Recommend me a solid 4 string BEAD option

[HazBeen]

Asking this for a good mate of mine. He is a solid 4 string player (without wanting to go 5) but needs a B string for a new project so asked me for some advice on best options for a 4 string BEAD.

Just want to throw the question to the community as I am sure it will yield results and I am not particularly well versed on the 4 string BEAD option (I have fivers when I need a B).

His budget is around the 800 quid mark, he does not need it to be new, but it does put him outside of the Dingwall NG2 4 string arena.

Any "proven in real world" suggestions that I can pass on?

Cheers!

[miles'tone]

I had a P bass tuned to BEAD. Played and sounded excellent. Ernie Ball Slinky singles:

.135 .100 .075 .055 for a well balanced set.

[Cuzzie]

Done it on G&L’s and Sandbergs all fine.

I actually tuned my Hohner B2 to C and it handled it beautifully, that is an inexpensive quality option, Hell you could get a fiver for less than half the budget

[therealting]

Most decent four strings will handle BEAD fine with appropriate gauge strings and a good setup. The most critical thing is to have the nut re-cut correctly. 

Edited January 4, 2019 by therealting

[stingrayPete1977]

I joined a project like this, a year later I'd sold every four string I owned 

[ead]

20 minutes ago, therealting said:

Most decent four strings will handle BEAD fine with appropriate gauge strings and a good setup. The most critical thing is to have the nut re-cut correctly. 

This, for me at any rate.

[T-Bay]

I have a Precision with Jazz neck strung BEAD, never had an issue.

[HazBeen]

49 minutes ago, therealting said:

Most decent four strings will handle BEAD fine with appropriate gauge strings and a good setup. The most critical thing is to have the nut re-cut correctly. 

I’d help him with that anyway.... he is pretty useless with setting stuff up and I have made nuts from scratch.

Any 35” scale 4s worth mentioning? I am pretty sure Yamaha did one.

To be frank I don’t get why he doesn’t buy a 5er......

 

 

[therealting]

5 minutes ago, HazBeen said:

I’d help him with that anyway.... he is pretty useless with setting stuff up and I have made nuts from scratch.

Any 35” scale 4s worth mentioning? I am pretty sure Yamaha did one.

To be frank I don’t get why he doesn’t buy a 5er......

 

 

The TRB1004 is 35”.

https://www.dv247.com/en_GB/GBP/Yamaha-TRB-1004-J-Black-/art-BAS0005365-000

I too would suggest a fiver, but some people are afraid of change 😊

[josie]

I've just re-strung my Jazz Aerodyne BEAD (with D'Addario mediums), and everything - the nut, the action, the tension - were perfect without any adjustment. 

[danny-79]

I set one of my stingrays up every now and again BEAD with out too much hassle. Just need to make sure the heavier strings are sitting snug in the nut slots then set intonation/neck relief accordingly job done. 

[itu]

Jabanez BTB has 35" scale, 4/5/6/7 strings.

[Crawford13]

Peavey Cirrus has a 35” scale and they are brilliant basses. Even the BXP’s which were made in Indonesia would be a good shout. Would get a BXP for about £200, he would probably be able to find an America full fat Cirrus for his £800.