• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Modified BEAD 4 String Bass Club

#241
Found the Allen wrench! I gave up on the DR drop strings after much messing around, so I drilled the string slot on the bridge wider for the Low B, and now my Warlock is 135-65 with Elixirs (though I'll probably switch to a lighter set pretty soon).

Its like a balancing act trying to get the action/tone right when doing this. I spent hours lowering/heightening the action, loosening/tightening the truss rod but I think I got her pretty close.(a little bit of string buzz isn't a deal breaker for me, its when its outta control that it becomes a problem)

The toughest thing though was getting the low B properly intonated, I'm gonna try again in a few minutes but I couldn't get it 100% though its close. These are *fresh* strings after all so thats definitely a factor in them just staying in tune.

Either way I'm gonna switch to a lighter set as soon as i can, and I really don't dig these elixirs tone(dead outta the box but they last forever)
WP_20170221_07_09_21_Pro.jpg
WP_20170221_07_09_32_Pro.jpg
WP_20170221_07_09_41_Pro.jpg


I like a sorta "medium" action setup over a low action one anyways, just so long as its even!
 
#243
Actually, I'm digging these elixirs now that I'm playing her!! Not as bright as I want but if they stay like this ill be good!! I still wanna go lighter though...

Edit: I didn't try these amplified, these strings suck terribly!! Good god, So damn dark! The weird thing is when i turned down just a little bit all the drive disappeared completely, and back up it was too much and it made my overdrive sound fizzy and awful to the point where I had to do a double take with one of my standard tuned basses to make sure I hadn't screwed up my rig or my hearing....of course the standard tuned ones didn't do this at all!? Nope! Elixir strings suck!
 
Last edited:
#244
Found a set of Dean Markleys 127-? for 7 string bass(not mine), hopefully these sound good amplified? They are steel rounds after all, we'll see in a minute I guess...

I almost temporarily gave up on this BEAD thing until I got a decent set of strings in, Persistence goes a long way though!
 
#246
The dean Markley strings sound great, but I gotta ask...when setting up you basses for this tuning do you all go for the straightest neck possible and heighten *or* do you add relief and have the action as low as you can get? Both approaches *almost* get the same result, almost!

I dont mind some string buzz, but it was pretty outta control with a straighter neck. This has really been a learning experience for me I must say...
 
#249
Twisted Strings: On one bass, I had to drill the bridge hole out one size bigger, but 2 basses I didn't, but were just a tight fit. The last one was a tight fit and I made the mistake of leaving the string through the bridge and then making the L crimp to put the string in the tuning peg and tighten. The string would sound good, decay and then swell again. If the B string bridge hole doesn't need to be drilled out for the string to fit and it's just a tight fit, I recommend backing the string out before you put it in the peg and tighten. Otherwise the string can't freely turn and you can tighten a twisted string. This corrected the problem and the B sounds great. This could be the correct way to string it anyway, I don't know. Normally the string can turn and it's usually not a problem. I just don't like taking drills, hammers or chisels to my bass if I don't have to. Something could go terribly wrong.
Another thing I've noticed is when filing the nut, the B requires the most filing, the E less, A even less and the D on the last one required no filing.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: mech
#251
A friend gave me a Dean Edge4 that was in his closet for years and had some water damage. Badly bowed neck, too.

I cleaned it up, replaced the jack, DeOxit for the pots.
Got the neck straightened out eventually. Took some aggressive "convincing" but it's a good neck now.
Strung it BEAD with some Dunlops another friend was ordering for his CEAD bass--he was staying at my house for a few months at the time so I piggybacked onto his order. Decent strings, although I'm a big fan of D'Addario Pro Steels.

Very cool having a bass with those 4 extra lower notes.
Don't miss the G at all, because I let a third friend take my cover band gig--and I have enough EADG basses for when I need it.

I bought one of those very early 5-string Ibanez Roadstars when they came out, and I never really got along with 5.
BEAD is a much more attractive approach to me.

