So i want to play metal. I loves me some crushing bass and clanging cymbals. But i don’t fully understand the needs for a bass for low tuning.
I see a lot of tabs that are tuned to c, and it confuzzles me. Should i find a 5 string and attempt it that way, or is it better to change a nut and make a bead? Will doing this affect string tension on the neck? Will this cause mechanical problems?
I get that this is probably a real rookie question, and that i could probably find a Reddit thread-but i can trust the input i get here.
I’m a hard-core fiver, so my answer might be a bit biased…
I have gone the BEAD route without causing any undo stress on the neck. You will have to file out the nut though, but keep in mind, once you do that, there’s no turning back (other than replacing the nut). You wiĺl only be able to "realistically " use this bass on scores that don’t utilize the G string, so be sure to have EADG bass on hand also.
At the end of the day, I decided to just stick with the more versatile 5 strings.
Just my opinion and experience.
I appreciate this. It’s kinda where i was. I considered buying a good pawn ship find and modifying the nut ( and bridge saddle ) but as @PamPurrs pointed out, this is a point of no return thing. And while i don’t mind dedicating a bass for it, it seems excessive.
So, i guess the hunt is on for a 5 string with that huge 19.5 mm string spacing that i need. A previous crush injury left my plucking fingers in pretty horrid shape, you should see the drill pattern on my bowling balls😆
Yeah, I know what you mean. There are tons of smoking (I think) deals on used fivers everywhere. I just have neither the need nor the desire for anything more than four-strings.
Yeah. I gave them a shot but just didn’t like the string spacing at all. And this was with a Warwick, where I could adjust that to be wider.
The other thing about 5-strings is that in my opinion the B string is useful for about seven frets total before it starts to get a muted, muddy timbre. This is true of all of them I have seen, not just mine. Recommend trying one to see what I mean.
I liked BEAD but it requires a dedicated bass for it.
One thing I did like about the 5 - the ultra-flat neck radius.
So I’m looking at that, and I’m pretty sure the sterling’s are 19 mm. I’m gonna look it up. I may just pull the trigger on that. Not only because it’s a good rig, but it also allows me to have a piece of badass bass gal history…
For new players this answers the question of why some players have more than one bass while on stage.
There may be other reasons but different tuning is the main one. IMHO
