ficelles Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Anyone got a 4-string in BEAD tuning? Mykesbass kindly recycled a set of Hot Wires in my direction and it turned out to be a 5-string set, with no 5-string these days kinda tempted to do the BEAD thing on my Jazz defret but of course it means re-cutting the nut. If anyone can relate good/bad experiences with trying this it would be useful before I get the chainsaw out... ficelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I tuned a cheap 4 string to CFBbEb for a while, it was only a standard 34" scale one too. No problems whatsoever apart from obviously needing a setup. I didn't even have to tamper with the nut thankfully! You shouldn't run into any problems especially not if you're using a REAL bass guitar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 No problems at all. you'll need to adjust the intonation and most likely the neck relief too. Its great having the low b on a comfy 4 string neck, especially if like me you rarely use the g string Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I was just going to confirm that the 1915 Rickenbacker Stingray is perfect for the job but you pulled the post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ficelles Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 [quote name='Blademan_98' post='1285858' date='Jun 28 2011, 10:56 PM']I was just going to confirm that the 1915 Rickenbacker Stingray is perfect for the job but you pulled the post [/quote] Yeah I had a sudden vision of a stick going into a hornet's nest ficelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blademan_98 Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 [quote name='ficelles' post='1285863' date='Jun 28 2011, 11:01 PM']Yeah I had a sudden vision of a stick going into a hornet's nest ficelles[/quote] Probably for the best lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jondeeman Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Good luck with trying it out. It didn't work for me. I have a Hipshot Drop D on my Jazz, and play 5 string - no problems with either. I tried to do the BEAD thing on a 34" and really found it difficult to work with. The bass was okay to play (but not great). I just couldn't get my head around having a B on a 4 string, and I won't go there again! It makes no sense, there is no reason... it just felt sooo wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bottle Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Have tried it on my Squier Precision Special, used a five-string set for the bottom four strings, all downtuned a whole step to ADGC. A quick nut file and trussrod tweak and I got in business. Needs some welly from your amplification, but seems to work well. This may all change soon if I go ahead and defret it. HTH, Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I had to do it on my Ibanez when Fender took 8 weeks to replace my Jazz V, i had to give it a setup, didnt have to file the nut down as the .125 B i was using just fit and it worked fine for me. Made some songs a little awkward not having the G string though. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartelby Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 (edited) My Squier JV P used to be tuned BEAD, before I got a 5 string. I didn't have to adjust anything. Played and sounded fine. Edited June 29, 2011 by bartelby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smb Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I usually keep my 5er tuned up to C and my 4s down to C as well. I'd be lost without the extra low notes. I have tried B (well I've gone down as low as G) but C suits me and the stuff I play just fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I tried this on a junker BB450 I've now disposed of, using an EADG set of strings. The low B was a bit flabby, but I would have bet that using a proper set of strings would have sorted that out. OTOH, I wouldn't necessarily do my first experiment on your nice Jazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ficelles Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 [quote name='alyctes' post='1286342' date='Jun 29 2011, 12:57 PM']OTOH, I wouldn't necessarily do my first experiment on your nice Jazz [/quote] Sound advice methinks Sat looking at the nut earlier and thought do I really want to start filing bits off it? So I guess there's a 5-string flatwound set for recycle... ficelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 [quote name='ficelles' post='1286799' date='Jun 29 2011, 06:51 PM']Sound advice methinks Sat looking at the nut earlier and thought do I really want to start filing bits off it? So I guess there's a 5-string flatwound set for recycle... ficelles[/quote] Ooh, can I have first dibs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matski Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 I was playing in a band where I needed to use a 5 string tuned in the usual way (BEADG) and also detuned to ADAD - but I only had one 5 string so just used the BEAD strings on a regular StingRay 4 stringer. As I have a brass nut on the SR4 I just let the strings sit on top of the nut grooves. The action was a bit high, but not playable. Why don't you try that, just to see what it's like? Maybe it will be fine... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ficelles Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 [quote name='paul_5' post='1286808' date='Jun 29 2011, 06:54 PM']Ooh, can I have first dibs?[/quote] Yours, but really courtesy of Mykesbass rather than moi as he recycled them in my direction... PM me your address and I'll post them off to you. ficelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ficelles Posted June 29, 2011 Author Share Posted June 29, 2011 [quote name='matski' post='1286819' date='Jun 29 2011, 07:05 PM']I was playing in a band where I needed to use a 5 string tuned in the usual way (BEADG) and also detuned to ADAD - but I only had one 5 string so just used the BEAD strings on a regular StingRay 4 stringer. As I have a brass nut on the SR4 I just let the strings sit on top of the nut grooves. The action was a bit high, but not playable. Why don't you try that, just to see what it's like? Maybe it will be fine...[/quote] I think I've decided a CRM5 is the way forward ficelles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vibrating G String Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 [quote name='ficelles' post='1285815' date='Jun 28 2011, 02:26 PM']Anyone got a 4-string in BEAD tuning?[/quote] Apparently Anthony Jackson was doing this on his Jazz in the early 1970's. Lot's of false rumors about massive tension differences, ignore those Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.