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Convert a 4 to 5

T

tomas_almeida

Oct 5, 2007
403
6
Portugal
#1
Man, I had a crazy ideia. I bought a RBX 774 some months ago and now sometimes I feel a need for a 5th string (never owned a 5er).

I'm not thinking in buying a new bass, I'm considering turning my 4 stringer to 5 stringer.

The pickups on the RBX 774 are the same as in the 775 so I think they fit a 5er aswell. My ideia was to order a 775 neck from Yamaha or other 35" 5 string neck. Then I would have a luthier install me the new neck and a new mono rail bridge (that I would also try to order from Yamaha).

I know this seems a bit stupid but I can't spend in a bass right now , gotta save some money for a new rig.
 
#3
yeah how much time do you spend on the G string? *(don't answer that...) I converted to BEAD long ago and don't miss the G a whole lot. Provided you don't mess up filing the bridge or nut it costs nothing but a set of strings :)
 
#5
Back in the early 90's when fives weren't as numerous and prices were higher, a company called Wilkinson USA sold something called the 4+1 Bass Conversion Kit. It wasn't too cheap (somewhere in the $150 to $200 range) and I don't think it was ever too popular, as it no longer exists today. These days it would be easier to just sell your 4 and then buy a 5. You would probably get better string spacing, as well.
 
#9
I don't know how easy it would be to have Yamaha sell you just a neck. I'm not sure if that's something that you can order from them.

If they let you though, by the time you've paid for the neck, bridge, and the time for the luthier to do the work you'd probably be out as much as an inexpensive five string.
 
#11
sounds like you are trying to force an idea that isn't meant to be... square peg round hole... ain't broken don't fix it... bass in a guitar case (a little forced, i know).
i am tempted to try mods like this all the time, but often realize that it just isn't meant to be.
say you could get the neck...
-your neck pocket would have to be routed out more to accommodate the bigger neck
-the pups would have to be routed an replaced (moving from 4 pole pieces to 5)
-your bridge pieces would have to be taken off, and centered to accommodate the new neck (with different routing) and the additional bridge piece
-you'd prob. want to update the electronics to accommodate the lower voicing of the low b
this adds up to a big investment of time, money, and effort to devalue a perfectly good bass that retails for under $300... not knocking the bass, they are sweet.. just taking a fiscal perspective.
suggestions:
-tune your bass a whole step down
-add a hipshot xtender... typically goes to a solid low d, but can go lower
-add an ibanez monorail bridge style bridge detuner (like the sr20th4 has)
-add both or do all three (low a#!)
-sell your bass and buy a 5!
 
#12
It seems like a good idea but when you price out the neck, bridge, and luthier work it may total more than the price of a used 5 string bass. You might want to try the classified here on TB. There may be someone out there that tried a 5 string bass and decided it wasn't for them. They might be interested in trading you for your 4 string.
 
#13
BassicJohn said:
There may be someone out there that tried a 5 string bass and decided it wasn't for them. They might be interested in trading you for your 4 string.
Click to expand...

Most cost effective solution.

And for the Record, the Yamaha that the OP is talking, seems to be a pretty decent bass...it even comes in a fiver version to, which confuzzles the heck out of me, of why the OP would go through all that trouble when the solution is just a trip away from the local guitar center.
 
#16
woodenskillet said:
Back in the early 90's when fives weren't as numerous and prices were higher, a company called Wilkinson USA sold something called the 4+1 Bass Conversion Kit. It wasn't too cheap (somewhere in the $150 to $200 range) and I don't think it was ever too popular, as it no longer exists today. These days it would be easier to just sell your 4 and then buy a 5. You would probably get better string spacing, as well.
Click to expand...

I hated those :) 4 tuners on the headstock and one on the bridge with a skinny neck.

This idea worked a bit better.

Invalid Link Removed


To the OP, if you were doing the work yourself for the fun of it, it would be worth doing but the luthier & parts bill would be more than a used Yammy on eBay.
 
#17
I forgot to mention I'm not in America, I'm living in Portugal... I thought I had put it in my profile, I'll update it now.

Because I live in Portugal I can't go to a guitar center, that's why I had this idea.

I've been looing on ebay in Europe and I can't find a good 5er, just stupid scam basses and fakes.

I also thought on this because I think the pickups on mine are the same that on the 5 string version, so they could be used for both 4 stringers and 5 stringers. I've read it somewhere, can't remeber now.

I can check the classifieds, but I'm not sure I'm going to find some good things over here in Europe.

Thanks you all for the answers!
 
#19
i have a olp neck and bridge i can sale you . dont route the body of the guitar , route the neck . make the neck have a dado inset around the neck joint area and it will slide right in and work just fine . i have done this on 4 or 5 basses for people before . as long as your pickups are wide enough , you wont be out any real money .......
 

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