Anyone ever tried to convert a 5 string bass to a 4 string? I saw an awesome deal on a Stingray knock off at a pawnshop, but it's a 5 string and, no offense to those of you who play them, but I'm not a fan. I was thinking of taking it as a project. Any thoughts?
You're not worried this may cause problems with uneven tension on the neck? I've never really done anything like that, so I'm not sure what will happen over a long period of time.
couldnt tell ya... i hate how neck heavy the thunderbird is so it went from being a back up to just collecting dust
If you want a 4, buy a 4. You will have twisting issues because of the uneven tension if you simply leave one string off. And if you get it done properly, you're going to have a gigantic neck, plus you'll have to buy a new nut, bridge, and pickups to play your 4 with the gigantic neck. And you'll never be happy with it. A waste of time, money and effort.
I did this a year ago and love the bass. It had very tight spacing and know I have a 19mm spacing. Here is the thread that I posted one year ago http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257804
I did a trade a while back on a Ken Smith knockoff four string neck through. I completed the bass with a little help and it is a great bass but the neck is pretty wide for a four string. I toyed with the idea of making it a five but then decided to make it a fretless and reshape the neck. It is in gigging condition but the neck still needs to be re-shaped. It sounds and looks killer.
keep it as a 5 string ands just don't touch the B. they'll be no extra reaching involved. it'll be exactly the same as a 4 except it'll look different
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