Chienmortbb Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 I am thinking of going BEAD on of my basses. Does anyone make a set of strings for that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lownote Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Just buy a 5 string set and ditch the G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted October 2, 2019 Author Share Posted October 2, 2019 Should have switched on brain before posting. . 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 (edited) - Edited March 4, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 DR DDT also do a four string set of 125-65 in their DDT line. However, it is probably cheaper to buy a five string set and ditch the G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaybeevee Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Is this as do-able as it sounds? I assume nut adjustment but will regular 4 string take the tension ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 14 minutes ago, jbu09 said: Is this as do-able as it sounds? I assume nut adjustment but will regular 4 string take the tension ok? There's next to no difference in tension, the nut slot widths needing to be changed is the main issue. They don't tend to sound the same as a 5 due (I assume) to the lack of extra wood. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chienmortbb Posted October 3, 2019 Author Share Posted October 3, 2019 I am not bothered to much by the tome change. Of course the bigger neon will affect tone ( the neck has more effect on the tone than the body in my opinion). However it is just BEAD tuning as my guitarist wants to tune down. The more I think about it, the more a 5 appeals. I almost bought am Ibanez 5 a few weeks ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christhammer666 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Ive done this a few times and i used a 110-50 set. Depends on what style of music your playing as well. I was playing a lot of groove metal type stuff so liked a lot of give in the tension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 Checkout Newtone strings, literally build yourself a set, will still cost no more than the premium string brands these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 3 hours ago, jbu09 said: Is this as do-able as it sounds? I assume nut adjustment but will regular 4 string take the tension ok? 3 hours ago, BreadBin said: There's next to no difference in tension, the nut slot widths needing to be changed is the main issue. They don't tend to sound the same as a 5 due (I assume) to the lack of extra wood. Actually there is a reduction in tension. The G string on a bass tends to have the second highest tension (after the D) and the B will have by far the lowest tension, so if you do need to make any truss rod adjustments you will need to slacken it off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 You don't need to use the same tuning as the guitarist. My main concern would be needing to adjust the nut; then needing to replace the nut to revert to EADG. I use DADG quite a lot, if I need to hit that low D or Eb. I'd not really bother with anything lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 3, 2019 Share Posted October 3, 2019 If you do it right you don’t need a different nut to switch between BEAD and EADG, unless you’re using unusual string gauges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbyrne Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 ^^^^^This. G. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jus Lukin Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 (edited) - Edited March 4, 2022 by Jus Lukin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 21 hours ago, jbu09 said: Is this as do-able as it sounds? I assume nut adjustment but will regular 4 string take the tension ok? Tension is actually typically lower for BEAD and EADG, so theneck will be fine but you might need to loosen up the truss rod to get more relief as the strings will pull less and you may get some fret buzz otherwise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 59 minutes ago, Jus Lukin said: That's not a lot of help unless you share how one is to do it right! Just obvious stuff really, only remove material that you need to for the B to sit right. Remove more than necessary and it’ll work fine for the B but may be too loose for thinner strings. Baby steps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Kev said: Just obvious stuff really, only remove material that you need to for the B to sit right. Remove more than necessary and it’ll work fine for the B but may be too loose for thinner strings. Baby steps. Quite, do it a bit at a time as you can't put material back. It's also worth noting that if you fully tension the string in too narrow a slot then the nut may crack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thodrik Posted October 4, 2019 Share Posted October 4, 2019 Also some stock nuts are cut wider than you would perhaps think, so definitely check before modding anything. I have managed to install a 120 string into a standard E slot of my Sadowsky Metro without needing to alter it. Any bigger than that though I would need to do some work. With my old 70s Precision, the original nut is so worn I am pretty sure I could fit a 145 string in the E string slot without any mods whatsoever (on account that the nut is essentially worn out, as is the rest of the bass). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groatsworth Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 When I went BEAD I used really light strings - I was worried about damaging the neck with a big change in tension. As others have said, light is NOT the way to go. Ended up far too floppy - although I did kind of enjoy the metallic thwak for Ryan Martine impressions. The advantage of light strings is not needing to file the nut or mess with the saddles. Maybe worth trying if you're just experimenting and plan to swap back again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-Dog Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 I don't know how you can really go BEAD without a truly B-gauge string. I like a good stiff tension on my B-string for when I'm really digging in with a pick, so that requires a very thick string. Otherwise, it's like trying to lay a spaghetti noodle. I tried the BEAD Experiment for a year, or so, on just one bass before doing it on, now, all three of my main players. I never missed the G-string one bit. And it made switching keys for different singers a breeze! OTOH, maybe my hearing has become tuned more toward the lower frequencies. My wife thinks I'm going deaf. At least, I think that's what she's saying. 😀 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_c2 Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 17 minutes ago, G-Dog said: My wife thinks I'm going deaf. Don't underestimate how valuable that is. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paulhauser Posted October 5, 2019 Share Posted October 5, 2019 Strings: my experience is as some said above: buy a 5 string set and use the BEAD strings out of it. You'll have a lot more variety in terms of gauges and brands/materials as 4 string BEAD sets are few and would not cost less than an average 5 string set. Setup: I have a few 4 string basses turned to BEAD and in all cases some of the nut slots needed to be worked on but apart form that nothing more complicated than a normal setup. The only thing to watch out is some bridges will also have a problem with thich gauge strings (those in which you need to get the strings through) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr4stringz Posted October 6, 2019 Share Posted October 6, 2019 I’m permanently on BEAD on my P and have been for 15 years or more. Never miss the G tbh, but I’ve got it on my others if I need one... Ernie Ball Beefy Slinkys in answer to the question. 65-130 they are, I think. I’d never used them before getting a free restring at GuitarGuitar recently (always used Rotos), but they’re ace. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted November 8, 2019 Share Posted November 8, 2019 I have a set of unused DR DDT 55 / 75 / 95 / 115 strings for sale if it's of any interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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