Alright, I'm getting a five string (Yay for me! It's an ESP B155 if anyone cares) but my question is about tuning. I know you can tune five strings BEADG and EADGC, but does it matter if I tune the top string to B or E? Is it my choice or do I have to tune it one way?

Thanks!

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The standard tuning is B, but you can always tune it to E. Just remember that it's quite a few steps down and the string may get a little loose.

My friend has a bass that he tunes to EADGC and its perfectly tight (hes not down tuning) so is their a difference between basses that tune BEADG and EADGC? I guess thats my question in a simpler phrase

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The standard is BEADG. If you use the standard 5 string BEADG set of strings and tune up a 4th (!!!!) to get EADGC, you might encounter problems in the long run due to the added tension (warping, etc).
Every player I've heard of who tunes to EADGC will buy a 6 string set and ditch the low B. If you end up going that route, you would need to get a new nut made to fit the different gauge of strings.
I've seen a few jazz bassists opt for that tuning.
Only semi-metal bassist I can think of who use EADGC would be the bassist for Mudvayne, who then tunes it to CGCGC I believe. And he has a jazz background, which partly explains that.
But I don't know what type of music you're into.

Congrats on the new bass, though

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Thanks man. My buddy was telling me the samething. Thanks Local Hero, Rock on guys!

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