Tune 4 string bass down to B ? Any drawbacks ?

[Loserchief]

Re: Tune 4 string bass down to B ? Any drawbacks ?

No problem with tuning down like that. I'd personally prefer a 35" or 36" scale,but with the right strings it should work perfectly. You'll have to do a total setup inclunding filing the nut but that's quite doable.
As for active electronics: imo active bass pups bring the sound of the low B out way better than passives. But since you'll be playing blues and rock mainly i don't think you'll need the clear attack and sound of actives(you'd really need it for death metal though)

 

[Ribcage]

Re: Tune 4 string bass down to B ? Any drawbacks ?

Okay, first off, I'm not a bass player, but I do like to play around on a slightly different stringed instrument and I'm trying my best to lay down some generic basslines on songs I record at home. So thats just a little about where Im coming from

That all said, I've got a Fender Jaguar bass which Im pretty happy with. Standard 4 string, EADG tuning.

Thing is I find Im never playing on the top G string, I doubt most bass players use it except for solos or some crazy funky jazzy stuff ?

Anyways, some stuff I like is from players with a 5 string and that low B string really sounds great. But I'm hardly a good enough bass player to spend the money on a 5 string and as a guitar play a 5 string bass neck would be really rough for me (i dont have huge hands as is)

So Im thinking, what if I just tune down, E to B etc. Basically the bottom 4 strings of a 5 string bass

Probably would need a little heavier strings and couldnt play anything that needed that G, but otherwise is there any reason not to do this ?

Is this commonly done ? I know plenty of guitar players who play six strings tune to dropped C etc

But have no clue about bass so I thought I'd ask

Bit of an old Post but thought i'd put my 2 pence in.

started playing with the BEAD tuning and really struggled to get rid of the fret buzz, didnt really want to adjust the action as i really enjoyed the current set up, just switched to Rotosound R266LH - .65, .80, .105, .130 and the results are amazing!

Would defo recommend these strings for anyone wanting to try!

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Tune 4 string bass down to B ? Any drawbacks ?

I've seen some bass players use the bottom four strings of a 5 string set and just tune it BEAD. Or some players like Bryan Bell who plays for Dethklok and The Aristocrats will tune it CFA#D#.