• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

The Modified BEAD 4 String Bass Club

Hey everyone! I'm so glad this club was recommended to me by @Prodigus Filius! I've been doing this for a few years but no other bass players seem to do it where I live so I was beginning to think I was alone. The 3 Ray 34s are BEAD and the Schecter Corsair is about to be!
Absolutely love those Rays, I'm hopefully going to get a 34 and retire the SUB to being the backup soon!

But what I really need is a rundown on that Schecter when you have it all set, color me intrigued.
 
All of my basses are in BEAD, or a half step lower than that... I recorded this bass part earlier in the week on my Greco GOB2 and I think it sounds sick!! On to vocals and mixing now

 

Attachments

  • PXL_20250127_001016440.jpg
    PXL_20250127_001016440.jpg
    4.7 MB · Views: 17
Hey everyone! I'm so glad this club was recommended to me by @Prodigus Filius! I've been doing this for a few years but no other bass players seem to do it where I live so I was beginning to think I was alone. ... ... ...

Yeah, Joe, it ain't for everyone. 🧐 Drawbacks!

... ... ... The 3 Ray 34s are BEAD and the Schecter Corsair is about to be!


Welcome a new Club number! 😁

#118 @JosephLB

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! 😉

And, you can find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on the BEAD Club Wiki page. 👍
 
Last edited:
Hi all, I would like to join the club! This is a Squier CV 60. It has Sandberg steel strings made for B tuning (60-80-100-128). It was a pleasure that I didn't have to file the nut or drill bigger hole to the bridge, I just had to put the new strings on and it was ready. I am very satisfied with its sound and playability.

View attachment 7217613

Welcome a new Club number! 😁

#119 @PaulTreff

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! 😉

And, you can find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on the BEAD Club Wiki page. 👍
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal
Hi all, I would like to join the club! This is a Squier CV 60. It has Sandberg steel strings made for B tuning (60-80-100-128). It was a pleasure that I didn't have to file the nut or drill bigger hole to the bridge, I just had to put the new strings on and it was ready. I am very satisfied with its sound and playability.

View attachment 7217613

Great looking P bass! Hope you enjoy it in BEAD as much as I have mine!

.
 
I’m a longtime 6 string player (like the small kind) that’s recently gotten really into playing bass after being off and on for a couple years. Should’ve known I was a bass player at heart when I strung all of my instruments with flats but hey hindsight is 20/20.

Anyways I’ve really fallen in love with BEAD tuning since I read about it here and set up my modified (Joe Dart-ified?) ATK300 for that extra low end. I made the switch because I wanted to learn some songs by Garbage but I’m finding lots of use for it even when the original version doesn’t go below the E as well. Originally I had it set up with the bottom 4 strings from the La Bella 760FL-B set and loved them for the thump with that ATK humbucker wired passive and in series but always had trouble with the intonation and weird overtones on the B.

Recently though I switched just the B out for a Chromes B string and wow what a difference that has made. It’s still settling in so it’s got a little more zing to it than the La Bellas but it finally plays in tune all the way up the neck and really fits with the rest of the set a lot better.

Here she is with her GSR100EX little sister tuned to EADG with all Chromes for a more growly sound when I do need that higher register (and a little easier on my back, 7 lbs 4 oz for the GSR vs 10 lbs for the sledgehammer that is the ATK)
IMG_4969.jpeg
 
I’m a longtime 6 string player (like the small kind) that’s recently gotten really into playing bass after being off and on for a couple years. Should’ve known I was a bass player at heart when I strung all of my instruments with flats but hey hindsight is 20/20.

Anyways I’ve really fallen in love with BEAD tuning since I read about it here and set up my modified (Joe Dart-ified?) ATK300 for that extra low end. I made the switch because I wanted to learn some songs by Garbage but I’m finding lots of use for it even when the original version doesn’t go below the E as well. Originally I had it set up with the bottom 4 strings from the La Bella 760FL-B set and loved them for the thump with that ATK humbucker wired passive and in series but always had trouble with the intonation and weird overtones on the B.

Recently though I switched just the B out for a Chromes B string and wow what a difference that has made. It’s still settling in so it’s got a little more zing to it than the La Bellas but it finally plays in tune all the way up the neck and really fits with the rest of the set a lot better.

Here she is with her GSR100EX little sister tuned to EADG with all Chromes for a more growly sound when I do need that higher register (and a little easier on my back, 7 lbs 4 oz for the GSR vs 10 lbs for the sledgehammer that is the ATK)View attachment 7217863
Very cool. Those lower notes really are useful!
And welcome to TalkBass and the BEAD Club.
 
  • Like
Reactions: joeLowB and AliceS
I’m a longtime 6 string player (like the small kind) that’s recently gotten really into playing bass after being off and on for a couple years. Should’ve known I was a bass player at heart when I strung all of my instruments with flats but hey hindsight is 20/20.

