New project need advice on scale length.

[peaveyuser]

So it's my last term in wood class where we can do whatever we want and I've decided to do something totally nuts instrument wise. Not as hardcore as the pacman bass but still fun. This is really a budget project too, it also ain't pretty.

So basically I had this old plywood jazz bass body lying around, it has pickups also. So what I'm doing with a buddy of mine funding some parts is shoving a guitar humbucker in there (you can see in the pic I already made the cavity, which is less then stellar). So my friend also has a guitar neck and since we don't have anything else or any money we'll use it as the neck and make it 25" scale which also means the bridge will be closer. So here are some ideas I've been thing about to do with it.

A) somehow make it a 4 string bass (change nut) my worry would be tension

B) make it a guitar----boring

C) make it a 4 string with thick strings but make them like the four highest guitar strings (DGBE)

D) make it a six string with thick strings tuned one octave lower then a normal guitar (again tension)


Pics (you could say I butcherd it but it wasn't great from the start, I used a drill hahah)
NOW


BEFORE

[Al Heeley]

Should be fun - what was the question?

[peaveyuser]

Originally Posted by Al Heeley

Should be fun - what was the question?

OOPs question about tension, what would be your recommendations on how to string it. I gave some options what I was thinkin but feel free to recommend some other ideas.

[envika]

I'd say make it a six-string tuned E-E an octave under a geetar

You can't find those cheaply, and they sound cool. That would entail a scale length of 28-30", which of course would mean moving the bridge. But it sounds like you're up for adventure...

[peaveyuser]

OK i just strung a D string (only gauge fitting through guitar tuners) on a guitar and tuned it to low E. Because the gauge of the string it's not THAT bad, infact it's nice for bending. Now it might just get too tight for fingerstyle, maybe.

Whatever I think i have it planned out, I'll drill a hole big enough for a bass tuner for the e string (it will probably be A gauge though) then put on a D string as A, a G string as D, a Guitar E as G, guitar A as B, guitar D as high E.

As for the bridge I will string through the body since it will be a strat style bridge.

File down the guitar nut enough to at least work.



There we go