Noticed just earlier today, there’s a handful of songs I have on the computer that are usually BEAD are also tabbed in drop D, haven’t worked out that wizardry yet 
but seemingly that’s also a thing 
lol
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A 5-string in the most common tuning (BEADG) has more lower notes, not more higher notes. And only five more. And on most I have heard the B string usually has poor timbre above the ~5th-7th fret anyway. Not really a fan.
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Yeah, no.
Howard is right: With a 5-string, you gain one lower string, five lower notes, and zero higher notes.
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A counter point, if you tune a 4 string to BEAD, you add the B string, gain the lower notes, and lose 5 higher notes, which IME upper G string isn’t played often on the last 5 frets (and used mostly for fills/solos which can be reworked)
There is probably one of two things going on:
- The original bassline was played on a 5-string with the lowest note being D, the person who tabbed it had a 4-string and figured the easiest is to just tune to Drop-D.
- The original was played in Drop-D, the person who tabbed it had a 5-string.
One or the other might be easier to play, even going in the direction that the other might be impossible to play.
Try to play this on a 5-string.
What I meant was I want the low B but I need to keep the higher notes from the G. So I’ll demo and see if muting, fret width, or weight are an issue.
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Ok. That helps. Thank you
Note that if you remofe the G string, you also only lose 5 notes, the five highest frets on the G string, way up by the pickguard, which are barely playable to begin with. All the other notes you can play on the D string.
I understand though. My favorite bassist heavily uses the G string and so for his stuff, BEAD is inconvenient.
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Ok. I’ve decided I’m going to go BEAD. Does anyone know of a factory BEAD bass?
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My advice would be to have a second bass for it. I find its use situational and I nearly always want a EADG bass, maybe detuned to drop D for some songs.
I am not aware of any factory ones; most people I know of mod an existing bass for it. This will involve some filing of the nut.
Also I should say: I didn’t mean to sound like I was talking you out of a five string - I just wanted to make sure there was a full understanding of the options 
They aren’t my preference but there’s nothing at all wrong with 5-strings. If you just want one bass, and still want the low B, they are a good option.
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Exactly. I want a BEAD bass and a standard bass.
P.S. Your good 
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Cool! Yeah, then, buying a second bass you’re not afraid to work on a bit (it’s really minor changes) and some cheap diamond files for the nut might be the way to go. Then you just buy 5-string string sets for it, and simply keep the G string for future use, stringing it BEAD.
The only real mods are to slightly enlarge the nut slots to accommodate the larger gauge strings, and you don’t need luthier’s files for this; common fine diamond files work fine (or did for me). Just go a little at a time.
Some people also change the bridge saddles but I did not find that necessary.
You will need a full setup afterwards, including truss rod adjustment as the string tension is (ironically) lower with BEAD than EADG.
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Ok! That works! I was thinking abt The Jackson JS Spectra. Thoughts?
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I don’t see why not! I just used a 4-string I already had.
Some info here:
and here:
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Thank you!
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My pleasure! Have fun, the low B sounds pretty wicked.
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GHS makes Bass Boomers in a BEAD set for strings
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Never played one but seen good reviews of this bass
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Which one did you buy? Asking for a friend
I was also looking at the Limited Edition Mike Kerr Jaguar Bass. Not to purchase of course, as my dictator does not allow for it 
Just looking. It’s orange. Orange is THE DUTCH color.
If I would NOT buy a bass, than it would be 30" or 32" too.
So that means I would either NOT buy a Mike kerr Jaguar or NOT buy a Squier CV Jaguar Bass (which one would I NOT buy exactly?) … or what else? NOT!!?
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If you’re set on a short scale keeping checking the G&L Store on their website for “B” stock Tribute models they often sell for around $300 or so vs their $649 list price;Tribute Series FALLOUT shortscale bass | G&L Musical Instruments
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