Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I appologize for the noob question:
I'm thinking of going with B-E-A-D tuning on my 4004Cii. It was recommended that I purchase a 5 string set and just eliminate the G string. I'm considering the following strings B .115, E .100, A .080, D .060. Do you think these will work or do I need a larger diameter B string to get a proper low B sound? I know a bit of nut work will be necessary. Also, if I can keep the string diameters reasonable, the roller bridge should not be a problem. I'm just trying to find the best balance between the lower notes I want available and what the neck can reasonably handle with regard to string diameter and tension.
Thanks,
AJ

I did the same for years and it worked great on my 4004Ci. It's going to be a little trial and error depending on your preference.....what worked for my style may not suit your needs. I used D'Addario Chromes with a 0.132 B string.

I tune my 4003 C-G-C-F, and use a .115 for the low C. This is the thickest four string set I have found, Ghs bass boomers. If I should buy 5 strings I would consider having a thicker string, especially if I should tune that extra halfnote down.

On my 4003s5 I went thru gyrations with strings .115 - .132. I found the D'Addario EXL220-5 worked the best for me. The B there is a .125.

My B strings are always .110 and rumble just fine. Tight and potent sounding enough to me.