Switching up 4 string bass strings for Low B and binning G

[Hungry_Man]

Hello All..

I've started playing bass predominantly for playing and producing dub reggae. Hence I'm interested in the LOW notes, lower harmonics, dark woody sound etc.

I've got a 4 string Ibanez SR300E long-scale bass with roundwound strings, I've fiddled around with settings alot, mainly rolling off everything above 250hz. It still sounds quite pingy to me.

So I'm thinking about alternative setups like flatwound strings, short scale bass to get lower harmonics, 5 string bass to get the B string and be able to play lower notes. But before spending too much money, I'm wondering if I could buy a low B-string and stick it on my current bass, shifting all the strings down and ditching the G-string? I read somewhere that 5 string basses are usually slightly longer scale than 4 string so will this prevent me trying it out?

In the long-term I will keep this bass setup for slap with the pingy roundwounds and buy a passive bass, maybe a short scale with flatwounds for the dub reggae but in the meantime keen to see if this low B bin the G idea will work?

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Hello All..

I've started playing bass predominantly for playing and producing dub reggae. Hence I'm interested in the LOW notes, lower harmonics, dark woody sound etc.

I've got a 4 string Ibanez SR300E long-scale bass with roundwound strings, I've fiddled around with settings alot, mainly rolling off everything above 250hz. It still sounds quite pingy to me.

So I'm thinking about alternative setups like flatwound strings, short scale bass to get lower harmonics, 5 string bass to get the B string and be able to play lower notes. But before spending too much money, I'm wondering if I could buy a low B-string and stick it on my current bass, shifting all the strings down and ditching the G-string? I read somewhere that 5 string basses are usually slightly longer scale than 4 string so will this prevent me trying it out?

In the long-term I will keep this bass setup for slap with the pingy roundwounds and buy a passive bass, maybe a short scale with flatwounds for the dub reggae but in the meantime keen to see if this low B bin the G idea will work?

BEAD works great you'll have to open up the nut slots for the bigger gauge strings , and adjust relief and action accordingly. To revert back you'll have to replace the nut.
Just grab a 5 string set and leave the G in the pack.

 

[Hungry_Man]

BEAD works great you'll have to open up the nut slots for the bigger gauge strings , and adjust relief and action accordingly. To revert back you'll have to replace the nut.

Thanks!!! I wouldn't have thought of that...good thing I asked!

 

[lz4005]

Lots of people do that. All you have to do is widen the nut slots with a file, then correct any changes to relief, height and intonation.

If you do the nut filing yourself, color in the bottom of the slot with a pencil so you have a visual indicator that you're not making it any deeper or changing the angle of the bottom.

It's a myth that you have to replace the nut to go back to EADG. Just make sure you wind the strings to the bottom of the posts so they don't shift in the larger slots.

Also a myth that 5 string sets are longer than 4's.

 

[Hungry_Man]

Thank you. This option is cheaper and simpler than buying a new guitar.

As a noob I need to look up what height, relief and intonation are. I'm sure there is plenty info on Youtube but if there is anything you can direct me to I'd be grateful. I'm assuming its to do with how the strings are set up.

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

I have a US Music Man SUB Sterling that I keep tuned B-E-A-D, just needed a setup and some nut work to make it happen, I use 5-string string sets and simply don't use the G-string. Works great.

 

[el murdoque]

Before you do any of that,

try out the following:
Stop lowpassing at 250 Hz. Push that up to about 1500 Hz or leave it out altogether.
Don't EQ the bass with a massive bass boost and everything else cut. Leave it flat, maybe set the bass to a little past noon, but only as an accentuation, not as a massive boost.
Now play, with your right hand between the neck PU and the fretboard. Pluck very softly, with the fleshy bit of your fingertips and without fingernails. Fret precisely and don't let the strings make clanking noises.
Apply very little force and play as clean as possible.
Compensate the loss of volume by turning up the master (a lot).

That's what got me to the tone I always wanted. Instead of a LPF and a ton of bass boost and EQ, all I really need nowadays is a compressor that does peak limiting (imagine what happens if you set up your bass like that, so it is the loudest instrument in the mix when you play with minimal force, and you dig in by accident ... ).

