Bass or guitar?

[ugo]

Changing string gauges to something suitable for B-E-A-D would probably require readjusting the neck as well.

quite true. it will require that the intonation be readjusted as well. additionally, many basses will require that the nut slots, and sometimes also the saddle slots, be widened to accept the larger strings.

-ugo

[Sascha Franck]

additionally, many basses will require that the nut slots, and sometimes also the saddle slots, be widened to accept the larger strings.

Yeah, even forgot about that one.
On one of my guitars I could hardly even change from 10-46 to 11-52 because of the nut almost not being wide enough for the wounded strings anymore. On basses the differences are way more drastical.

[Kraku]

OK then. I'll keep the standard tuning No problem for me.

[Hink]

I just tune the bass to what suits my needs, I just don't see a reason to to commit to one tuning, especialy with bass where the majority of you play is in scales to begin with....at least I use to, I sold my fretless to my best friend a couple years ago, after he bitched about the fact I hardly used it anymore...

[Gregjazz]

Haven't read all 7 pages, but between a guitar and a bass I'd definitely pick up the bass (which is what I did, in fact). It's very addictive to play. I'm really glad I played bass first, because a few years later when I bought a guitar it was super easy to learn and I play with a pick and all that stuff. But I've seen guitarists who learn bass and it's just not the same thing. They're not used to playing like a bassist and they don't pluck the strings right. Not to say all guitarists playing bass are like that, but that's what I've seen overall.

[Hink]

Haven't read all 7 pages, but between a guitar and a bass I'd definitely pick up the bass (which is what I did, in fact). It's very addictive to play. I'm really glad I played bass first, because a few years later when I bought a guitar it was super easy to learn and I play with a pick and all that stuff. But I've seen guitarists who learn bass and it's just not the same thing. They're not used to playing like a bassist and they don't pluck the strings right. Not to say all guitarists playing bass are like that, but that's what I've seen overall.

I never used a pick on bass, always fingered...it was hard for me to adapt picking to bass, it was easier to have one technique for each the guitar and bass...

[jens]

Changing string gauges to something suitable for B-E-A-D would probably require readjusting the neck as well.

quite true. it will require that the intonation be readjusted as well. additionally, many basses will require that the nut slots, and sometimes also the saddle slots, be widened to accept the larger strings.

-ugo

yes, indeed - if you're experienced it's probably something like 30-60 minutes of work - and if you're unexperienced: ask someone else to do it for you...