Anyone ever do a 6-2-5 conversion? (Six string, converted to five)

rojo412 · #1 10-19-2010, 11:16 PM

I ask this because I have seen quite a few Ibanez Prestige 6 string basses going for very little money these days. They look like sweet basses, but I hate wrestling a 6...

Take the 3006, for example... it has individual bridge units, the spacing is super tight, and it seems like the conversion would be achieved with just a new nut and moving some bridge units around.
(Leave the outer 2, remove one from the middle and respace them, dowel holes)
Aside from more difficulty making the headstock look perfect, I don't see it being super hard.

Anyone ever attempt this?

Chasarms · #2 10-20-2010, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rojo412

I ask this because I have seen quite a few Ibanez Prestige 6 string basses going for very little money these days. They look like sweet basses, but I hate wrestling a 6...

Take the 3006, for example... it has individual bridge units, the spacing is super tight, and it seems like the conversion would be achieved with just a new nut and moving some bridge units around.
(Leave the outer 2, remove one from the middle and respace them, dowel holes)
Aside from more difficulty making the headstock look perfect, I don't see it being super hard.

Anyone ever attempt this?

I have never attempted it, but your assessment seems very reasonable. I don't see it as being very difficult either.

Although, you will also have to deal with the way the strings align to the tuner pegs once you re-position the nut slots. Depending on the design of the headstock, this may or may not be an issue. Worse case, you have to plug and re-drill the tuner positions as well. I doubt you would have to do them all.

thirtypoint87 · #3 10-20-2010, 08:35 AM

sounds pretty straightforward. I wouldn't worry about moving tuners around but it would be simplest to replace the bridge with a 5 string model.

rojo412 · #4 10-20-2010, 08:47 AM

That would cover holes quite well and spacing would be built-into a sold, predictable setup.

If I come across a CHEAP CHEAP deal on an Ibanez or similar 6, I may have to attempt this for science. I have a beater 5 string Hipshot bridge, too.
Hard part would be finding a nut close enough to fit the neck right off the bat and then I'd have to cut it...

Anyone sees/has a victim bass for this, please let me know.