BEAD 4 String Bass Wiki

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Last updated Last updated: Aug 16, 2026

Page

Contents
Why?
Benefits
Drawbacks
How-To
Club Membership
End
Welcome to The
BEAD 4 String Bass Wiki
Please PM your requests for additions or corrections to G-Dog

Why?

I went shopping and just didn't fall in love with any 5 string ...

My fingers are short and the necks just felt too wide.

Got a 5 string and discovered how much that low B string resonated with me!

I eventually got tired of the neck width and the extra weight of the 5-string.

I also noticed how infrequently I used the G string.

Trading my 5-string for a 4-string due to problems and aches ...

I can only really afford one bass at the moment.

More?

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Benefits

Puts the E & A strings at a much improved attack angle position for added punch

Keeps you low so the bottom doesn't drop out of the band like it does when you're up in the higher notes

Forces you to do what you're supposed to do, holding down the bottom

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

The open B is available as thumb rest more often than an open E in that same string position.

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)

They won't borrow your bass - "You ain't tuned right!"

More?

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Drawbacks

[Some] can't play in standard tuning any more and don't want to go to a 5-er

Lose the top 10 notes on a 24 fret G string or the top 5 notes on a 19 fret

Learning new songs [may] require transposing frets, sometimes on the fly

They won't borrow your bass - "You ain't tuned right!"

More?

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How-To

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.

I bought some files, a set of NYXL 55-125s and got to work on my beloved ... ...

Thread on using La Bella "Original 1954" 760M Strings (AKA Jamersons) for BEAD Tuning

Prodigus Filius' Detailed Experience with the Jamersons Strings

Short Addendum to Prodigus Filius' Experience

Prodigus Filius' Conclusions Regarding Tension, Feel and Sound

More?

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Club Membership

#1 FFTT

#2 Jay2U

#3 pacojas

#4 Stormchaser

#5 rydin4lifebass

#6 ExaltBass

#7 mr. black

#8 Rocken 17

#9 DannyBob

#10 gadget10k

#11 ctmullins

#12 Grissle

#13 fjadams

#14 Sartori

#15 mech

#16 DannyBob

#17 Rugarr

#18 catcauphonic

#19 Sijjvra

#20 Rebopmass

#21 BassPenquin22, formerly sfyjstgjh

#22 Kerladis

#23 ffutterman

#24 Matthew_84

#25 kzr750r1

#26 dorknowitzki

#27 McFarlin

#28 PlunkRock

#29 IHC

#30 Mykk

#31 p12bassnut

#32 castlev

#33 eve_ripper

#34 Doner Designs

#35 mech

#36 kodiakblair

#37 jamersonburton

#38 azwipe

#39 DrDAV14

#40 Jeff Elkins

#41 hintz

#42 bassist4dalord

#43 Bassball Fever

#44 Brian D

#45 99Z3

#46 elg3

#47 Finnigan's wake

#48 tbx59

#49 ewgrosschris

#50 gfen

#51 G-Dog

#52 Xandrell

#53 kurth83

#54 JIO

#55 Michael Uhler

#56 GigantorTX

#57 Seanbassplayer

#58 Mason Nagy

#59 KeithAlanK

#60 villarddefender

#62 Leftka

#63 Volker Kirstein

#64 alanolynn

#65 Chewy_B_i_T_s

#66 factory presets

#67 Kijekuyo

#68 WillyW, formerly WillyWonka

#69 Paragon3

#70 kutkut

#71 manchego_eggo

#72 Danger McLovin

#73 bass4u

#74 Solarmist

#75 Michael Pearce

#76 Scotland66

#77 Marko 1

#78 BrianVengeance

#79 6thplanet

#80 NOLA Bass

#81 Tpi

#82 roffe

#83 nattiep

#84 KaraQ

#85 DesolationBlvd

#86 torinodeathride

#87 somatose

#88 C741

#89 Josh Pelican

#90 lomo

#91 Hastur

#92 Prodigus Filius

#93 James_027

#94 Yahboy

#95 Gadgetman6754

#96 johnh89

#97 venerablecloud

#98 eddybuzzard

#99 Yahweh22

#100 poochiecheeks

#101 Sorbet

#102 Ryan X Decent

#103 Bobbysmores

#104 Britsie

#105 joeLowB

#106 Miles_O'Neal

#107 Chris_H60

#108 urkel3000

#109 prndltech

#110 coyoteboy

#111 carsonchilders

#112 Stephen DeBoard

#113 FullMoon1971

#114 nickpc

#115 DavidOfChatham

#116 Bassonder

#117 tpoez28

#118 JosephLB

#119 PaulTreff

#120 AliceS

#121 cornfarmer

#122 TaylorJ

#123 Phe

#124 rokcstar

#125 Jimmy Howe

#126 Longwheelbass

#127 Old Geezer

#128 BadHombres

#129 bobomatic

#130 davedamage

#131 emal

#132 Aric Bjorn

#133 beanondabass

#134 Brozzy

#135 peoplearegood

End
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BEAD 4 String Bass Wiki

Contents

Why? ​

Benefits ​

Drawbacks ​

How-To ​

Club Membership ​

End​

Why?

Benefits

Drawbacks

How-To

Club Membership

End