Converting a 5 string into a 6 string...

[Sundogue]

While I await my bridge and nut, I decided to level my frets and crown and polish them.

This bass obviously never had the frets leveled. Very glad I did it!

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Thanks. Due to tolerances, I've found that the PVC (not the hard PVC, but the gray stuff) actually makes for a tighter fit, because the old ones had the metal ferrules and they were loose until screwed in on the back. These are tight even without being bolted in with the top lug or using the holding screw on the back.

But it's good to know they make that for future reference. Got any links to who sells them?

With regards to tight string spacing, fingerstyle is where I'm at. I don't slap and I'm very comfortable finger picking on an acoustic guitar with even tighter spacing. This will be a dream for me. It also will be much tighter towards the nut for fretting faster and open enough for picking fingerstyle towards the bridge end.

BassPartsResource has some
Bass Parts Resource: Tuner Parts

I totally understand that nice tight fit. I've always done it with strips of business card and tape, but man that PVC looks even easier!

[darius8]

Does your neck have a single or double truss rod?

[darius8]

Maybe, I should have asked, with a conversion like this, would a single truss rod be an issue?

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by darius8

Does your neck have a single or double truss rod?

Single truss rod. I don't think it will be an issue as the neck is incredibly stable and when strung the truss rod was barely adjusted to compensate for the five strings and there is still room to spare for further adjustment.

And I would think string tension/gauges will have an affect on it as well. An abnormally high/low tension B or C string may have an adverse affect. I'm not sure but I think there are some sixers with a single truss rod.

[Sundogue]

Bridge is installed but not completely set up yet. Working on filing the nut right now and finishing the home made string tree.

[ctmullins]

Very nice! Looks like you have plenty of room at the edges of the fingerboard and the pickups. How's the action? The Kahler is a little taller than most bridges, so some people (like me) have recessed it into the body. But since your Yamaha is a bolt-on, you have the option of shimming the neck slightly, should it be necessary.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by ctmullins

Very nice! Looks like you have plenty of room at the edges of the fingerboard and the pickups. How's the action? The Kahler is a little taller than most bridges, so some people (like me) have recessed it into the body. But since your Yamaha is a bolt-on, you have the option of shimming the neck slightly, should it be necessary.

Yes, plenty of room at the edges of the neck. Action was a little high, so I shimmed the neck. I still have some tweaking to do with the bridge. With the saddles lined up along the leading edge of that angled bridge plate, the intonation was almost spot on without any adjustment at all.

I need to adjust the height a little bit yet, but I wanted the neck to settle in a bit after having it unstrung for so long. This morning it required no more truss rod adjustment. Pics to follow.

[Sundogue]

Well, the conversion is complete. I'm really happy with how it turned out. The string spacing is how I wanted, but admittedly it's taking me a little bit to adjust to that and the extra string. Not terribly so, but it's different, but in a good way.

String spacing at the nut is 6mm and at the bridge it is just shy of 16mm. Tight but easily playable. I really like the tight spacing for fingering on the fretboard. At the bridge end there is plenty of room to finger pick. Just takes some getting used to having played mostly traditional 4 and 5 stringers with wider spacing for the past 30+ years. I did have a 6 string bass a few years back with tighter spacing and I liked it.

Filing the nut without the correct files was interesting. I filed them down to just slightly higher than the final depth using a variety of jewelers files. Then I used the strings themselves to finish the rounded out bottom. I used an old set of strings and cut them shorter (which I also used taped to the nut for spacing). I drilled a hole in a block of wood and ran a string through it. On the other end of the block I mounted one of my old tuning pegs. Then I strung up the block and tightened the string super tight and used that as my final correct size file. Worked like a charm. The spacing was just a tad off and not perfect, but while playing it isn't noticeable at all.

I made a string tree out of a piece of thin steel I had in my junk box in my workshop. I bought two black spacers and installed it to keep the strings connected to the farthest three tuners down at the proper angle.

The bridge is awesome. Totally adjustable in all directions, except it sits a bit high even at it's lowest saddle height. I just shimmed the neck and the angle matches well with the bridge for close action.

Not only did I accomplish turning my bass into a six string, the new heavier bridge combined with the lighter tuners has made my bass perfectly balanced now. It was a bit neck heavy, but it balances beautifully now.

The sound is like it always was, only better with new strings of course. The Jazz pickup covers the whole width, and the split P-Bass pup (which was a bit of a concern) covers the "D" string well with no discernable difference in output or tone.

About a $180 mod all total. I got the bridge as a "factory discounted 2nd" for only $59 from Whammi World. I don't know why it was a "2nd" as there absolutely nothing wrong with it...no defects or blemishes. Saved $20 there. The tuners I got from Carvin. The rest was just parts I had lying around or some small items for pennies at the hardware store.

Not a difficult task to convert my 5 string to a 6 string. I love it!

Pic of the new tuners, nut and homemade string tree...



