I just got a new Flying V bass!

http://www.deanguitars.com/dean_winter_06/v_metalman_enlarged.htm

I want to convert it to a 5 string, I know it'll be a bit narrow. There looks like there's enough room on the headstock to simply drill another hole. Anything I should rethink or watch out for?

you'll need a new nut, bridge, and probably pickups as the pole pieces would be different on a 4 vs a 5 and that would affect the sound

thats all I can think of

you'll also probably need to get it set up afterwards too from the added tension on the neck from the fifth string.

and of course, the string spacing will be a bit smaller :D

Yes I know that, I'm asking about drilling the hole.

Do you want to convert because you need the low B? If so, how about trying the bass strung BEAD? In the music I play the most, I could live without the high G but I gotta have a low B! I have certainly owned basses that had a wide enough nut to be a 5, but I never tried converting one. I think Hipshot used to sell a kit to convert a P-bass but if you can do it, go for it!

Matt Farrow

I can't imagine being able to fret a chord cleanly on strings spaced that narrowly. Heck, even plucking them would be a challenge.

I've given some thought to converting a LS 4 string to 5 string piccolo. One thing I noticed was the tuners would either have to be changed or, on the cheap side, a single tuner with smaller wings cause there's no room to adjust those big tuners. That's on a 2+2.

Also don't know if there's any difference in the tension of the truss rods they put in 4's vs 5's. You could get some lower tension strings to compensate but that can make for rubberband feel.

The nut width will tell you if spacing would be an issue or not.

In the words of mitch hedberg...
"It's a 'two in one' shampoo and 'two in one' is a bullsh*t term cause one isn't big enough to hold two. That's why two was created. If it was two in one it would be overflowing. The bottle would be all sticky and sh*t."

In the words of mitch hedberg...
"It's a 'two in one' shampoo and 'two in one' is a bullsh*t term cause one isn't big enough to hold two. That's why two was created. If it was two in one it would be overflowing. The bottle would be all sticky and sh*t."

Ha!

I really do use both the B and G strings. I've tried BEAD before and it was ok but not ideal. I only paid $49 for this bass at the GC Labor Day sale and I have lots of other basses so not much is at risk here. The nut is 1 5/8" wide. The neck is thick and seems sturdy, I think it'll handle the increased tension.

Just an idea, but it would look cool if you could somehow fit the 5th tuner (for the A) beneath the DEAN logo.

Go for it! For a bass that cost you only $45, you might aswell try atleast.

Keep us posted.

I thought the same thing about the logo, but the tuner spacing wouldn't be even and they'd get all crowded. I could fill 2 holes and redrill 3 on that side, but that might not look good. Right now I'm thinking about painting or just gaff taping over the logo, if it's all black up there the furthest tuner won't look so out of place.

it would be funny to put the A one between the "e"and the "a" of Dean...
in the middle of the 2 wings... lol

i cant imagine your gunna be able to buy a bridge for that spacing so you might have to make one yourself

1 5/8" is a narrow nut but I've got a bass with the same and at the bridge strings are roughly 2 1/2" E-G. I was planning on using a a Schaller Roller bridge I have which will yield 5/8" between strings on a 5 string setup in a 2 1/2" spacing.

Another option would be the independent "bridges" (whatever they're called) like Schecter uses. Not sure how wide they are but you can place them wherever you need. You may need to file them down some.

o, well now that i know its a $45 bass. i say go for it.

luknfur, the bridge type you are thinking of is a monorail bridge system I believe. Each string has its own saddle and is attached to the body of the bass independent of the other strings, right?

It's my favorite kind of bridge in terms of setup, string height, tension, and spacing. You can change almost everything on a monorail bridge.

anyways, good luck with the conversion man.
post before and after pics if at all possible!!

I guess this would be the beauty of a Steinberger XL-2 5-string ... it was a bolt-on replacement for the 4-string hardware. for some reason Ned thought this was a brilliant idea. After a brief amount of playing time I converted mine back to 4-string and sold off the parts

all that to say that unless you like a REALLY tight string spacing you better beware of making this kind of permanent modification

all the best,

R

5/8" spacing in not too bad unless you have dairy farmer fingers. I actually bought that 5 string Schaller to use on a G - spaced 4 string bass because the saddles wouldn't quick go close enough on the Schaller 4 for some of the bridge pups. Closer is better for flatpicking which that bass primarily was but I could finger pick it as well.