 

[cattrax]

As a noob I need to look up what height, relief and intonation are. I'm sure there is plenty info on Youtube but if there is anything you can direct me to I'd be grateful. I'm assuming its to do with how the strings are set up.

Here you go!
ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

 

[GIBrat51]

This Carvin LB-20 is set up BEAD, and has been practically since I bought it... gee, must be 11 or 12 years ago, now. It currently has the 65-130 strings from a 5-string set of Roto 77 flats on it. Works just fine. To answer your questions;
- Yes, some 5 string basses are longer scale than 34" - but, by no means all of them. I don't own one, but from what I've read, the longer scale does seem to work better with heavier B strings. Those strings can feel very floppy on a 34" BEAD bass. The solution to that, is; use a lighter B string. Some people are happiest with a 125 or so; use whatever works best for you...
- Yes, you will have to open up at least a couple of nut slots; maybe all of them. I simply had a new Tusq nut cut specifically for BEAD; still have the original one around, somewhere... And, no, you don't necessarily need a new nut if you go back to EADG.
- Intonation. There's a BEAD Club around here somewhere (in the Strings Forum, if memory serves). If you read their posts, you'll see that a fair few of those folks had/have trouble intonating the B string. The saddle just won't go back far enough. It's because that 4-string bridge was not designed to intonate strings that big; especially a 130/135 B string. Instead of starting with a G string saddle 'way forward on the bridge, you're starting with a D string - a heavy D string. It just gets worse from there, and by the time you get to the B string? No room left; saddle won't go back far enough... The Hipshot "A" bridge on my Carvin will intonate OK, but... just barely. Some bridges just simply won't. Curiously, nobody has ever complained about a bent-plate Fender bridge not intonating... Anyway, try it if you want, but... be prepared for a few fiddly (but not insurmountable) problems. I hope it works out well for you...

 

[Hungry_Man]

thanks so much for the further replies. This has sated my curiosity on this topic for now.

I'm still fairly early in my bass guitar journey so will continue learning the ropes on my EADG four string before I modify it or spend money on more instruments. There are so many more playing techniques for me to learn that will drastically alter my sound. Thumb muting etc.

Now to the setup videos...

 

[Hungry_Man]

I have a US Music Man SUB Sterling that I keep tuned B-E-A-D, just needed a setup and some nut work to make it happen, I use 5-string string sets and simply don't use the G-string. Works great.

Cool, what kind of music do you play?

 

[Hungry_Man]

Here you go!
ALL BASIC SETUP QUESTIONS ANSWERED HERE

Thanks so much for posting this one! Just adjusted truss rod and saddle intonation...amazing how far out the strings were in the middle of the neck when fretted high and low...already sounding and feeling better!

 

[Thegrandwazoo]

Cool, what kind of music do you play?

Mostly funk, rock, fusion, and old time. I occasionally play some other stuff, too (proggy metal type stuff, gnarly stoner rock, fuzz, alt country, who knows?), just depending on who I'm jamming with and how we're feeling at the time. I have the B-D bass because I occasionally need lower than D (I also have a bass that stays in standard one step down with heavier strings) and can't abide 5-strings.

 

[2strings2frets]

Hello All..

I've started playing bass predominantly for playing and producing dub reggae. Hence I'm interested in the LOW notes, lower harmonics, dark woody sound etc.

I've got a 4 string Ibanez SR300E long-scale bass with roundwound strings, I've fiddled around with settings alot, mainly rolling off everything above 250hz. It still sounds quite pingy to me.

So I'm thinking about alternative setups like flatwound strings, short scale bass to get lower harmonics, 5 string bass to get the B string and be able to play lower notes. But before spending too much money, I'm wondering if I could buy a low B-string and stick it on my current bass, shifting all the strings down and ditching the G-string? I read somewhere that 5 string basses are usually slightly longer scale than 4 string so will this prevent me trying it out?

In the long-term I will keep this bass setup for slap with the pingy roundwounds and buy a passive bass, maybe a short scale with flatwounds for the dub reggae but in the meantime keen to see if this low B bin the G idea will work?

Try Dunlop 60/130s. I tune B E A D with them, no worries

 

[ruju]

Have you tried plucking closer to the neck. It will make a big difference in sound. Also, blend to just the neck pickup.