The Modified BEAD 4 String Bass Club

[Doner Designs]

I recently bought a five-string to cover some songs in lower tunings. Although the bass is great, I’m not loving the wider fretboard and extra string. I’m glad to see this thread as I think BEAD might be the answer to my problem but I’m not sure how to go about it. Are there string sets specifically made for this tuning?

Buying a 5 string set and throwing out the G is usually the way to go. Might have to widen the nut slots a bit. That’s 90% of it.

Billy Sheehan plays a doubleneck rather than a 5 string for the wide neck issue when he needs a B string. One neck is BEAD.

 

[ACWild]

I considered buying a 5-string set but it seemed like a waste of a string. Too bad my guitars don’t have modular nuts.

 

[alanolynn]

Oh man. I so late to the party, but my bass has new life thanks to setting it up for BEAD. Only 5% of me misses the G, but it's worth the trade-off to get that thunder back!

 

[Chewy_B_i_T_s]

I'd like to join the club!

I bought an ESP LTD AP-204 cheap off eBay because the active electronics weren't working. I converted to passive with a .022mFd & .047mFd selector switch between the tone knob and ground. It was a very smooth conversion. All I had to do was file the nut slots wider with an emory board. I didn't have to drill the B string bridge hole and there was enough saddle travel to intonate the B string properly.

I'm very pleased with the end result! I strung it up with .062-.128 GHS Pressure Wounds and it sounds nice and fat with a good mid range presence.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

I'd like to join the club!

I bought an ESP LTD AP-204 cheap off eBay because the active electronics weren't working. I converted to passive with a .022mFd & .047mFd selector switch between the tone knob and ground. It was a very smooth conversion. All I had to do was file the nut slots wider with an emory board. I didn't have to drill the B string bridge hole and there was enough saddle travel to intonate the B string properly.

I'm very pleased with the end result! I strung it up with .062-.128 GHS Pressure Wounds and it sounds nice and fat with a good mid range presence.

View attachment 3807432

AFAIK, numbers haven't been issued since 2014, and the President(?) hasn't been seen since 2016. If anyone has the desire/inclination to reanimate this corpse, I don't think anyone's gonna complain.

 

[factory presets]

Stopped playing maybe 15 years ago. At which stage I was loving my 5 string. Wide neck was not an issue. Recently I got roped into a couple of punk revival gigs. As I broke out the scales and poopie to get back in shape, I noticed that some of the songs that were written on keyboard can often use those low notes. I guess for a joke I asked on Facebook if I could use a 5 in a punk band. Not only the potential audience,but the promoters and even some band members hit the roof. You can't have punk if people don't follow the rules.

Rather than snivel about bands like Suicidal Tendencies, I just went screw you guys, I'm going BEAD. And damn that feels good. Like a real punk, I can now fret with my thumb. Me and Stanley Clarke. Ha. I didn't miss the G at first. But now the gig is postponed for lockdown, I am warming up the thumb. I can easily transpose everything I need to. But running octaves on the A and G is it's own sound. Can sound funny down an octave. Probably should see how it goes in a gig b4 I sell off the 5s. Funniest bit is I haven't used a pick since I was last in those bands. And I'm struggling to get the chops up. At this stage, I'm finding it easier to slap lines when they need mad attack than to play them cleanly with a pick. Tears would be shed, im sure.

Ah well. Got a few months till the borders open.

 

[factory presets]

Why don't D'addario, Dunlop, Labella, Ernie Ball and all the others offer BEAD sets?

WhenI was doing mine I found some DR DDTS in 65-125 on ebay. Cost the same as a set of 45-125 Hi Beams in my local shop. Cos it was the first attempt and I was nervous for my truss rod in my thin neck Samick, I was looking to use a lighter gauge B. Instant gratification easily won that contest. But now it's been a month or more with no discernible neck movement. Going forward I'll be in the market for a 130 B. Sadly the DDTs bottom out at 125..

But if you're happy with those guages, and you're more concerned about waste than price, DR might be worth a look.

Edit. And then I notice I'm talking to the ghost of 2014.

