I use my BEAD on the country covers that are not too busy on bass lines and I especially love the low B. It is funny to watch my rhythm guitarist think he's playing the wrong chords when he sees my hand placement on the fretboard. Cheers!
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Well, I don't only use BEAD, but usually. It's only my 3 favorite basses I have strung that way. But I occasionally use others that aren't.
Contemporary country covers, with traditional country covers sprinkled in. '50s, '60s, '70s & 80s pop & rock covers. And bluegrass and old school country, with the infrequent original thrown in.
It wasn't until I got my Variax 5-string that I discovered how much that low B string resonated with me! 
Of couse, I eventually got tired of the neck width and the extra weight of the 5-string. Then I also noticed how infrequently I used the G string.
So, as an experiment, I restrung my CIJ Jaguar Bass to BEAD and tried it in several genres with an EADG for backup, just in case. After a few years of great success with the Jag, I took a bold step and BEADed my #1 P-Bass Special!
It wasn't like there was no going back, I could do so at any time. Now, since BEADing my previous #3 Starcaster short scale, it has become my new #1 and I hardly ever want to go back!! (I still have, and play, several EADG backups.)
Of couse, I eventually got tired of the neck width and the extra weight of the 5-string. Then I also noticed how infrequently I used the G string. So, as an experiment, I restrung my CIJ Jaguar Bass to BEAD and tried it in several genres with an EADG for backup, just in case. After a few years of great success with the Jag, I took a bold step and BEADed my #1 P-Bass Special!
It wasn't like there was no going back, I could do so at any time. Now, since BEADing my previous #3 Starcaster short scale, it has become my new #1 and I hardly ever want to go back!! (I still have, and play, several EADG backups.)
IKR?! I've had a few players, who I guess can't hear low freqs, ask what notes I'm playing 'cause they wrongly assume I'm using an EADG. 
And, at one recurring old scool country jam group, I've offered my BEAD to another guitarist/bassist for us to switch off. They said, "No way! I been watching you and you ain't tuned right!!" No explanation I gave would change their mind!!! 
(And they strictly play fifths, no walk-ups or anything "fancy".)
. And, at one recurring old scool country jam group, I've offered my BEAD to another guitarist/bassist for us to switch off. They said, "No way! I been watching you and you ain't tuned right!!" No explanation I gave would change their mind!!! (And they strictly play fifths, no walk-ups or anything "fancy".)
Well, I don't only use BEAD, but usually. It's only my 3 favorite basses I have strung that way. But I occasionally use others that aren't.
Contemporary country covers, with traditional country covers sprinkled in. '50s, '60s, '70s & 80s pop & rock covers. And bluegrass and old school country, with the infrequent original thrown in.
It wasn't until I got my Variax 5-string that I discovered how much that low B string resonated with me!
So, as an experiment, I restrung my CIJ Jaguar Bass to BEAD and tried it in several genres with an EADG for backup, just in case. After a few years of great success with the Jag, I took a bold step and BEADed my #1 P-Bass Special!
IKR?! I've had a few players, who I guess can't hear low freqs, ask what notes I'm playing 'cause they wrongly assume I'm using an EADG..
Thanks for your answer
This is my custom Maruszczyk that I had built to be built to be in BEAD from day 1. it is 35-inch scale.
B: 0.130
E: 0.115
A: 0.100
D: 0.075
B: 0.130
E: 0.115
A: 0.100
D: 0.075
- Feb 3, 2005
- 7,331
- 10,197
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Bergantino Audio Systems and GHS Strings
I'm not quite BEAD, but CFBbEb, so only a half step above. I play those basses in metal bands.
I will say, that I was in a cover band project that fell apart before it got off the ground due to schedule conflicts, etc. That being said, it was pop with a female singer. Very different from my original metal projects. I did find using my Dingwall tuned BEAD was great and I could honestly just about play the whole show's worth of material on it. Material was everything from Paramore to Lady Gaga to give you an idea.
I will say, that I was in a cover band project that fell apart before it got off the ground due to schedule conflicts, etc. That being said, it was pop with a female singer. Very different from my original metal projects. I did find using my Dingwall tuned BEAD was great and I could honestly just about play the whole show's worth of material on it. Material was everything from Paramore to Lady Gaga to give you an idea.
