Modifying the body of an existing bass.

[Krucial]

This might be a silly question, but hey, I never build a bass nor am I intending too. My problem:
I have a 1990 Tobias standard 4, wich is my best sounding bass, and when played while sitting, plays most confortable as well (excelent neck shape and very low action). However when played standing, for me it's not that confortable anymore (because of the small body, the neck is more horizontally levelled and the neck extends more to my left hand side, making it harder to reach the first position). So for rehaersals or performances, I mostly play my SR1000 prestige, or when going for comfort rather than soundquality even my Cort Curbow or Ibanez EDA 900. Since I allready own 6 basses, I really don't want to go for another 'does it all' bass, specially because this probally would be an expensive one.

So my question to the skilled luthiers out here:
Is it possible,and if so, is it a realistic plan, to (let someone else!) detach the upper body half from the neck (a neck tru) and put a new upper body half on it, which is more shaped like my Cort Curbow, or Ibanez EDA 900).

[pilotjones]

You could add a upper strap lug extension bar. People have done it with alembics and other short-horned basses to fix the balance and position.

[Stilettoprefer]

Originally Posted by pilotjones

You could add a upper strap lug extension bar. People have done it with alembics and other short-horned basses to fix the balance and position.

+1

I wouldn't try to mess with the entire body design. And that kind of work would likely cost more than a new bass.

[Krucial]

Thanx for the advice, but an extention bar is not really what I'm looking for.
Sure, it can change the orientation of the neck more horizontally and even change the position of the bass more to my right hand. But since shaped back of the upper body isn't changed, you'll get a mismatch between the new position of the bass and the shape of the back. This wouldn't result in the comfort I'm looking for in my 'one bass does it all bass'.

The thing is: none of the standard basses I know of delivers what I'm asking for, which is basicly the same positioning of the bass while standing or sitting and a good quite tradional (the bartolini's) sound.

So for me it's either modifying my Tobias or selling it and start searching again. I'm aware that both option will cost quite some money.

So more advice whether the modification is possible (and perhaps even an estimation what it would cost) would be appreciated.

Regards

[reverendrally]

Whole new body is much easier and it also means if you want to sell the bass down the track, you can put it back to stock and get your money back.

[Krucial]

Originally Posted by reverendrally

Whole new body is much easier and it also means if you want to sell the bass down the track, you can put it back to stock and get your money back.

Yes, in most cases, but not in the case of a neck tru (=this case), wich is basicly a neck with upper and lower body half atached to it.

[Musiclogic]

Adjust your strap to make your standing position mimic your sitting position, and start slumping, as when we play standing we are usually standing more vertically than when we play sitting down where we slump more, so your main problem isn't the body shape, it's your position variation between sitting and standing. If you want the bass to feel the same standing, you need to adapt your playing position and the bass position to mimic this, and no matter what you butcher on the instrument, you will not achieve this without making your body position the same standing as sitting.

[Krucial]

Originally Posted by Musiclogic

Adjust your strap to make your standing position mimic your sitting position, and start slumping, as when we play standing we are usually standing more vertically than when we play sitting down where we slump more, so your main problem isn't the body shape, it's your position variation between sitting and standing. If you want the bass to feel the same standing, you need to adapt your playing position and the bass position to mimic this, and no matter what you butcher on the instrument, you will not achieve this without making your body position the same standing as sitting.

What?! I'm not going to slump over my bass! When I play standing I stand up proud, like a bassplayer should! Also when I'm playing sitting, I'm sitting right up.
The difference in standing and sitting position is solely the position of the bass. When playing sitting my Tobias is resting on my right lap and therefore about 15 cm more to my right then when playing standing.
Both my Cort Curbow and my EDA900 (and the bass you have in your avatar, looks nice btw) have extended upper horns and are much more positioned to the my right side when playing standing. (Both the Curbow and EDA suck in playing sitting, but that's a different story.)

Thanx for the warning, but I'm taking good care of my basses and certainly won't butcher my most expensive instrument.

[NelsonNelson]

My bass teacher I had for a few years told me to put rest my bass on the inside of my left leg when sitting so it is closer to the standing position when playing sitting down. Also, to adjust your strap to where your bass is "held" almost all the way when sitting down and when you go to stand up, the position and the feel of playing does not change.

[Krucial]

Originally Posted by NelsonNelson

My bass teacher I had for a few years told me to put rest my bass on the inside of my left leg when sitting so it is closer to the standing position when playing sitting down. Also, to adjust your strap to where your bass is "held" almost all the way when sitting down and when you go to stand up, the position and the feel of playing does not change.

Personally I think it's strange to treat a bass, that has a neck about 9" longer than a spanish guitar, as a spanish guitar. But hey, if it works for you: perfect! (btw you must have really long arms) The main issue is to play relaxed and don't put your wrist, your arm or your back under stress.

Back to my question:

I have a NECK TRU bass, wich is perfect in ALL aspects, except the upper horn is way too short (it just reaches the 14th fret!) to play confortable while standing. Because of the shaping of the back I dont' want to simply extend the upper horn.

Should I:
1. Look for a new bass, that is perfect in ALL aspects? I tried this before, but to mach the sound and neck feel of my Tobias seems allmost inpossible withing a reasonable price range.
2. Modify my Tobias with a custum build upper body half?

[pilotjones]

Originally Posted by Krucial

Because of the shaping of the back I dont' want to simply extend the upper horn.

Is it just a matter of the position of the belly cut?

[Krucial]

Originally Posted by pilotjones

Is it just a matter of the position of the belly cut?

Yes, basically that's most of the shape of the back.

[pilotjones]

Ok, so could you add an upper strap lug extension bar, and just extend the belly cut? It might be easier than matching woods for a whole new body half, on a natural-finished instrument.

[reverendrally]

Originally Posted by Krucial

Yes, in most cases, but not in the case of a neck tru (=this case), wich is basicly a neck with upper and lower body half atached to it.

6 words; Sell it and get something proper.

Sorry that sounds harsh, but I used to think "yeah, mod it till it's right". Now age and experience tells me that "rennovation is more expensive and less successful than building fresh". And, I honestly think you're gonna regret it.

What you have is a classic hand made bass and you're gonna totally mess with it coz of your own fussiness. Don't do it. Sell and get what works.

[NelsonNelson]

^ what he said. Don't want to offend you, but that is true. There is a reason I play a Warwick Corvette and a Carvin BB75 over other basses. Their upper horns are very long and they balance better than other basses to me.

[Krucial]

Well, it was not exactly what I wanted to hear, but thanx for the advices and warnings.

So, slowly I will start searching for another bass: the 'one bass does it all' bass. However, I won't sell my Tobias yet.

Which basses do have a really long upper horn.