Alternate Bass Stringing

[whyachi]

This is likely a stupid question. Apologies for that.

Are there any issues with stringing a 4S bass LowB E A D instead of E A D G?

I don't have the money for a 5S but I keep finding myself needing the B and never touching the G.

Would it work?

 

[Stoo]

Not a dumb question...

Probably, the first issue you'd face would be with width of the nut slots. Depending on how your original slot is cut, going from a .105 to a .130 or so for the low B might either pinch in the nut, ride high or not sit in the slot at all. If you widen the slot enough for the low B, it may get a little funky tyring to go back to the regular E again, with the extra width in the slot.

Then you might have the same issue with the E which is now in the A and so on...

You'd likely need some truss rod adjustment, but probably not a big deal there.

Of course, the possibility exists that I could be a complete moron...

Good luck!

 

[Russel]

I ran into those exact problems trying to do just this with an epi t-bird. I wanted the playability, though, and the looks.

I gave up. messing with the nut was too scary.

I'm sure it's possible.

 

[Wowbagger]

This is likely a stupid question. Apologies for that.

Are there any issues with stringing a 4S bass LowB E A D instead of E A D G?

I don't have the money for a 5S but I keep finding myself needing the B and never touching the G.

Would it work?

I did the exact same thing, went to BEAD (and ended up going back to EADG) and had absolutely no problems with the nut, no adjustment was necessary before or after the change. I don't have the new compensated nut on mine though, so it may be a different story with one.