Thanks for the answer.
The reason I’m asking is because I’m trading my 5-string for a 4-string due to problems and ache with my left hand. I can only really afford one bass at the moment.
I play in a hardrock/metal band and in that band I have to have it strung B-E-A-D. That won’t be a problem in that band cause I never use the G-string there.
But I also play in a coverband playing mostly pop and rock. I haven’t really thought of it, but I think I don’t use the G-string that often in that band either. It could happen though that we might play a disco song sometimes but in that case maybe I can just play an octave lower or higher up the neck.
Anyways, thanks again
I’ve got my Schecter in BEAD tuning right now with some old 60-120 DR Dragon Skin SS rounds. I am so in love with the neck of this bass, and it gives me some great tones. I’m thinking I’ll get some Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkies (65-130 set) soon.
This tuning is really, really great.
This tuning is really, really great.
The Jackson I posted previously in this thread is now in D standard. I had then made my Thunderbird my B standard instrument once it returned from a refinish and new pickups, until the Bartolinis just begged to be played finger and slap style, and B standard hinders the latter. Now I have a BC Rich Warlock (USA bolt-on) to play this role, but for how long? Ideally, I'd have a 35" scale instrument built.
Also, I really should only consider 15" speakers for this tuning, right?
Also, I really should only consider 15" speakers for this tuning, right?
As for speakers: it all depends! I was a certified 15" snob for E standard tuning in 2014 before auditioning a 2x10" Rumble 500 combo. But, connecting my Bassman 15" neo cab to it, I could not tell any difference in tone between the 15" and the 2x10". It was shortly before that I had converted my Jaguar Bass to BEAD and the 2x10" handled it just fine! I almost couldn't believe it,! I've been in low B heavean ever since and converted two other basses to BEAD! Even the Rumble Studio 40 I got, with its 10" does my low Bs proud!
YMMV. But I no longer assume certain notes require a certain speaker suze.
.
Just changed the worn-out D'Addario XLs on the Warlock, for Ernie Ball Group I flats because I couldn't find the Rotosound SH77s. It feels about as light as the TI Jazz Flats on the Rick (which is set up in E standard), but not warm at all and oddly clanky (though that's probably because the Group flats aren't broken in yet), and the B and E are weak. I'll give it about two weeks before I take them off and then tune them to D on my Jackson. I still have the DR DDTs I took off the Thunderbird when I put it back in E.
I played my Schecter at church today. DR SS Lo-Riders 65-130. Love these strings and this tuning. I might try DR DDTs next time around.
I played a 5 string in the mid-90's for a few years. What it taught me most was that 5-string necks are too thick for what I wanted and more importantly that "B is for Bass". Since then, ~30yrs, all my 4 strings go BEAD using the EADG strings, so no need for a new nut, just the setup. The EADG strings essentially amount to light gauge BEADs for perhaps a snappier response.
A neighbor buddy recently asked me the benefit of BEAD. Having never really thought about it, I had no cohesive answer. It was just an intuitive love and I just stumbled over a bunch of half-answers. His question did get me thinking about it for the first time.
Benefits:
24 fret BEAD has the same layout as a 19 fret EADG plus five bonus notes, low or high.
Less neck travel by shifting those 1-5 frets to the 6-10 range.
Never re-tune for that one drop-D song the guitarist just looooves sooo much.
Ability to drop a B where and when no expects it
Capo on the 5 gives you a short-scale neck
Fretting the E
Gives your personal conversation with the fret board a distinct accent without speaking a different language (as one of the crazier alt tunings would yield).
More?
Drawbacks:
Lose the top 10 notes on a 24fret G string or the top 5 notes on a 19 fret.
Learning new songs requires transposing frets, sometimes on the fly
More?
---
One of the more compelling reasons to me is being able to play an E1 as a B6 when I'm already in the middle of the fret board anyway, saves so much effort. There are so many songs that make you go to that E1-5 when you are very far away from them. I think I've even heard BEAD called a cheat for that reason.
Losing those top 10 notes on the G string does hurt. I never used them much myself, but their absence is marked. I would suppose a chorus pedal could negate that loss, given creative playing.
Love Cats by The Cure is an excellent example to show benefits of BEAD vs EADG fingering.
