Tuning a 4 string bass real low (Drop A#)

[Giorgi]

Hello guys,

 

I wanna buy a bass to record stuff, but I have a very limited budget. Basically, I'm buying a used 4 string bass which should amount to somewhere between 100-150$ (or Euros cos I live in Europe). Anyway, I was wondering:

 

My guitar is a 6 string tuned to A# (which is basically 2 tones lower than standard for every string except the lowest one, which is set to 3 tones lower. So the low E becomes A# and the high E is a C). Which means that I'd need to tune my bass the same way. The question is: is it viable on a 4 string bass? Do they have special strings for this type of thing, because the standard ones are probably gonna feel like spaghetti. Is it gonna sound decent?

 

My guitar sounds just fine this way, but maybe basses are different.

 

Thanks for your help!

[tinhwp]

Shouldn't be a problem, so long as you re-set up the bass, and using thicker gauge strings should help.

 

That's how I did mine to BEAD anyways

[BottomHeavyKate]

I guess I would use the bottom four strings of a 5 string set so you don't lose the tension. Be careful at the nut because the strings may be bigger than your slots. File them a bit bigger if need be.

[sunburstbasser]

No $150 bass is going to sound good that low. The electronics won't reproduce those frequencies.

 

If you're already tuning that low, do you really need a bass?

[Jazz Ad]

A passive Precision style bass should do fine, if it has the right strings. Something like Circle K.

Now to go that low and get heard you need a very powerful amp.

[knuckle_head]

Look for sets similar to these;

 

.150 .100 .076 .055 .040

.142 .096 .072 .052 .037

 

I got you what you need

[TomTFS]

 

No $150 bass is going to sound good that low. The electronics won't reproduce those frequencies. If you're already tuning that low, do you really need a bass?

 

 

Yes you still need a bass.

 

Why do people that know nothing about detuning always show up in these threads? A# is only a semitone below the bottom string on a normal 5 string bass.

 

As other people have said, bigger gauge strings and just be careful about fitting them. You'll probably have to compress/overdrive the bass to get it to actually sit nicely but it should be fine. Stick mainly to the neck pickup to get as much of the fundamental tone as you can.

[knuckle_head]

 

Yes you still need a bass. Why do people that know nothing about detuning always show up in these threads? A# is only a semitone below the bottom string on a normal 5 string bass. As other people have said, bigger gauge strings and just be careful about fitting them. You'll probably have to compress/overdrive the bass to get it to actually sit nicely but it should be fine. Stick mainly to the neck pickup to get as much of the fundamental tone as you can.

 

 

Dunno man - overtones will define the notes better. Relying on the neck pickup strictly will make it murky, and the fundamental won't even be presented by near-any rig.

 

Better to use the bridge pickup as well for definition and put the sound where the rig can use it. The second harmonic (first octave up) will sit well withing most rig's capacities anfd will carry better.

[bassman1956]

Talk to Thunderbroom, who regularly tunes B-E-A-D on 4's.

And Knuckle_head, who has baddass strings.

[Kindness]

Get a stable 4-string bass, buy a set of bass strings from Circle K Strings (see Knucklehead's recommendations above) and get to it.

 

Which means that I'd need to tune my bass the same way.

 

This is just a personal pet peeve of mine, but I assume you mean you want to tune your bass the same way. There is no reason whatsoever the guitar tuning you indicate would necessitate a non-traditional bass tuning.

[RSBro]

Is tuning a 4 banger to Bb possible? Sure. I do it sometimes on my Charvel I have in drop C.

 

For $100-150? Highly (about 99%) doubtful.

[Thunderbroom]

 

No $150 bass is going to sound good that low. The electronics won't reproduce those frequencies.

 

 

My $34 shipped (new) bass begs to differ. Not only is it tuned to BEAD, it sounds good AND uses a standard 4 string set of flats. The electronics produces the notes just fine.