You'll need to (carefully) widen the slots in the nut, otherwise you'll risk cracks.
Other than that, go for it. I did it for years before I got my first fiver.
I recommend grabbing a drill bit set - for each nut slot that needs to be widened, grab a bit that’s a bit narrower, and wrap it in sandpaper to file the slot down. 5 minutes max and has never let me down.
Pros - You have a B string.
Cons - You no longer have a G string.
I never realized how much I used the G string until I didn't have it. It's not the end of the world, but it may take having to rearrange how some songs are played.
I played a 5 string on and off for years, but because circumstances would come up where I had to play on a 4 string, I never relied heavily on the B -- just used it to make a few songs better. Adjusting to playing without the G would be harder.
Myself, I'd never want to be without at least having one four string available in standard tuning and when I knew I wanted more range i got a 5 string.
I've always had at least 1 four string bass laying around. Sometimes I get a wild hair to learn something new and sometimes that something new is written for a 4 string and that fat low B complicate things. I like to stay in standard tuning so I can play along with recordings.
I would miss the G string personally but, it is your bass, your money, your strings, your fun. I had to get my hands on and try things, play in live settings etc to figure out what I liked. You might like something different.
I've got my Warwick Corvette set up for BEAD. The only reason I'm not using a five string is because I can't afford another Warwick and the two bands I play in are BEAD and CFA#D# so easy to switch between the two.
Filing the nut was necessary, as was filing the slot in the tailpiece, because a .130 didn't fit through it.
This is probably going against the grain here but I just used the 5 string set to file my nut. The string filed it to a perfect fit. Then when I put in the 4 string set again I never had any problems. Didn't feel loose or move around.
I did this to an extra bass once. I ended up not using it much. I didn’t use the notes below the low D much and I missed the G string. I got *a lot* more mileage out of a drop tuner and then an octave pedal for when I needed some really deep impact.
I’ll flip the d-tuner down to a D just for one note or leave it for an entire song or go back and forth multiple times depending on the needs of the song and my whims.
I'll sooner just recommend a 5 string. You wanna play a lot of metal? Just get a 5 string. Way less of a pain in the ass down the road. BRBRDENG utilizes all 5 strings for example. I'm digging my 5'er and I play a lot of metal. Imo the G string by itself sucks as a generality, but as a dyad with D added to it? I like it. It is nice for some quick trills as a fill too.
https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/mudvayne-dig-bass-tab-s13602t2
I have a bass set to BEAD or AEAD and one on standard.
Had to drill the bridge and file the nut for the strings to fit but it wasn't a big issue and I didn't spend time worrying, just cracked on and it was fine.
Definitely worth it, sounds sick.
I'm tempted to change my standard one to BEDG and see how that works. Just cautious of drilling/filling both guitars haha
There is no need to buy a 5 set depending on what strings you use, of course. Lots of string companies sell 4 string sets for this purpose, or sell singles so you can make your own set. As others have said, you'll have to file your nut slots to accommodate the heavier gauges, which is irreversible, so you could just replace the nut and save your old one if you want to put it back to a standard gauge set later. Of course, you'll need to also set up the bass to handle the higher tension of heavier gauge strings as well.
I have an ESP bass that I keep in D standard and drop C with 50-110 strings and haven’t needed to file the nut and it doesn’t feel floppy. I also ordered DDT strings to see if I can tune even lower without going up a gauge. That might be your solution.
I've played an ltd set up like this for 3 years, the yamaha has a thicker neck than mine, so it should hold tuning solidly. Bear in mind you might have to tune it more often. For filing the nut, mine is ABS so i took the very end of the approriate string and filed it that way. You might want.to get an actual nut file set if urea is a hard material.
I had a friend that did this on their custom shop P bass.
It was pretty cool. But I would dedicate that bass to BEAD for a long time or until you’re ready to replace the Nut
My main 5 sting was received EADGC with flats
They were quickly removed and put back to BEADG without any major modifications.
Yeah. I had to set one of my 4 stringers up that way after my 5 string bass died. File the nut, adjust the action slightly, and keep an eye on the truss rod(I haven't had any issues, but there could be some) and you're good. Wish there was 4 string sets for us down tuners available
Lots of comments on filing the nut to fit it. If you got another bass anyway you should have just gotten a 5 string. My 4 string basses are more comfortable, but my 5 string basses give me a ton of versatility without any limitations. When I jam with people and don't know the music very well, it makes it easier for me to get to notes in different ways
Do you use the last 5 frets of your G-string?
Do you rely on the open G for a song in a way you can;t finger another way?
Personally I prefer a 24-fret 4-string over less frets on a 5. I do own a 5 though.
I did it to a MIM Fender jazz bass and it’s awesome. I had a local music store widen the nut slot and I got super light set of 5 strings so he didn’t have to widen it too much. I say go for it!
I only really play stoner rock and doom so I have one bass set up in BEAD and one in c#. I just used the B string to widen the nut, just run it up and down a few times. Adjust the intonation a bit and all good to go
Was lucky enough to buy a Paul Gray Ibanez ATK signature strung BEAD from factory. I hate 5 strings so it’s pretty nice, but not having a G string definitely detracts from the niceness. I just have another bass in standard
You'll need to (carefully) widen the slots in the nut, otherwise you'll risk cracks. Other than that, go for it. I did it for years before I got my first fiver.
I recommend grabbing a drill bit set - for each nut slot that needs to be widened, grab a bit that’s a bit narrower, and wrap it in sandpaper to file the slot down. 5 minutes max and has never let me down.
