Acoustic Guitar into Acoustic Bass

Snerek · #1 12-03-2008, 10:28 AM

Hey everyone,

I have been wanting an acoustic bass for some time now, and last night I had this wacky idea to convert my acoustic guitar into an acoustic bass.

this is the guitar
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/...c3ece2.jpg?v=0

then i have hardware from a broken squire bronco bass.

Is this at all worth it or feasible? I have little experience with this however there is a few talented guys locally whom build guitars.

Thanks.

**yodedude2** · #2 12-03-2008, 10:36 AM

how will you keep the top from collapsing when it's strung as a bass? how will you deal with the intonation and scale length issues?

it doesn't seem feasible to me unless you completely disassembled and then rebuilt it, i.e. add bracing to the top, etc. By then it would be more economical to get a properly manufactured acoustic bass guitar. later, ron

Snerek · #3 12-03-2008, 11:05 AM

yeah i think your right. any tips on selling my acoustic?

maybe ebay or craigslist?

rdcalab · #4 12-03-2008, 01:27 PM

I made one out of an old 12 string. Pulled the frets, recut the nut and saddle and strung it up. Not the best sounding instrument but it did work. I had no problem with the bridge pulling up or the top bowing. Go for it.

Snerek · #5 12-03-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdcalab

I made one out of an old 12 string. Pulled the frets, recut the nut and saddle and strung it up. Not the best sounding instrument but it did work. I had no problem with the bridge pulling up or the top bowing. Go for it.

interesting! i may be dropping you a PM in the future!

Stay tuned..

Darkstrike · #6 12-03-2008, 03:42 PM

There' a few on here that have done this before, one changed his neck to a bass neck.

Fetusyolk · #7 12-03-2008, 03:52 PM

yeah the scale might make it a little strange. but whatever, if you're not using the guitar it wont hurt to try.

T.O.Bass · #8 12-03-2008, 04:08 PM

Didn't somebody post a thread on this not too long ago? A bunch of people were saying how it couldn't be done but he went ahead with it and it worked, IIRC.

pilotjones · #9 12-03-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdcalab

I made one out of an old 12 string. Pulled the frets, recut the nut and saddle and strung it up. Not the best sounding instrument but it did work. I had no problem with the bridge pulling up or the top bowing. Go for it.

Not that it can't be done with a six-string, but in this particular case I would guess that a 12 has some advantage in the application, since it is probably optimized in some way to handle about twice the usual 6-string tension.

erikbojerik · #10 12-03-2008, 08:08 PM

Actually, a 34" scale 4-string bass has maybe 10% more string tension than a 25.5" 6-string guitar, so besides making a bass neck for it....all you'd have to do is change up the bridge.

pilotjones · #11 12-03-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erikbojerik

Actually, a 34" scale 4-string bass has maybe 10% more string tension than a 25.5" 6-string guitar, so besides making a bass neck for it....all you'd have to do is change up the bridge.

Yes, true about the minor difference in tension. But: if a bass can be assumed to require higher action than a guitar, then that changes everything. Moment arms perhaps doubled, etc.