a pack of D'Addarios you'll see that a G string has more tension on it than a B.

Of course, buying a 5-string bass might be the simplest solution, and you'd increase the number of basses you own by 50%.

 

[wolfkeller]

I've used the excess string on the b string (or any string) to rub back and forth across the nut slot til it fits. Works every time.

 

[Ibycan]

If you are not making a huge gauge change the rubbing method works great. I used a 5 string pack on my 4 string Squire VM .130 I believe that it works great. Just be careful to widen the slot and not go deep into it. As stated before a 5 string bass would give you the same results without having to modify too much. But on the 4 string you will have to do a proper set up after you change the strings. You didn't mentioned if you were trying to do Drop A or A standard. That would make a difference as to how much modification you will have to do

 

[sebif]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. Ibycan, I'd be going for A standard, I don't like drop tunings all that much. Do you guys think this kind of set up/modification would be simple enough for somebody who's never done any sort of modding, or would it be smarter to just take it to a shop?

 

[Ibycan]

I believe everyone should learn to adjust their instrument. It is simple enough but it is really up to you and how mechanically inclined you are. I would suggest reading and watching as many videos as you can