Technically you should be able to make a fence post into an upright guitar with the right nut, bridge and strings it should sound just fine. I am not about to suggest you do so just how flexy is the guitar. Stiffer should be better.
Hi
Hi would the bridge plate make a dirrerence. Putting a different one on the strat i used to have increased the substain a lot. Should have a similar effect on a bass.