 

[Kijekuyo]

This is my first post in this forum. I was in the Short Scale Bass forum asking whether there were any short scale 5-string basses in case I ever need a B-string in the future (I'm trying to start a new world beat band). They suggested a couple, but I also got suggests to tune a 4-string to B-E-A-D.

After I gave it some thought, it seemed like a good solution to me. I realized that I rarely use the G string myself, and I have never liked the sound of it.

Also, I'm not a collector. I really only want one bass guitar, and I have two: a Squier Jaguar SS short scale (bought this year) and a Squier Affinity J-Bass (bought last year). Since getting the JagSS, I don't play the J-Bass. I love it, but I'm a convert to short scales now. However, my wonderful Affinity, which I have praised numerous times in these forums (Squier Affinity Club), is now lonely. The idea of having an alternative bass tuned to B-E-A-D was a great solution, as it can justify having two basses and give meaning to my Affinity's existence once again.

Yesterday, I received a 5-string LaBella set (43-128) for my Squier J-Bass. I will buy a new nut to replace the original one. I'll then check to see how much the local guitar shops will charge to have them restring and adjust the J-Bass for B-E-A-D.

Otherwise, I'll try it myself, by widening notches in the nut slightly until the string sits against the bottom surface of the notch, leaving the height between the bottom of the notch and the fret board the same, then adjusting the truss rod if necessary, adjusting the action, and intonating.

The info in this forum has been very helpful.

 

[factory presets]

I will buy a new nut to replace the original one. I'll then check to see how much the local guitar shops will charge to have them restring and adjust the J-Bass for B-E-A-D.

All sounds like a plan except, if you plan to keep the J in BEAD,, you don't need a new nut. You will need one to change back because you can't replace the material you have filled out. But until you want to go back to EADG you can just file out your existing nut.

I tried to file my own nut. But, without specialist files it didn't work for me. I had to take it in tothe shop. Then I read here about wrapping sandpaper round the strings and using that to widen the slots. Sound straightforward to me.

 

[Kijekuyo]

All sounds like a plan except, if you plan to keep the J in BEAD,, you don't need a new nut. You will need one to change back because you can't replace the material you have filled out. But until you want to go back to EADG you can just file out your existing nut.

I tried to file my own nut. But, without specialist files it didn't work for me. I had to take it in tothe shop. Then I read here about wrapping sandpaper round the strings and using that to widen the slots. Sound straightforward to me.

Thanks.

So the original nut will be damaged when removed? Hmm, I dislike modifying original parts. I have always replaced the parts before modifying them so I can reverse anything I do. There is a chance I will sell this bass someday. But I suppose getting a new stock nut will actually be the same thing.

Wouldn't the sandpaper/bass string idea widen downward as well as to the sides? I won't want the slots deeper, will I?

 

[factory presets]

Easier if I could draw a picture. But basically as you sand you'll start removing material from the top corners of the slot and work your way down the sides. If that's not what's happening, the slots are already wide enough. Check regularly as you sand to make sure you stop before you make the slots deeper. Keep in mind that I haven't done this myself. I don't know how fast it will remove plastic. So check often to make sure you are still sanding safely.

 

[WillyW]

I wish people would quit the halfarsed measures to file a nut slot, a set of files costs as much as having a nut replaced by a GC “luthier”, and can then be used on multiple instruments.

do it right the first time with the right tools

here’s my BEAD bass

 

[factory presets]

For myself I almost certainly won't get multiple uses from a set of files that costs more than having it done professionally. I'm quite confident using the sandpaper trick and doing my own set up. I like working on my bass in a hobbyist way. And the slower abrasion rate of sandpaper means less chance of shaging it up for us less experienced bass techs.

Only posted about it because Kijekuyo said he was already thinking of doing the job himself.

Edit. Nice looking bass. Did you make it?

 

[Kijekuyo]

I am a careful person, so the sandpaper appeals to me. However, I do have a nice set of files already, and I'll see what I can do with them. Since I just received the strings, the first task is to see if they might fit without cutting.