A neighbor buddy recently asked me the benefit of BEAD. Having never really thought about it, I had no cohesive answer. It was just an intuitive love and I just stumbled over a bunch of half-answers. His question did get me thinking about it for the first time.
Benefits:
24 fret BEAD has the same layout as a 19 fret EADG plus five bonus notes, low or high.
Less neck travel by shifting those 1-5 frets to the 6-10 range.
Never re-tune for that one drop-D song the guitarist just looooves sooo much.
Ability to drop a B where and when no expects it
Capo on the 5 gives you a short-scale neck
Fretting the E
Gives your personal conversation with the fret board a distinct accent without speaking a different language (as one of the crazier alt tunings would yield).
More?
Drawbacks:
Lose the top 10 notes on a 24fret G string or the top 5 notes on a 19 fret.
Learning new songs requires transposing frets, sometimes on the fly
More?
---
One of the more compelling reasons to me is being able to play an E1 as a B6 when I'm already in the middle of the fret board anyway, saves so much effort. There are so many songs that make you go to that E1-5 when you are very far away from them. I think I've even heard BEAD called a cheat for that reason.
Losing those top 10 notes on the G string does hurt. I never used them much myself, but their absence is marked. I would suppose a chorus pedal could negate that loss, given creative playing.
Love Cats by The Cure is an excellent example to show benefits of BEAD vs EADG fingering.
PREACH, my BEADy brother!!! You have inspired me to begin constructing the BEAD 4 String Bass Wiki page of BEAD information. Today yours is the only content contribution, so far. But, rest assured, I will be mining the rich ore of this thread to collect and refined the golden nuggets I know are here.
And any of you other BEADies here are welcome to send me your suggested contributions, by private message, for addition to The BEAD Wiki. I prefer links to the original post(s) in this thread, but other suggestions will be considered. Thank you.
Lemme hear from you all!
.
As I've only been here a day, I'm certainly honored! I skimmed thru this thread before posting and didn't notice anything quite similar to what I wrote, but do figure there must be more gold (and pitfalls to note) buried in these here hills.
But as said, the few specific bene's I love about the tuning outweigh the troubles caused. Keep an EADG on hand for learning and transpose later when you've got the time and brain power to devote.
... ... Now, let's see here. ... ... Where were we ... ...
#22 @Kerladis
#23 @ffutterman
#24 @Matthew_84
#25 @kzr750r1
#26 @dorknowitzki
#27 @McFarlin
#28 @PlunkRock
#29 @IHC
#30 @Mykk
Of course, you can always find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on the BEAD Bass Club Wiki page.
.
... ... Now, let's see here. ... ... Where were we ... ...
#22 Kerladis
#23 ffutterman
#24 Matthew_84
#25 kzr750r1
#26 dorknowitzki
#27 McFarlin
#28 PlunkRock
#29 IHC
#30 Mykk
Of course, you can always find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on the BEAD Bass Club Wiki page.
.
... And furthermore ... ...
#31 @p12bassnut
#32 @castlev
#33 @eve_ripper
#34 @Doner Designs
#35 @mech
#36 @kodiakblair
#37 @jamersonburton
#38 @azwipe
#39 @DrDAV14
#40 @Jeff Elkins
And you can always find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on entire BEAD Club Membership list.
.
... ... Now, let's see here. ... ... Where were we ... ...
#22 Kerladis
#23 ffutterman
#24 Matthew_84
#25 kzr750r1
#26 dorknowitzki
#27 McFarlin
#28 PlunkRock
#29 IHC
#30 Mykk
Of course, you can always find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on the BEAD Bass Club Wiki page.
.
... And furthermore ... ...
#31 p12bassnut
#32 castlev
#33 eve_ripper
#34 Doner Designs
#35 mech
#36 kodiakblair
#37 jamersonburton
#38 azwipe
#39 DrDAV14
#40 Jeff Elkins
And you can always find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on entire BEAD Club Membership list.
.
And even more new member numbers ... ... ...
#41 @hintz
#42 @bassist4dalord
#43 @Bassball Fever
#44 @Brian D
#45 @99Z3
#46 @elg3
#47 @Finnigan's wake
#48 @tbx59
#49 @ewgrosschris
#50 @gfen
And you can always find the the BEAD Bass Club Wiki page on entire BEAD Club Membership list.
.
