Converting 4 string to 5 - crazy?

[darwin-bass]

I have arthritis in my left hand and cannot comfortabley play a neck that is wider than a modern Fender P neck. I've tried the narrow Ibanez and SBMM 5 string necks and my hand hurts after 3 minutes. Which has me out of the 5-string game for good. Or does it?

What about squeezing five strings on a four string bass?

If I started with a P neck and found the right bridge (Kahler 2440) I could fit five strings on a four string neck. I'd have to start with a blank headstock and drill my own tuner holes. Spacing would be a tight 14 mm and I don't know if that would be playable or not. This would end up as a very custom bass so resale value if I don't like would be very low.

Am I crazy?

 

[Hot Rats]

I have arthritis in my left hand and cannot comfortabley play a neck that is wider than a modern Fender P neck. I've tried the narrow Ibanez and SBMM 5 string necks and my hand hurts after 3 minutes. Which has me out of the 5-string game for good. Or does it?

What about squeezing five strings on a four string bass?

If I started with a P neck and found the right bridge (Kahler 2440) I could fit five strings on a four string neck. I'd have to start with a blank headstock and drill my own tuner holes. Spacing would be a tight 14 mm and I don't know if that would be playable or not. This would end up as a very custom bass so resale value if I don't like would be very low.

Am I crazy?

I did this exact thing. This is a Warmoth P-Bass neck and a dinky Jazz body. It is very comfortable. The Gotoh roller bridge works well too. I ordered a blank headstock too. Good luck!

with a different dinky jazz body..

 

[Rezdog]

Greetings from the North,

If it works for you great. The choice between resale and playing enjoyment is one that you've gotta make and be comfortable with. It's nice to be able to convert something back to stock and most of my mods I can do that with these days. Good luck.

Oh ya you're not crazy lol

Rezdog

 

[dedpool1052]

Paging @Ric5

 

[WillyW]

I thought I was smart and bypassed the 5 string in favor of a 6 string…

absolutely hated the wide board.

I converted my 4003 ric to a 5 string.

spacing was not an issue as i play with a pick and am used to treble guitars.

I did tune mine to EADG C/B. Because I prefer to step on the guitar players sonic space as much as possible, but BEADG tuning would have been as successful.

 

[Bass Man Dan]

I bought a cheap 5 string acoustic bass and it is definitely just a 4 string neck with a string added. I like it fine.

 

[dedpool1052]

Btw,
I believe the G&L L-5000 is just 5 strings on a 4-string neck.

 

[darwin-bass]

I did this exact thing. This is a Warmoth P-Bass neck and a dinky Jazz body. It is very comfortable. The Gotoh roller bridge works well too. I ordered a blank headstock too. Good luck!
View attachment 4844456

with a different dinky jazz body..

View attachment 4844460

Warmoth would be my go-to for this project. Which J pickups are in that first bass? I assume some sort of bar magnet 4 string pickups?

 

[darwin-bass]

Btw,
I believe the G&L L-5000 is just 5 strings on a 4-string neck.

I've searched for those from time to time. Hard to find. Also I think some of the early Peavey 5 strings may be 4 string necks.

 

[dedpool1052]

I've searched for those from time to time. Hard to find. Also I think some of the early Peavey 5 strings may be 4 string necks.

Another option,
I believe the SBMM Ray5s have narrower spacing than their American counterparts.

 

[Crispus]

Btw,
I believe the G&L L-5000 is just 5 strings on a 4-string neck.

L2500s are 1 3/4” at the nut, which sounds like your limit, but there you go.
Good luck on the search!

 

[Snert]

Am I crazy?

No. The only issue is the narrow spacing and if you can deal with that, why not?

I mentioned a couple of days back changing my headless Status to a 5 because I don't play 4s much and it gathers dust otherwise; sale isn't really possible as it has muchos sentimental value. I need to do some machining, but I'll use it to improve my skills in that regard. I'll do it so it can easily be reverted to stock but it's a 44mm neck and will end up about 14mm at the bridge too.

I did tune mine to EADG C/B. Because I prefer to step on the guitar players sonic space as much as possible

I've been thinking of tuning the same.

Go ahead and do it. I usually don't factor in resale unless I'm buying something that's rare or has a name attached to it. The point is to play what makes you feel most comfortable.

 

[dedpool1052]

Warmoth would be my go-to for this project. Which J pickups are in that first bass? I assume some sort of bar magnet 4 string pickups?

Looks like Nordy J-blades
Big J-Blade 4

 

[Stewie]

I remember a bunch of 4 to 5 string home conversion P bases in the pawn shops during the late seventies. At that time I had never even heard of a five string bass

 

[Hot Rats]

Warmoth would be my go-to for this project. Which J pickups are in that first bass? I assume some sort of bar magnet 4 string pickups?

They are Nordstrand Jazz blades, clean and clear.

 

[ahbass2500]

Btw,
I believe the G&L L-5000 is just 5 strings on a 4-string neck.

Correct. They have 15mm string spacing four string neck specs.

 

[klyph]

I bought my first fiver in 1988. It was a Gibson V. My second was an L-5000. Both of those are four string models with a different (narrow spaced) bridge. The Gibson handled the added tension with no problems and was a great bass (for me) for many years. The L-5000 neck didn’t fare as well, which is interesting because it’s the only G&L I’ve ever owned with that problem. I like the narrow spacing. Shoot, you’re giving me G.A.S.!

 

[micguy]

5'ers (and up) are all a compromise in terms of getting the neck small enough to fit your hands and having enough space between strings - this actually plays out on both ends of the strings. I would never be comfortable on a modern P neck with 5 strings - 1 7/8ths was an adjustment for me, both in terms of the strings being a bit crowded, and the neck being a bit wider. At the other end, 17.5 mm was a bit tight to start, but keeping the reach to the G string reasonable was a good thing. After a couple years, though, this is all home for me - it works just fine after that awkward period. As in many arenas, practice makes.... a lot better.

Anyway, my hands are HUGE. Yours probably aren't - my solution probably won't be ideal for you, use what works with what you have in terms or physiology.

 

[_B_E_A_D_G_]

Well, I have a MIJ Yamaha BB5000 that I am considering selling. They were the 1st mass-produced 5 strings, and it's basically 5 strings on a 4-string neck. I'm still a bit on the fence because it is a really sweet instrument, but this one is the outlier in terms of string spacing amongst my basses so I feel I have to let it go, and I would feel better if I knew it could find a good home. I don't have a listing (yet), but it's basically this one that got into my hands: For Sale/Trade - Yamaha BB5000 custom
Feel free to pm me if you are interested.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I have arthritis in my left hand and cannot comfortabley play a neck that is wider than a modern Fender P neck. I've tried the narrow Ibanez and SBMM 5 string necks and my hand hurts after 3 minutes. Which has me out of the 5-string game for good. Or does it?

What about squeezing five strings on a four string bass?

If I started with a P neck and found the right bridge (Kahler 2440) I could fit five strings on a four string neck. I'd have to start with a blank headstock and drill my own tuner holes. Spacing would be a tight 14 mm and I don't know if that would be playable or not. This would end up as a very custom bass so resale value if I don't like would be very low.

Am I crazy?

Just play a 4, and file the nut to 130, 105, 85, 65

Or, whatever guages you like