Like many others, I was surprised and pleased by how much better the E string sounds on BEAD and five string basses.
Break angle over the nut/string length past the nut etc are okay explanations, but I lean towards the E being closer to the middle of the nut and neck, as well as the bridge saddle having more mass on either side rather than being on the edge.
I have always wished that E strings had the richness, volume, and overall feel as the A on most basses--with BEAD I can have that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: G-Dog
#252
Didn't know there was a club for this, but I'm moving toward doing this. A while back I sold my last 5 string to buy a 35" 4 string Carlo (basically a custom 4-94 built by Carl Pedigo). I absolutely love it but I do miss the low B string.

Right now I'm having Lowdown Bass make me a 35" conversion neck for my parts Jazz bass to match the neck specs of the Carlo. If the conversion neck works well I want to have the Carlo converted to BEAD. Carl has already said it would be a good idea but I don't want to do it until I know I've got a got a companion 35" 4 string strung traditionally.

Anyone done BEAD on a 35" 4 String?
 
#253
Have any of you fellow BEAD folks tried BEAD on an acoustic electric. Seems like the fixed bridge would be a problem. I can't play in standard tuning anymore and don't want to go to a 5-er.

Skinny BEAD strings might work I guess but might be a little floppy for my taste. I normally play 130, 110, 90, 75.
 
#255
Korladis said:
I'm tuned to BEAD for this entire album:

Click to expand...


I was more looking for comments about what strings, what bass and whether the bridge needs to be modified (since ABG bridges are generally not adjustable). I'm researching the topic before buying an acoustic bass that won't work for me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Korladis
#256
Eilif said:
Didn't know there was a club for this, but I'm moving toward doing this. A while back I sold my last 5 string to buy a 35" 4 string Carlo (basically a custom 4-94 built by Carl Pedigo). I absolutely love it but I do miss the low B string.

Right now I'm having Lowdown Bass make me a 35" conversion neck for my parts Jazz bass to match the neck specs of the Carlo. If the conversion neck works well I want to have the Carlo converted to BEAD. Carl has already said it would be a good idea but I don't want to do it until I know I've got a got a companion 35" 4 string strung traditionally.

Anyone done BEAD on a 35" 4 String?
Click to expand...

Why do you think the longer scale would be an issue. Should work better - will tighten up the B a smidge.
 
#257
Doner Designs said:
I was more looking for comments about what strings, what bass and whether the bridge needs to be modified (since ABG bridges are generally not adjustable). I'm researching the topic before buying an acoustic bass that won't work for me.
Click to expand...
Sorry.

I just use regular D'Addario XLs. 130, 100, 80, 60. My BEAD tuned basses are 34" or 33.25" scale.

BEAD on a full scale acoustic should work fine. It's actually less tension than EADG, at least it is when using comparable strings, so it shouldn't be an issue for the neck or the acoustic body's top at all. Might want to get one of the largest bodied acoustics you can for low end, though.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doner Designs
#258
Korladis said:
Sorry.

I just use regular D'Addario XLs. 130, 100, 80, 60. My BEAD tuned basses are 34" or 33.25" scale.

BEAD on a full scale acoustic should work fine. It's actually less tension than EADG, at least it is when using comparable strings, so it shouldn't be an issue for the neck or the acoustic body's top at all. Might want to get one of the largest bodied acoustics you can for low end, though.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have four electrics that are tuned BEAD. That's standard tuning for me and I realize the tension is less. My concern is that with an acoustic, the string height can't be adjusted without permanently modifying the bridge. I'm looking at a Breedlove 32 inch that's for sale used near me and am concerned about the tension being too low in addition to the string height maybe not being right.
 
#259
Doner Designs said:
Thanks. I have four electrics that are tuned BEAD. That's standard tuning for me and I realize the tension is less. My concern is that with an acoustic, the string height can't be adjusted without permanently modifying the bridge. I'm looking at a Breedlove 32 inch that's for sale used near me and am concerned about the tension being too low in addition to the string height maybe not being right.
Click to expand...
Are there any drop in bridges for acoustic that allow string height adjustment?

What about maybe going for a tune-o-matic and tailpiece style instead of the usual acoustic style?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Doner Designs
#260
Korladis said:
Are there any drop in bridges for acoustic that allow string height adjustment?

What about maybe going for a tune-o-matic and tailpiece style instead of the usual acoustic style?
Click to expand...

Usually the piezo pickup is built into the bridge, so modification would be tricky at best.

Do you have an acoustic or were you answering as to BEAD tuning in general?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back