Author Topic: A four string five string (Read 186 times)

jbybj · « **on:** January 12, 2007, 07:31:33 PM »

Has anyone ever strung up a four string bass with BEAD? I just acquired some Dean Markley Blue Steel strings in a set of 5, and I was curious to see how the lower four will play on my fretless Wishbass. I know I can go ahead and try regardless, but I was wondering if there is any experience out there. Thanks, James

dannobasso · « **Reply #1 on:** January 12, 2007, 07:48:58 PM »

I've done it with an 83 Spoiler 4 and a Thunderbird. It works fine if you can get your neck adjustments down. There may be some saddle and nut issues. i say go for it.

bob · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2007, 09:07:17 PM »

I've only done it on a Carvin, but it was great. You shouldn't see much difference in overall tension (maybe just a slight tweak on the truss rod), but as danno says, you will need larger grooves in the nut, and probably the bridge saddles.

The catch is that it's a little harder to go back... the saddles would probably be fine, but you would almost certainly want tighter nut slots.

jazzyvee · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2007, 01:28:04 AM »

I thought of doing that to my Musicman Sterling when I got my SC because at the time I didn't have a 5 string bass and was doing quite a bit of RnB. Detuning the E on a short scale bass made the string a bit too floppy and I wasn't happy with the note clarity either.

I read somewhere also that Clarkee & Marcus have gone down the route you are looking at as well. So you are in good company.

Let me know how you get on, I may yet still have a go.
Jazzyvee

jazzyvee · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2007, 01:35:45 AM »

I thought of doing that to my Musicman Sterling when I got my SC because at the time I didn't have a 5 string bass and was doing quite a bit of RnB. Detuning the E on a short scale bass made the string a bit too floppy and I wasn't happy with the note clarity either.

I read somewhere also that Clarkee & Marcus have gone down the route you are looking at as well. So you are in good company.

Let me know how you get on, I may yet still have a go.
Jazzyvee

FC Bass · « **Reply #5 on:** January 13, 2007, 06:26:32 AM »

I've strung my '87 Spoiler that way. The only issue I have is the intonation of the B string (tuned down to A on my bass, it's tuned ADGC). The saddle is against the back of the bridge and for perfect intonation needs to be a little bit further back. Also the action needed to be a bit higher to prevent fret buzzing.
There's no need for me to customize the bridge since I only play low notes on that string. Works fine for me!

inthelows · « **Reply #6 on:** January 13, 2007, 06:12:58 PM »

I've done this also. Labella's slappers lows with the 'B' so massive (128) I had to raise the action up. No Problems so far Intonation was tweaked just a tad flat on the spoiler 'B' string.
I haven't decided if I'm leaving it this way or not. I should just get another 5 string.
NLP

bsee · « **Reply #7 on:** January 13, 2007, 10:19:53 PM »

BEAD is pretty common. Another useful tweak that is in between and easier on the hardware is to get a set of 50-110 strings and tune DGCF. I have always enjoyed a good low D, but rarely had great tone below that.

jbybj · « **Reply #8 on:** January 13, 2007, 11:06:32 PM »

Thanks for the info, when my hipshot bridge arrives next week, I will experiment. I definitely do not want to modify the nut or the bridge, so I'll just see how it flys. DGCF sounds interesting, but I'm not sure my feeble brain could grok that :-) BTW, I just installed an EMG dual coil humbucker with the three band EQ, sweepable mids, wired with 18 volts, and I find it pretty spiffy. I like the EQ voicing far better than the Bartolini EQ's I played in the store. One could almost imagine that EMG had in mind the Epic as it's target sound.

811952 · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2007, 07:53:13 AM »

I did it for a few years on my Series I. The low B was pretty weak, but C on up were good. E and above were tighter-sounding and had better fundamental than they ever had before. I used Rotosound Swing Bass strings when I did it..

I also tuned my 12-string Dean bass Bbb Eee Aaa Ddd for awhile, but it was kind of messy.

Johh

edited to add: I used to tune my Steinberger down to BEAD with the normal strings on. It was loosey-goosey, but the fundamental was definitely *there* and it sounded great.

(Message edited by 811952 on January 14, 2007)

Bradley Young · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2007, 01:31:38 PM »

Just did this with my Epic; Sunday was my first trip out with her.

I had Mike Lull apply some gentle ministrations to do a full conversion (cut the nut & bridge, and leveled the fingerboard, which needed done anyway).

All I can say is wow! The range feels better to me, the used Thomastiks that I put on sound like butter, B-string sounds great.

Go for it, I say.