Turning a 4 string into a 5 string...

WolfyDean · #1 09-30-2010, 04:53 PM

Okay...I'm in the market to buy a new bass...however, the bass I'm looking at is a 4 string...I want a 5 string. I was wondering about altering the bass to make it into a 5. Would I need to change the neck? Or just the head stock and bridge?

loopee · #2 09-30-2010, 05:06 PM

subscribed

Dubista · #3 09-30-2010, 05:09 PM

Mate, a four string bass only has four tuning posts, even if you chaned the bridge to a 5 string bridge... There'd still be only four tuning posts.

I Also think that 5 string basses have wider heels (I'm not sure). So that rules out buying a new neck OR a bridge

Why not just buy a 5?

That's as far as I'll go.

ninepoundjammer · #4 09-30-2010, 05:12 PM

Change the neck, bridge, pickups. But you could keep the body (once you routed the neck pocket) and the pots and a few wires, oh, and I guess the strap buttons. Sounds like a good idea.

Mad Russian · #5 09-30-2010, 05:13 PM

You would need to change neck and bridge for sure. Not sure what issues you would have putting a 5 string neck onto a body/neck pocket built for a 4. But you would really be better off just buying a a 5 string. Plus you would have some issues with pickups.

GregDunn · #6 09-30-2010, 07:28 PM

Meh. There are a couple of people on TB who have changed their 4 into a 5 by adding a tuner and swapping out the nut and bridge. That said, it'll only work on certain basses (the headstock needs to have room to add a tuner, like say a Fender; and the pickup would need to be a blade or other continuous pole type, not a multi-pole piece design).

Tell us what model the bass is, and I'm sure someone onhere can tell you how much work would be involved, from minor to "forget it".

Ric5 · #7 09-30-2010, 07:33 PM

You will like my web site

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/425.htm

Ric5 · #8 09-30-2010, 09:14 PM

Converted basses

darkstorm · #9 09-30-2010, 09:33 PM

You should get a fiver instead of trying to convert a 4 string bass. The neck of the 4 string bass your looking at may not be able to support the added strings pull. Such a conversion should only be done on high qaulity basses whose neck can easilly support heavy gauge strings without running out of trussrod adjustment room.

Besides this issue you also have that of finding a 5 string bridge whose spaceing will work for the neck string spaceing allowances with the extra added string. The typical fiver bridge wont work. You'll also need a new nut and as others have said a headstock that allows proper room for the added tuning peg. The stock pups on the four string also may not work well with the changed string spaceing and extra string added.

The converted basses shown in this thread arent low end basses either. Theyre build qaulity etc is such that their necks can support the extra string.

FunkMetalBass · #10 09-30-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

You should get a fiver instead of trying to convert a 4 string bass. The neck of the 4 string bass your looking at may not be able to support the added strings pull. Such a conversion should only be done on high qaulity basses whose neck can easilly support heavy gauge strings without running out of trussrod adjustment room.

Besides this issue you also have that of finding a 5 string bridge whose spaceing will work for the neck string spaceing allowances with the extra added string. The typical fiver bridge wont work. You'll also need a new nut and as others have said a headstock that allows proper room for the added tuning peg. The stock pups on the four string also may not work well with the changed string spaceing and extra string added.

The converted basses shown in this thread arent low end basses either. Theyre build qaulity etc is such that their necks can support the extra string.

If the neck can stand up to 140 lbs of tension with no warping, it can handle another 35. Even your budget line Squier uses a multi-piece neck.

Ric5 · #11 09-30-2010, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

You should get a fiver instead of trying to convert a 4 string bass. The neck of the 4 string bass your looking at may not be able to support the added strings pull.

Pretty much any 4 string bass built in the last 30 years can handle a 5th string. Adding a low B is not that much tension. A high C would be a more. Don't convert an old 60s or 70s bass. I have converted dozens of 4 string basses into 5 stringers. None failed. A couple had problems, but one was because I didn't finish the neck and a couple just had lame necks to begin with.

This conversion is not for those with large hands.

Ric5 · #12 09-30-2010, 10:48 PM

Here's one with a plywood body and a $50 neck. But I love playing this bass.

darkstorm · #13 09-30-2010, 11:24 PM

Good to hear that most modern necks can take the extra string no problem.

FunkQueen · #14 10-01-2010, 10:41 AM

Can I convert a 5 to 6?
a Cort GB75 to 6?
What do i have to change exaclty?

FunkMetalBass · #15 10-01-2010, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkQueen

Can I convert a 5 to 6?
a Cort GB75 to 6?
What do i have to change exaclty?

New nut, another tuner, new bridge, possibly new pickups.

Ric5 · #16 10-01-2010, 10:57 AM

There are a couple of guys here who converted fender or squier jazz basses from 5 to 6. You need to make sure you have room for the additional tuner in the headstock. You need a new bridge and a new nut. And make sure your pickups are wide enough.

FunkQueen · #17 10-01-2010, 01:04 PM

But i wont use LOW B i will use high C and high F.
Would the neck support it? they usually put 2 supporters in the neck on 6 swtrings...
is it a risk? ;I guess an average luthier can not do it well...

Ric5 · #18 10-01-2010, 01:21 PM

I can't say your particular bass would be ok but as a general statement many if not most 5 string neck should be able to handle an extra string. My Dean 10 string bass held up fine with 10 strings. It appeared to be pretty much the same neck as the 5 string model.

There is a 70s 4001 on ebay that someone tried to put 6 strings on it. When you tune it up the neck bows. But that is a 70s 4001 bass. The modern 4003 could handle 6 string. But the neck is really too narrow for that many strings. But the width of Fender jass V necks make them a good bass for this type of experiment.

If you are considering EADGCF you might consider DGCFA#D#. That would give you the extended range and it would also give you the low D

Ric5 · #19 10-01-2010, 01:29 PM

Warmoth makes an 8 string dual truss rod bass neck. That could be a good neck for this type of experiment.