Guest MoJo Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 I've just been reading a related thread on this forum but the situation I'm in is this. I have recently taken up with my old guitarist and singer and we've been working on covers by the likes of Black Stone Cherry, Audioslave, Disturbed etc where a lot of the material is in Drop D or Drop C. I've been using my BB415 to get down low, but I've always felt more comfortable on a four than a five so I'm toying with the idea of restringing a four B-E-A-D and filing out the nut grooves to suit. My question is to anyone who has done this before. Do you notice the limitation of the missing G string or do you just move everything up the neck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3V17C Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 not sure as i tend to stick to regular tuning where possible - i did notice this the other day: [url="http://www.warwickbass.com/basses/corvette_taranis.htm"]http://www.warwickbass.com/basses/corvette_taranis.htm[/url] so would seem you're not the only one doing this! if you know your way around the fretboard ok then i would imagine the missing G wouldn't be too much of a problem especially with the material you mention you'll be playing. peace c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dread Bass Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 id say dont do it. the reason you are more comfortable on a 4 is you have played a 4 longer right? just keep playing your 5 lock your 4s away it will come. i am going through the same thing jus now trying to get used to playing a 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARGH Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 (edited) Ive done it...and to be frank its totally pointless,get a 5 and work at it. The contra tuning of a 4 makes it not as versatile(therefore and read as limited) as an instrument and just highlights how much you will miss the G string,Im pretty sure your 4 will be a 34" scale so the 'B' wont sound as good as a 35" scale 5 string. Getting good at a 5 or 6 will give you more opportunities available as a musician,to cover more work,and earn more money. You wont be playing that style of music forever or always covering such tunes,and getting used to a 5 is just a good idea really. Just keep at it (Think of me in the next month copeing on a 9!!) Edited October 19, 2007 by ARGH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr pablo Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 [quote name='ARGH' post='76755' date='Oct 19 2007, 09:58 PM']Think of me in the next month copeing on a 9!![/quote] Hows the work progressing on the 9 dude? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARGH Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 (edited) [quote name='mr pablo' post='76775' date='Oct 19 2007, 10:41 PM']Hows the work progressing on the 9 dude?[/quote] SERIOUSLY need it for an audition....(Else Im going to have to use a fretless 5) The electronics (Bartolini 3 bnd eq) and the Hipshot....(did I mention the hipshot,its for the F sharp so I can go sub E....Yes THATS LOW FOLKS) Are trapped in a sorting office In Liverpool (They are still on strike) SO Jims ramming a 2 bnd hes got in as a quickie and leaving it unfinished until the bits turn up...so no coil tapping or oil finish or 3 bnd eq or drop tuning...And Somewhere on gods earth are my Gotoh machine heads in silver,we cleared them out....Pickups made as is the cover.... Heres a VERY old unfinished piccy Things have since been bevelled,routed and stuff.... Big,Hard,and clever..... Edited October 19, 2007 by ARGH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gypsymoth Posted October 19, 2007 Share Posted October 19, 2007 one of my 4's stays at BEAD, it's 24 frets so there's not much missing on the high that a good bend won't take care of. but if you got the bucks a five is nice to have too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 [url="http://www.asiandubfoundation.com/adf_home_fs.htm"]http://www.asiandubfoundation.com/adf_home_fs.htm[/url] go to articles then Dr DAS on bass- good reading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdwardHimself Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 [quote name='LukeFRC' post='76875' date='Oct 20 2007, 09:48 AM'][url="http://www.asiandubfoundation.com/adf_home_fs.htm"]http://www.asiandubfoundation.com/adf_home_fs.htm[/url] go to articles then Dr DAS on bass- good reading[/quote] we saw these guys at a music conference in london once. I guess he wasn't just having a bad joke when he said "who needs a G string anyway!?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markytbass Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 I have been tuning to D-G-C-F as the guitarist i play with tunes down a whole step as he finds it less of a strain on his vox. I know it's not really any good for drop C unless slightly heavier strings were fitted. This works of me though I've got 45-105 flats fitted and they seem to work well. The other group I occasionally play with use standard E-A-D-G so its just a case of tuning up. At the end of the day it's whatever works for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr pablo Posted October 20, 2007 Share Posted October 20, 2007 [quote name='ARGH' post='76792' date='Oct 19 2007, 11:26 PM']SERIOUSLY need it for an audition....(Else Im going to have to use a fretless 5) The electronics (Bartolini 3 bnd eq) and the Hipshot....(did I mention the hipshot,its for the F sharp so I can go sub E....Yes THATS LOW FOLKS) Are trapped in a sorting office In Liverpool (They are still on strike) SO Jims ramming a 2 bnd hes got in as a quickie and leaving it unfinished until the bits turn up...so no coil tapping or oil finish or 3 bnd eq or drop tuning...And Somewhere on gods earth are my Gotoh machine heads in silver,we cleared them out....Pickups made as is the cover.... Heres a VERY old unfinished piccy Things have since been bevelled,routed and stuff.... Big,Hard,and clever.....[/quote] Cool look forward to seing the finished article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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