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The Modified BEAD 4 String Bass Club

I'd like to join the club. I've been learning a bunch of songs for a new project and been struggling with changing tunings with everything being in different keys, mostly tuned to Eb or D. Never got along with a 5 string but I've tried this tuning before a few times over the years. I set up both my 4 strings with the bottom 4 of a Rotosound 66 set and I don't think I'm going back, everything just feels right and makes sense. I really love how it encourages you to stay low and not overplay with octaves and being excessive on the higher strings. Plus I don't have to re learn the notes up and down each string like you have to do with DGCF tuning which I tried a few times. It's called BASS for a reason

I am interested if anyone knows of a good neck through, 35" scale 4 string to see how far you can take this concept.
Thanks

35” scale neck through? Here ya go! It even comes from the factory tuned BEAD with Ernie Ball Slinkies 65-130!

Stiletto-4 Stealth Pro EX
 
I'd like to join the club. I've been learning a bunch of songs for a new project and been struggling with changing tunings with everything being in different keys, mostly tuned to Eb or D. Never got along with a 5 string but I've tried this tuning before a few times over the years. I set up both my 4 strings with the bottom 4 of a Rotosound 66 set and I don't think I'm going back, everything just feels right and makes sense. I really love how it encourages you to stay low and not overplay with octaves and being excessive on the higher strings. Plus I don't have to re learn the notes up and down each string like you have to do with DGCF tuning which I tried a few times. It's called BASS for a reason

I am interested if anyone knows of a good neck through, 35" scale 4 string to see how far you can take this concept.
Thanks
View attachment 5313109


Welcome a new Club number! :woot:

#100 @poochiecheeks

Yes, pooch, it makes sense to me! :thumbsup:

I'll be monitoring to add more members as they post here. If I skipped anyone, please let me know. There's still a few numbers left for even more members! :smug:

And, you can find the entire BEAD Membership list on the BEAD Club Wiki page. :thumbsup:
.
 
Hello everyone! Trying to tune a 34" 4-string to BEAD for the first time. I'm trying to find the thinnest/most flexible strings that still sound good. Not trying to hurt my hands on stiff strings again. I was recommended DR DDT 55-115. What do you all think?
 
Hey Sorbet,

I've been playing BEAD for a couple months thru practices and Sunday mornings. I used the same strings with a little tweak to relax the neck to help with fret buzz. Makes playing real high on the neck a bit much... But I play Bass! Not guitar. ;)

Strings are DR rounds for short scale. Bass is an Ibanez GSRM (28.5" scale)

-james
 
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Hello everyone! Trying to tune a 34" 4-string to BEAD for the first time. I'm trying to find the thinnest/most flexible strings that still sound good. Not trying to hurt my hands on stiff strings again. I was recommended DR DDT 55-115. What do you all think?

The lightest strings that have worked well for me are 120,100,80,60 (5 string light set....discarding the G). These don't require re-filing the nut of a std 4 banger. I would not recommend using any strings that aren't made to be tuned BEAD at whatever scale bass your playing. That's like using the wrong type of screwdriver and expecting a satisfactory result= a recipe for disappointment.
 
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Hello everyone! Trying to tune a 34" 4-string to BEAD for the first time. I'm trying to find the thinnest/most flexible strings that still sound good. Not trying to hurt my hands on stiff strings again. I was recommended DR DDT 55-115. What do you all think?


Welcome a new Club number! :woot:

#101 @Sorbet

I dunno 'bout thinnest strings. I always wanted thick strings, especially for my short-scale! :thumbsup:

I'll be monitoring to add more members as they post here. If I skipped anyone, please let me know. There's still a few numbers left for even more members! :smug:

And, you can find the entire BEAD Membership list on the BEAD Club Wiki page. :thumbsup:
.
 
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Hello everyone! Trying to tune a 34" 4-string to BEAD for the first time. I'm trying to find the thinnest/most flexible strings that still sound good. Not trying to hurt my hands on stiff strings again. I was recommended DR DDT 55-115. What do you all think?

Hey Sorbet,

I've been playing BEAD for a couple months thru practices and Sunday mornings. I used the same strings with a little tweak to relax the neck to help with fret buzz. Makes playing real high on the neck a bit much... But I play Bass! Not guitar. ;)

Strings are DR rounds for short scale. Bass is an Ibanez GSRM (28.5" scale)

-james

DR Hi-Beams 'Short Scale' 45-105, Bright Stainless Steel / Round Core

https://www.amazon.com/DR-Strings-S...1706242501&sprefix=dr+short+sc,aps,152&sr=8-7

Just my normal plain Jane strings for EADG tuned down to BEAD.
 
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I posted a short write up about my experience with La Bella 0760M-B strings and BEAD tuning here. https://www.talkbass.com/threads/la-bella-original-1954-760m-for-bead-tuning.1300112/page-2
Probably would have been better posting in this 'all things BEAD' club thread, seeing as I mentioned a fair while back I was waiting on the Jamersons to to use for BEAD.
Anyhow, I have the Jamersons on a parts bass put together using an Yamaha RBX200 body and a Harley Benton SB-20 SBK neck, which I've obviously modded ie de-blacked, headstock reshape and 19 frets.
As mentioned in the link to dead threadville, I'm using the 128T 095 073 052 for tunings from DGCF down to BEAD. I'd prefer the 128T to be a little bigger gauge for B, but it works well for C# and the D in DGCF well. I like that these strings are stiff, as dowtuned, they retain firmness , but are easily bendable, without flubb. Well the 128T has a mild case of flubb as B, but liveable.
Modding nuts I have been using drill bits. Sizes
1.5mm /.059"
2 mm .075"
2.5mm .100"
3.5mm .132"
Works well.
On this bass, I haven't had to enlarge the E hole on the bridge for the B string.
I'm straight to output with a 068uf cap in parallel on this bass. Very thumpy lows. Deep.
Much to like . Note saddle position of 128T fwd of the other saddles for intonation. I presume this is related to the taper.
IMG20240125110508.jpg
IMG20240125110424.jpg
IMG20240125110443.jpg
 
