The bass I strung BEAD has a 24 fret neck with very good upper fret access. I don't know if I would have been as likely to try BEAD if I didn't have that range and ease of access.
Aside- "The Real Me" is one of my all-time favorite bass lines.
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The bass I strung BEAD has a 24 fret neck with very good upper fret access. I don't know if I would have been as likely to try BEAD if I didn't have that range and ease of access.
Aside- "The Real Me" is one of my all-time favorite bass lines.
Cool, 24 Frets definitely makes a big difference. I always wanted a DarkLord which has 24 Frets. F# thru A I believe. I can play the Real Me on My Ric but I for the Highest note. I just use the edge of the fretboard at the heel and Pluck harder to get the volume.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
If you are not trying to cover a song exactly like the original, you can always play some of the notes an octave down.
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Very true! Plus 99% of the world won't know the difference. There are just certain songs that deserve to be played note for note or at least as close as I can get.
Alright. After 2 days of doing my homework and some contemplating here and there, I'm going to have a go with BEAD. My main bass is a '91 Fernandes Revolver PJ, and yes it'll be the one to receive the drop tuning. I'm going to have my luthier file the brass nut (it looks like Warwick's Just-a-Nut or what ever it's called), adjust the truss rod, and intonate the strings.
I'm just really concerned about the floppy B syndrome I might catch when shopping for the strings. I'm considering the DR DDT65 set, the Rotosound Drop Zone; but I am also considering buying a 5-string set and just dispose of the G string, but this option's a tad expensive. Thing is I have zero experience with the B string as I never had the liking for 5ers.
I'm just really concerned about the floppy B syndrome I might catch when shopping for the strings. I'm considering the DR DDT65 set, the Rotosound Drop Zone; but I am also considering buying a 5-string set and just dispose of the G string, but this option's a tad expensive. Thing is I have zero experience with the B string as I never had the liking for 5ers.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
I usually buy a 5 string set and toss the G string. Depending on the set, sometimes that is cheaper than buying 4 separates.
I see you are in the flatwounds club. If you use flats I don't think you will have any issue with a floppy B since flats naturally have higher tension (generally speaking). Roto, Daddario and Ernie Ball flats would give you the tension you want and still be fairly bright as flats go.
Azure Skies
Commercial User
I'm looking to do a BEAD setup and I need some suggestions on what bass will give the results I want.
I've been using a Warrior 5 string for a few years now, and I find I rarely use the G string. The Warrior has a very thin soapbar close to the bridge and a large Fatboy in the "sweetspot" similar to a MM. Strung with D'Addarios, I get a combination of the percussive punchy attack from the bridge pickup followed by the huge authoratative low end from the Fatboy. It is similar to the sound of a Warwick Thumb with a bit more bass.
Anyway, I have found that this sound works best with what I do, and I want to match the tone in a four string, and tune it BEAD. Some thoughts I've had are:
Fender 70s Jazz
MM with dual pickups, coil tapping options to get the single coil in the bridge
P bass with jazz pickup at the bridge (possibly 70s position)
Any bass with soapbar pickups, replace the bridge pickup with a jazz encased in a soapbar
Any thoughts?
I've been using a Warrior 5 string for a few years now, and I find I rarely use the G string. The Warrior has a very thin soapbar close to the bridge and a large Fatboy in the "sweetspot" similar to a MM. Strung with D'Addarios, I get a combination of the percussive punchy attack from the bridge pickup followed by the huge authoratative low end from the Fatboy. It is similar to the sound of a Warwick Thumb with a bit more bass.
Anyway, I have found that this sound works best with what I do, and I want to match the tone in a four string, and tune it BEAD. Some thoughts I've had are:
Fender 70s Jazz
MM with dual pickups, coil tapping options to get the single coil in the bridge
P bass with jazz pickup at the bridge (possibly 70s position)
Any bass with soapbar pickups, replace the bridge pickup with a jazz encased in a soapbar
Any thoughts?
If you like the sound of your Warrior, how about another Warrior? Maybe you could find a used one? Other than that it sounds like the MM would be your next best option.
In other news, I'm tossing around the idea of going BEAD on my Ibanez AEB5E. I know, I know- an acoustic with a B-string probably sounds incredibly stupid to most people. I don't care; I kind of want to try it!
I'm considering La Bella RX Nickel-Plated Steel strings. They have a custom set called LB_RX-N5A-M. That's a Medium scale 5-string set with gauges 40-60-80-100-118.
Thoughts? I've got D'Addario Tapewounds EADG on it now. I don't play it a whole lot but I definitely enjoy it. I've had NPS on an acoustic bass before and it sounded pretty good.
Anybody tried BEAD on an ABG?
I just changed my Affinity P-Bass to BEAD and I love it. The only issue I am having is getting the intonation of the B string right. At the twelfth fret, I can get it anywhere from sharp to very sharp, even a flat C, but I cannot get it to a B. I have traveled the entire length of the screw on the bridge. Is there another adjustment that I am missing? I do love the sound, but I can't use the B string much higher than the 5th fret before it is out of tune.
What are the best basses for BEAD tuning? Out of the ones I've tried (Fender Jazz, Fender P, P bass with huge vintage humbucker in P position, G&L L-1000, Warwick Corvette) the Jazz and the Wick had the most solid sounding, and feeling B string. I think it has to do with having a pickup near the bridge, where the B string has much less travel. I've heard sting rays are great for this kind of thing - and that would go along with my theory, but I prefer a passive bass with a warm, vintage style tone (hence why I don't own, and won't own a warwick).
I would love to try a dingwall J or a lakland decade, but the prices of these are too high to justify without trying the BEAD config first. Anyone tried those?
I would love to try a dingwall J or a lakland decade, but the prices of these are too high to justify without trying the BEAD config first. Anyone tried those?
A good rule of thumb is that if the manufacturer makes a 5-string version of the bass you have, it'll likely make a good BEAD.
not necessarily true. I've tried P basses (Fender makes P 5s) and although they work, they don't sound as good as a J. There's something missing to the solidity of the low B. I'm not sure about the P5, It's been a long while since I've played one, but with both P4s I've tried to string BEAD, there has been significant loss of fundamental/low harmonics. @bassist4dalord, which ones have you tried that have been good? I'm trying to get many opinions.
I know I've posted pics of my BEAD P-J before, but I LOVE the B on this one! I tried all sorts of bridges - with weak sounding B's - until I tried the Babicz. It is perfect for me... even and solid fundamentals. I'm typically a HipShot guy, but the Babicz did it on this bass in spades. The strings are the lower 4 are standard gauge Sadowsky Black Label Flats.
Dropped my main bass into a local store to get changed over to BEAD today. Looking at getting a 5 string but don't have the funds now so I'll see how this goes. I had a drop tuner on it but that was a lot of hassle.
I'll get the bass back in a few days.
I'll get the bass back in a few days.
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I modified my ESP LTD Vintage 214 yesterday for BEAD. I used the D'Addario nickel set with the .130 B, it barely fit through the bridge. The nut filed with the string itself in about 10 seconds, soft plastic. A few slight adjustments and this bass seems like it was made for BEAD.
Tried that on the nut with another bass I have here. I wasn't going to BEAD, just a slightly heavier standard set. The nut snapped at the E.
The bass I'm getting converted has a bone nut so can't really try that.