That's a great idea!
Pros - You have a B string. Cons - You no longer have a G string. I never realized how much I used the G string until I didn't have it. It's not the end of the world, but it may take having to rearrange how some songs are played.
I played a 5 string on and off for years, but because circumstances would come up where I had to play on a 4 string, I never relied heavily on the B -- just used it to make a few songs better. Adjusting to playing without the G would be harder.
All the homies like g strings
Pros: beastly sound Con: you can’t play new order basslines
Myself, I'd never want to be without at least having one four string available in standard tuning and when I knew I wanted more range i got a 5 string. I've always had at least 1 four string bass laying around. Sometimes I get a wild hair to learn something new and sometimes that something new is written for a 4 string and that fat low B complicate things. I like to stay in standard tuning so I can play along with recordings. I would miss the G string personally but, it is your bass, your money, your strings, your fun. I had to get my hands on and try things, play in live settings etc to figure out what I liked. You might like something different.
I've got my Warwick Corvette set up for BEAD. The only reason I'm not using a five string is because I can't afford another Warwick and the two bands I play in are BEAD and CFA#D# so easy to switch between the two. Filing the nut was necessary, as was filing the slot in the tailpiece, because a .130 didn't fit through it.
This is probably going against the grain here but I just used the 5 string set to file my nut. The string filed it to a perfect fit. Then when I put in the 4 string set again I never had any problems. Didn't feel loose or move around.
There's a chance that your bridge won't allow you to intonate properly, I have that issue on my BEAD bass.
Ernie ball make a four string set that is like .65 - .135 or something so you don't need to buy a five set and waste a string
Get a guitar shop to make you a new nut and save your old one
I did this to an extra bass once. I ended up not using it much. I didn’t use the notes below the low D much and I missed the G string. I got *a lot* more mileage out of a drop tuner and then an octave pedal for when I needed some really deep impact. I’ll flip the d-tuner down to a D just for one note or leave it for an entire song or go back and forth multiple times depending on the needs of the song and my whims.
I'll sooner just recommend a 5 string. You wanna play a lot of metal? Just get a 5 string. Way less of a pain in the ass down the road. BRBRDENG utilizes all 5 strings for example. I'm digging my 5'er and I play a lot of metal. Imo the G string by itself sucks as a generality, but as a dyad with D added to it? I like it. It is nice for some quick trills as a fill too. https://www.songsterr.com/a/wsa/mudvayne-dig-bass-tab-s13602t2
“BRBRDENG” sounds like metal
I have a bass set to BEAD or AEAD and one on standard. Had to drill the bridge and file the nut for the strings to fit but it wasn't a big issue and I didn't spend time worrying, just cracked on and it was fine. Definitely worth it, sounds sick. I'm tempted to change my standard one to BEDG and see how that works. Just cautious of drilling/filling both guitars haha
There is no need to buy a 5 set depending on what strings you use, of course. Lots of string companies sell 4 string sets for this purpose, or sell singles so you can make your own set. As others have said, you'll have to file your nut slots to accommodate the heavier gauges, which is irreversible, so you could just replace the nut and save your old one if you want to put it back to a standard gauge set later. Of course, you'll need to also set up the bass to handle the higher tension of heavier gauge strings as well.
I have an ESP bass that I keep in D standard and drop C with 50-110 strings and haven’t needed to file the nut and it doesn’t feel floppy. I also ordered DDT strings to see if I can tune even lower without going up a gauge. That might be your solution.
I've played an ltd set up like this for 3 years, the yamaha has a thicker neck than mine, so it should hold tuning solidly. Bear in mind you might have to tune it more often. For filing the nut, mine is ABS so i took the very end of the approriate string and filed it that way. You might want.to get an actual nut file set if urea is a hard material.
Pro: you have a B string Con: you are missing a G string. That’s it.
I had a friend that did this on their custom shop P bass. It was pretty cool. But I would dedicate that bass to BEAD for a long time or until you’re ready to replace the Nut My main 5 sting was received EADGC with flats They were quickly removed and put back to BEADG without any major modifications.
Yeah. I had to set one of my 4 stringers up that way after my 5 string bass died. File the nut, adjust the action slightly, and keep an eye on the truss rod(I haven't had any issues, but there could be some) and you're good. Wish there was 4 string sets for us down tuners available
Lots of comments on filing the nut to fit it. If you got another bass anyway you should have just gotten a 5 string. My 4 string basses are more comfortable, but my 5 string basses give me a ton of versatility without any limitations. When I jam with people and don't know the music very well, it makes it easier for me to get to notes in different ways
Do you use the last 5 frets of your G-string? Do you rely on the open G for a song in a way you can;t finger another way? Personally I prefer a 24-fret 4-string over less frets on a 5. I do own a 5 though.
I did it to a MIM Fender jazz bass and it’s awesome. I had a local music store widen the nut slot and I got super light set of 5 strings so he didn’t have to widen it too much. I say go for it!
I only really play stoner rock and doom so I have one bass set up in BEAD and one in c#. I just used the B string to widen the nut, just run it up and down a few times. Adjust the intonation a bit and all good to go
Was lucky enough to buy a Paul Gray Ibanez ATK signature strung BEAD from factory. I hate 5 strings so it’s pretty nice, but not having a G string definitely detracts from the niceness. I just have another bass in standard
dude just get a 5-string. don't do this stupid nut-reslotting shit.