customizing my bass to 8 strings...

[exoticbassfan]

Ok so i bought a cheapie bass for $100. 4-strings,y'know the normal bass guitar amount. well i want peoples' opinions. All I have is 4 tuning pegs obviously,i don't want to drill 4 other holes in my headstock so I was wondering...who thinks my idea is good...cause i'm not sure...should i just buy a set of extra strings and put the thin ones close to the other 4 strings so they can hook around the same tuning pegs?i want your opinions!!!! my goal is to buy a 6-string bass guitar in the future but for now...well thank you!

[Fealach]

Originally Posted by exoticbassfan

...who thinks my idea is good...

No one. Seriously. You will need a bridge and a nut made for an 8 string bass. You will need 4 more tuners. All the laws of physics, nature, God, and man assert this. All this will cost more than your bass did. Somehow I get the idea you probably wouldn't be able to do the work yourself either, so you'd have to pay to get it done as well.

Get a cheap Rogue, or a more expensive but better Schecter or Dean if you want an 8 string bass.

[uethanian]

mm i've given this some thought myself...i wouldnt go as far as to say it wouldnt work...

however, if you have a fender style headstock (4 tuners in-line), theres not much room for another four tuners. even if you have a 2-and-2 headstock, there may not be space between the bass machines.

and it will no doubt cost more than the bass itself to do the conversion. you can get a cheap 8 string bridge for $60, then guitar tuners for $30, a new nut, piccolo strings...not to mention the cost of tools. you need the right drill bit for the new tuners and you may need to route the bridge opening. so very possible...but perhaps not worth the effort if your bass is a cheapie.

[chutsk10]

Logig to me says you will nto be able to get both strings (bass and guitar) in tune at the same time if they are on the same tuning peg.

[LeonLivingston]

I would be impressed if you could get that to work at all. I would be even more impressed if you could get it to work well. Chances are you shouldn't waste your time. an 8 string bass would be difficult to jimmy like that.

[exoticbassfan]

hmmmm makes sense(all of ya)don't no why i never thought of the reasons,ya plus i just saw a bass guitar done with what i did and it was horrible sounding and ugly so tyvm i'll continueo to play my 4 string and save for a 6 string ty