Anyways I’ve really fallen in love with BEAD tuning since I read about it here and set up my modified (Joe Dart-ified?) ATK300 for that extra low end. I made the switch because I wanted to learn some songs by Garbage but I’m finding lots of use for it even when the original version doesn’t go below the E as well. Originally I had it set up with the bottom 4 strings from the La Bella 760FL-B set and loved them for the thump with that ATK humbucker wired passive and in series but always had trouble with the intonation and weird overtones on the B.

Recently though I switched just the B out for a Chromes B string and wow what a difference that has made. It’s still settling in so it’s got a little more zing to it than the La Bellas but it finally plays in tune all the way up the neck and really fits with the rest of the set a lot better.

Here she is with her GSR100EX little sister tuned to EADG with all Chromes for a more growly sound when I do need that higher register (and a little easier on my back, 7 lbs 4 oz for the GSR vs 10 lbs for the sledgehammer that is the ATK)View attachment 7217863

Welcome a new Club number! 😁

#120 we @AliceS

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! 😉

And, you can find the entire BEAD Club Membership list on the BEAD Club Wiki page. 👍
 
  • Like
Reactions: AliceS
I remember trying this a few years back on some bass that I can't remember what it was, additionally I can't remember what about BEAD I didn't like that I didn't stick with it...

I just sold a good 5 string after picking it up and not feeling it, as I hadn't touched it in months. Rash decision? Maybe...I have been playing skinny necks a lot so maybe I was freaking out. But yesterday I somehow remembered this practice (semi eureka moment) and now I'm kinda looking for a beater to convert. There were a couple of cheapos at my local music store, a Yamaha BB300 and a Kramer PJ. Is the consensus that a J/bridge pickup helps with B string definition?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Miles_ONeal
A J pickup in the bridge certainly won’t hurt if you’re looking for clarity but my experience with the Chromes B and La Bella EAD leads me to think mixing and matching strings is also worth a shot. Then again I go more for thump than bwaahh so maybe I’m not the best to be judging B string definition (and that ATK humbucker isn’t exactly a neck pickup). If I liked rounds more or if I joined a band that called for rounds I wouldn’t hesitate to try a set of nickel wounds for the EAD and a stainless steel B

Also, I mentioned intonation issues and what worked for me in my first post but I was wondering if anyone else has found it useful to tune the B to the attack while tuning the rest of the strings to the sustain like normal. I play with a pick most of the time so that could be part of it but I find it sounding much better up the neck and on the open string (with both the La Bella and the Chromes). I find I don’t get a ton of sustain on that 34 inch scale B anyways so by the time it runs flat it’s barely audible
 
A J pickup in the bridge certainly won’t hurt if you’re looking for clarity but my experience with the Chromes B and La Bella EAD leads me to think mixing and matching strings is also worth a shot. Then again I go more for thump than bwaahh so maybe I’m not the best to be judging B string definition (and that ATK humbucker isn’t exactly a neck pickup). If I liked rounds more or if I joined a band that called for rounds I wouldn’t hesitate to try a set of nickel wounds for the EAD and a stainless steel B

Also, I mentioned intonation issues and what worked for me in my first post but I was wondering if anyone else has found it useful to tune the B to the attack while tuning the rest of the strings to the sustain like normal. I play with a pick most of the time so that could be part of it but I find it sounding much better up the neck and on the open string (with both the La Bella and the Chromes). I find I don’t get a ton of sustain on that 34 inch scale B anyways so by the time it runs flat it’s barely audible
What do you mean by tuning to attack or sustain? I've never heard of tuning to anything but specific notes/frequencies.
 
When you first hit a note it goes ever so slightly sharp, then settles into the note, then goes a tiny bit flat as it dies. Most noticeable in low tunings but all strings will do it if you hit it hard enough (you can do some fun stuff with the cowboy chords on a guitar by strumming hard and having the bottom strings go a little bit sharp for some flavour). Could be thought of like I'm tuning my EAD strings to sound right for half notes and I'm tuning my B string for eighth notes, I let the note ring out for the top three but the bottom one I'm tuning for the pitch it hits just after I pluck
 
When you first hit a note it goes ever so slightly sharp, then settles into the note, then goes a tiny bit flat as it dies. Most noticeable in low tunings but all strings will do it if you hit it hard enough (you can do some fun stuff with the cowboy chords on a guitar by strumming hard and having the bottom strings go a little bit sharp for some flavour). Could be thought of like I'm tuning my EAD strings to sound right for half notes and I'm tuning my B string for eighth notes, I let the note ring out for the top three but the bottom one I'm tuning for the pitch it hits just after I pluck
Gotcha!
 
Hooray for me day....both those basses were still at the store today, the BB300 had the reverse P config and it was cool, but the Kramer had more thunder with it's P pickup a bit closer to the neck, which I think is pretty important for a B. Plus it was $20 cheaper. I liked its control setup too which is master vol, and 1 tone for each pickup and a 3 way toggle. I might wire my Jazz bass up the same way. Schaller bridge with a big KRAMER engraved on it, what's not to love? I was wondering about these for a while, and I'm glad to report they're totally decent even in standard tuning.

I had a set of DR's lying around that went on it and all it needed was a small tweak to the truss and intonation.

IMG_20250505_172009803_HDR.jpg