A different take on converting a four string to a 5...

[bound'n'blocked]

With Mapleglo's thread below on converting a four string to a fiver by adding a hole in the headstock, it got me to thinking. I have a bass like the one from that thread, but wondered if anybody had ever converted the body of a four string bass to accept a five string neck.

Discuss...

BnB

 

[Mktrat]

Yes, it was done. Can't remember who did it, but if I recall correctly, it was done using one of the G&L 5 string necks that they sold really cheap.

 

[40Hz]

How equipped and good are your with a router or a wood milling machine? It takes some precision work to enlarge a neck pocket..

 

[bound'n'blocked]

How equipped and good are your with a router or a wood milling machine? It takes some precision work to enlarge a neck pocket..

I spent an hour at Harbor Freight the other day looking at a router and trying to figure out how to hold the thing if that tells you anything...

BnB

 

[40Hz]

I spent an hour at Harbor Freight the other day looking at a router and trying to figure out how to hold the thing if that tells you anything...

BnB

In that case I think a PM to @mapleglo would be in order to get her input.

 

[mapleglo]

I wouldn't recommend it. Here's a pic of the back of my Precision.

Precision Back

• mapleglo
• Apr 4, 2018
• back precision bass

Back of the Precision

You'd want to center the 5 string neck on the body, which means there'd be extra "meat" on either side of the existing neck pocket. On the treble, lower side of the body (left side on the pic, as looking from the back), the neck is already flush with that side of the neck pocket. Fitting a 5 string neck, which will be wider than a 4 string neck at the heel, would extend beyond that pocket area. There would also be a small area on the bass side where the neck would extend beyond the existing body, at the top of the pocket.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Presumably it would be about as easy/hard to make a whole new body as to try to enlarge a body into space that does not exist, or to make space (gluing stuff on) to expand into. At least it looks that way to me, plus, you could either use or sell off the 4 string bass in that case.

 

[Mktrat]

FOUND IT!! Thanks @Dark Horse

Today's project: 4 string to 5 string conversion

 

[bound'n'blocked]

FOUND IT!! Thanks @Dark Horse

Today's project: 4 string to 5 string conversion

Thanks! Something like that is what I was thinking. I would assume (we all know what happens when one does that...) however that the distance farther back into the body that is routed for the neck pocket would need to be compensated for with moving the bridge, or am I wrong?

This is something I can do. I can't use a router, but I know someone who can!

BnB

 

[themarshall]

... I would assume (we all know what happens when one does that...) however that the distance farther back into the body that is routed for the neck pocket would need to be compensated for with moving the bridge, or am I wrong?...
BnB

Extra depth into the body is because the 5 string neck used is 21 frets instead of 20 like most J necks.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Extra depth into the body is because the 5 string neck used is 21 frets instead of 20 like most J necks.

Ahhh, ok. I didnt consider that. I'll need to check my neck.

BnB

 

[Duanestuermer]

I had a pre CBS P bass that the neck became unrepairable on in the 80s, bought a Warmoth replacement 5 neck, and put a 5 string bridge on, worked great for another 20 years until it was stolen.

 

[two fingers]

Man, that thing should be easy to spot! Hate you lost it. I like it.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Im liking this idea a little more, I have a bass that I had converted to a 5 ala the way Mapleglo did recently, but the string spacing is too tight. I picked up a five string neck. I have the bridge already on the other one. Really, only the neck pocket needs changed. Pickups would be another issue, but I think I can sort that out.

BnB

 

[ctmullins]

Serendipity uses an unmodified Warmoth four-string Dinky P body with a homemade five-string neck. I tapered the fingerboard for five strings, and most of the neck, but not the section that mates to the body. It’s a little hard to photograph, but hopefully you can see the way the fingerboard overhangs the neck at the pocket.

I wish I had more need to play fretless; this is a really fun bass to play.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Serendipity uses an unmodified Warmoth four-string Dinky P body with a homemade five-string neck. I tapered the fingerboard for five strings, and most of the neck, but not the section that mates to the body. It’s a little hard to photograph, but hopefully you can see the way the fingerboard overhangs the neck at the pocket.

View attachment 2974948

I wish I had more need to play fretless; this is a really fun bass to play.

Are you saying similar to a set neck joint? Did you make the neck heel narrower in the middle to fit the smaller neck pocket?

BnB

 

[ctmullins]

Are you saying similar to a set neck joint? Did you make the neck heel narrower in the middle to fit the smaller neck pocket?

BnB

Yep, that's one way to think about it. It's only a slight bit narrower than the fingerboard, but yeah, it's sized to fit the stock Warmoth/Fender four-string neck pocket.

 

[bound'n'blocked]

Yep, that's one way to think about it. It's only a slight bit narrower than the fingerboard, but yeah, it's sized to fit the stock Warmoth/Fender four-string neck pocket.

Oddly enough, my 16 year old son, who will try anything no matter how crazy it sounds as long as it doesnt cost him anything, suggested something like that yesterday. I told him he was crazy.

Similar to this I suppose...

Im calling it a set neck but I dont really know if I know what the Hell I'm talking about...

I wonder what the overhang would look like?

BnB

 

[ctmullins]

I wonder what the overhang would look like?

Depends on how wide you like your string spacing. Serendipity has 17mm spacing at the bridge, and 8.9mm at the nut, which makes the spacing 14.25 at the neck heel - that’s a total width of 2.25 inches B to G, and a total fingerboard width of 2.75 at the same point. So it’s not much. But I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re aiming for a much wider spacing.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

I think they’re talking about something like this. The first body is one I got that is beautiful old (I think its) mahogany but it was made to a different spec then new Fenderish stuff. I didn’t really want to route out the neck pocket so I rebated the heel a little. The blue one is a body I made as an experiment that I turned out to really like, however, the original neck had an issue that wasn’t worth trying to fix but the next neck was a bit wider so I did something similar to get it all to fit. They’re a little more crude then I like to admit to but they work.

I believe Warmoth does something similar with their wide necks to make them fit a standard pocket.