BEAD tuning on a 4-string

[ficelles]

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

[chrismuzz]

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

[Wil]

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

[Blademan_98]

I was just going to confirm that the 1915 Rickenbacker Stingray is perfect for the job but you pulled the post

[ficelles]

[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

[Blademan_98]

[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

[Jondeeman]

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.

[Bottle]

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

[LiamPodmore]

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

[bartelby]

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

[smb]

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.

[alyctes]

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

[ficelles]

[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

[paul_5]

[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?

[matski]

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...

[ficelles]

[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

[ficelles]

[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

[Vibrating G String]

[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