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I posted a short write up about my experience with La Bella 0760M-B strings and BEAD tuning here. your Bead 4 String Bass Wiki page
Probably would have been better posting in this 'all things BEAD' club thread, seeing as I mentioned a fair while back I was waiting on the Jamersons to to use for BEAD.
Anyhow, I have the Jamersons on a parts bass put together using an Yamaha RBX200 body and a Harley Benton SB-20 SBK neck, which I've obviously modded ie de-blacked, headstock reshape and 19 frets.
As mentioned in the link to dead threadville, I'm using the 128T 095 073 052 for tunings from DGCF down to BEAD. I'd prefer the 128T to be a little bigger gauge for B, but it works well for C# and the D in DGCF well. I like that these strings are stiff, as dowtuned, they retain firmness , but are easily bendable, without flubb. Well the 128T has a mild case of flubb as B, but liveable.
Modding nuts I have been using drill bits. Sizes
1.5mm /.059"
2 mm .075"
2.5mm .100"
3.5mm .132"
Works well.
On this bass, I haven't had to enlarge the E hole on the bridge for the B string.
I'm straight to output with a 068uf cap in parallel on this bass. Very thumpy lows. Deep.
Much to like . Note saddle position of 128T fwd of the other saddles for intonation. I presume this is related to the taper.View attachment 5331881View attachment 5331884 View attachment 5331882


Thanks for sharing that, Prodi! I've added links to the top of the thread you revived, and your postings, on How-To in the https://www.talkbass.com/threads/la-bella-original-1954-760m-for-bead-tuning.1300112/page-2 section. Please review and let me know if any additions or corrections are needed. ;)
.
 
Regarding use of drill bits for nut slot mods, I have tried a few approaches with them. I found just wrapping fine wet & dry (1000 grit) sandpaper around the chuck end of the bits was problematic because it was hard to prevent the sandpaper from deforming. I eventually just cut a small rectangle of paper, wide enough to just wrap halfway around the chuck end and as long as the chuck end and glue it on.
Works well. I then thought I would skip that and just rough up the chuck end of the drill with some rough sandpaper. That works ok too but is slower than with the glued on sand paper
 
On the Jamerson 128T and BEAD, I find only the pitches from F1 and upwards have any definition and sound ok on this bass at least. I think it's just a case that the gauge should be greater. I've found a Chrome 132 on the same bass as B has a fair bit of lack of clarity until D1, when things come alive. Tuning up to C# with the 128, clarity kicks in on the 2nd fret, which is good if playing stuff in Eb. Tuned up to D, the open, and all subsequent fretted pitches are pretty clear
 
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Hey all, I recently picked up this LTD B-50 and restrung it to BEAD. Somehow it's perfectly intonated without me doing anything!
View attachment 5332120


Welcome a new Club number! :woot:

#102 @Ryan X Decent

Hmmm ... Makes me wonder what the intonation was like before the restringing? :whistle:

I'll be monitoring to add more members as they post here. If I skipped anyone, please let me know. There's still a few numbers left for even more members! :smug:

And, you can find the entire BEAD Membership list on the BEAD Club Wiki page. :thumbsup:
.
 
Regarding use of drill bits for nut slot mods, I have tried a few approaches with them. I found just wrapping fine wet & dry (1000 grit) sandpaper around the chuck end of the bits was problematic because it was hard to prevent the sandpaper from deforming. I eventually just cut a small rectangle of paper, wide enough to just wrap halfway around the chuck end and as long as the chuck end and glue it on.
Works well. I then thought I would skip that and just rough up the chuck end of the drill with some rough sandpaper. That works ok too but is slower than with the glued on sand paper
I just scrape them out with old rounds. Which is also slow but which in turn makes it easier to stop myself removing to much material. Only done it to plastic nuts.

No idea if everyone does this or it's something worth sharing
 
I decided that I wanted a lightweight option for my church bass since they tend to appreciate a B string on a lot of songs. So I made my Meteora BEAD. The thing almost sounds like it was made for it. I’m impressed. Standard gauge strings, so the nut was modified along with the usual adjustments.


IMG_3887.jpeg
 
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I just scrape them out with old rounds. Which is also slow but which in turn makes it easier to stop myself removing to much material. Only done it to plastic nuts.

No idea if everyone does this or it's something worth sharing
It's a method used for sure. Haven't used it myself, coz I have never had any rounds big enough to do the slot for B, so I just use the drills to kind of standardize I guess, ie not using a mix of round gauge strings to do the slots for EAD ( if neccessary) but then having to use something else for the hefty B. I might get a round wound cheap single with an appropriate gauge to match the flatwound B use. Than give this method a go at some point.
 
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It's a method used for sure. Haven't used it myself, coz I have never had any rounds big enough to do the slot for B, so I just use the drills to kind of standardize I guess, ie not using a mix of round gauge strings to do the slots for EAD ( if neccessary) but then having to use something else for the hefty B. I might get a round wound cheap single with an appropriate gauge to match the flatwound B use. Than give this method a go at some point.
I had a couple of 5s before I tried BEAD, so I had some lying around. Don't know why I like four bangers so much but I just felt the need for low notes on a four. More fun standing up for a long time, for one thing. Note choice is a more conscious thing for another.
 
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