 

[James_027]

This is my first post in this forum. I was in the Short Scale Bass forum asking whether there were any short scale 5-string basses in case I ever need a B-string in the future (I'm trying to start a new world beat band). They suggested a couple, but I also got suggests to tune a 4-string to B-E-A-D.

After I gave it some thought, it seemed like a good solution to me. I realized that I rarely use the G string myself, and I have never liked the sound of it.

Also, I'm not a collector. I really only want one bass guitar, and I have two: a Squier Jaguar SS short scale (bought this year) and a Squier Affinity J-Bass (bought last year). Since getting the JagSS, I don't play the J-Bass. I love it, but I'm a convert to short scales now. However, my wonderful Affinity, which I have praised numerous times in these forums (Squier Affinity Club), is now lonely. The idea of having an alternative bass tuned to B-E-A-D was a great solution, as it can justify having two basses and give meaning to my Affinity's existence once again.

Yesterday, I received a 5-string LaBella set (43-128) for my Squier J-Bass. I will buy a new nut to replace the original one. I'll then check to see how much the local guitar shops will charge to have them restring and adjust the J-Bass for B-E-A-D.

Otherwise, I'll try it myself, by widening notches in the nut slightly until the string sits against the bottom surface of the notch, leaving the height between the bottom of the notch and the fret board the same, then adjusting the truss rod if necessary, adjusting the action, and intonating.

The info in this forum has been very helpful.

View attachment 3840481

before I finish reading your post I was hoping that you’ll be using the ssfor the BEAD tuning... anyone successfully BEAS tune their ss ?

 

[Kijekuyo]

before I finish reading your post I was hoping that you’ll be using the ssfor the BEAD tuning... anyone successfully BEAS tune their ss ?

If I hadn't bought the J-Bass first, I would have bought two Jag SSs and B-E-A-Ded one of them. I have read it works great except for the more availability of short scale strings. That restricts the choices of size and type of winding. It was even rather difficult for me to get the 34" strings for my J-Bass with the gauge I wanted in flatwounds. Ideally, I would have my red SS as the E-A-D-G and a black SS with red tort pickguard for the B-E-A-D. But then my J-Bass--a beautiful instrument that deserves to be played--would be lonely.

 

[P Cheen]

Hello guys,
Planning to convert my Fender PJ to BEAD with a .130 gauge B string, and I can’t find definitive answers but will that gauge string fit through my Fender Hi-Mass bridge? Or should I go get aftermarket ones like a BadAss II or Hipshot? I just don’t want to drill any holes.

Thanks!

 

[Paragon3]

Hello guys,
Planning to convert my Fender PJ to BEAD with a .130 gauge B string, and I can’t find definitive answers but will that gauge string fit through my Fender Hi-Mass bridge? Or should I go get aftermarket ones like a BadAss II or Hipshot? I just don’t want to drill any holes.

Thanks!

That's terrible reasoning drill the hole. As it were I replaced with a Badass and still had to with a 135 so... Drill it.

 

[Bassist59]

I wish people would quit the halfarsed measures to file a nut slot, a set of files costs as much as having a nut replaced by a GC “luthier”, and can then be used on multiple instruments.

do it right the first time with the right tools

here’s my BEAD bass

View attachment 3840927

I like the bass. I’m assuming that’s maybe a Warwick or Dean V body with a Fender fretless neck?

I am about to modify a bass for BEAD. Coincidentally, it’s a V shape, as well. Where did you get your nut files, Stew Mac?

 

[Paragon3]

I like the bass. I’m assuming that’s maybe a Warwick or Dean V body with a Fender fretless neck?

I am about to modify a bass for BEAD. Coincidentally, it’s a V shape, as well. Where did you get your nut files, Stew Mac?

Perhaps it's not my place to respond but I use a triangle file and a tapered round file for every nut I make or adjust. The round file just for bass strings mostly. Amazon.. Local store.. If I had only one.. The triangle file.

https://www.amazon.ca/Needle-Highest-Quality-Hardened-Strength/dp/B07KFZSLQ9

Similar set to what I've been using for a few years