The new Bridge (awesome bridge, especially considering the Kahler 7460 only costs $79 brand new)...



The finished conversion...The BB416 Black Bastard...

I'll try to take some better pics later today. Not very good lighting this morning.

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After...

[Sundogue]

Some new pics...

[Sundogue]

A question was asked in post in the Basses forum if my D string lined up with the neck pup pole pieces...

Turns out the D string lies right between the pole piece of one half of the P-Bass split pup and the pole piece of the other half. Those poles are offset of course, but having played it now quite a bit and using only the P-Bass pickup, it sounds even all across all the strings (either or both pups) and yes, the D sounds just like the other strings. Perhaps there is a scientifically proven difference, but heck if I can hear it.

[Sundogue]

Today was my first extended day of playing with the new 6 string.

Action is buttery smooth. I am really loving the spacing, especially doing a lot of chordal work. It's like having a "manly" guitar! LOL.

The fret leveling, new strings, the new 6th string, the action, the balance, etc. is really inspiring. I think the new bridge increased my sustain.

I should mention that my action is much lower than the pics as I hadn't fully tweaked my bridge prior to taking the photos.

At any rate this is like getting a new bass with all these improvements.

[Ric5]

Originally Posted by Sundogue

Your conversions were very inspiring.

Neck width and room for an extra tuner has everything to do with it being possible. And of course the requisite courage to actually forge ahead with it.

Thanks ... and you also are correct.

[SPYD3R #9]

now that was cool!!

Originally Posted by Sundogue

A question was asked in post in the Basses forum if my D string lined up with the neck pup pole pieces...

Turns out the D string lies right between the pole piece of one half of the P-Bass split pup and the pole piece of the other half. Those poles are offset of course, but having played it now quite a bit and using only the P-Bass pickup, it sounds even all across all the strings (either or both pups) and yes, the D sounds just like the other strings. Perhaps there is a scientifically proven difference, but heck if I can hear it.

I had the same question, on this 4 string to 5 string conversion? thread, maybe you and ric5 can help me

[ctmullins]

Sweet job, dude! Congratulations on the finished product - you turned that around really quickly. Glad to hear you like the bridge. I sure like mine, especially the nice tight string spacing.

Now go play the hell out of it. And post sound clips!

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by SPYD3R #9

now that was cool!!

I had the same question, on this 4 string to 5 string conversion? thread, maybe you and ric5 can help me

I posted a reply in your thread. Those pups will be just fine with your new 5 string. Good job on it by the way.

[Sundogue]

Originally Posted by ctmullins

Sweet job, dude! Congratulations on the finished product - you turned that around really quickly. Glad to hear you like the bridge. I sure like mine, especially the nice tight string spacing.

Now go play the hell out of it. And post sound clips!

Thanks. Yeah I snuck in a little time here and there over Christmas to complete it. And yes, that bridge sure is sweet! The higher mass I think has given me more sustain (could be my imagination ) and combined with the lighter tuners has made my bass perfectly balanced now (it was a tad neck heavy).

I am playing the hell out of it and it is pure joy. Having the high C is allowing me to do some chordal work with it that makes it so much more enjoyable when playing alone and writing.

My band will be in the studio in a couple of weeks...I'll post up some clips after that.

[Showdown]

I found this thread a long time ago and was inspired to do a conversion myself. I chose an SX Ursa2 5 string because it was cheap, decent quality and had plenty of room on the headstock for another tuner.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and sometimes the wider neck of a 6 string is painful for me to play.

It has 14mm spacing at the bridge, but really narrow at the nut (1 5/8"). I like it, and it only cost $300 total.

I used the Kahler bridge like yours because it could be adjusted to the narrow spacing (although I do think it is ugly). I used Hipshot Ultra-Lite tuners, a couple that are mismatched because I just used what was in my parts drawer. The strings are very even sounding in volume, even though they don't line up with the poles on the 5 string pickup. It sounds really good.

Thanks to the OP for the idea!

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After:

[fuesioterrapoit]

Originally Posted by Showdown

I found this thread a long time ago and was inspired to do a conversion myself. I chose an SX Ursa2 5 string because it was cheap, decent quality and had plenty of room on the headstock for another tuner.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and sometimes the wider neck of a 6 string is painful for me to play.

It has 14mm spacing at the bridge, but really narrow at the nut (1 5/8"). I like it, and it only cost $300 total.

I used the Kahler bridge like yours because it could be adjusted to the narrow spacing (although I do think it is ugly). I used Hipshot Ultra-Lite tuners, a couple that are mismatched because I just used what was in my parts drawer. The strings are very even sounding in volume, even though they don't line up with the poles on the 5 string pickup. It sounds really good.

Thanks to the OP for the idea!

Before:



After:

Converting is fun

[Showdown]

Originally Posted by fuesioterrapoit

Converting is fun

Nice! What bridge did you use?