Converting P-bass to 8 string

[ChrisCharleston]

Hey TB

I've got an old Squier P-bass lying about that i wanna convert to 8 string

has anyone tried this?

i looked at the schaller 8 string bass on warmoth, but scince im in the uk i cant find one, and im thinking i may have to modify the existing bridge

i saw this beast on another thread Invalid Link Removed

but the bridge on that is an acoustic bridge, with one big saddle...

any ideas?

thanks,

Chris

 

[lonote]

The bridge is only one hurdle. The neck is a bigger issue. Necks on 8-stringers have to handle a lot more tension than those on 4-stringers.

 

[Herrlster]

That is one nice conversion. 5 string acoustic to an 8 string acoustic. Good job to whoever that guy is.

 

[cdef]

To get a workable tuner arrangement on a P you will likely have to plug the headstock and drill new holes. To save on space and weight, use small-footprint tuners like Hipshot Ultralites or mini-Schallers for the regular courses and quality guitar tuners for the octave ones, and put both G tuners on the opposite side.

You can order the Schaller bridge from Allparts UK. They also have a Wilkinson 8-string bridge in stock, but it's even more expensive and looks less adjustable.

EDIT: And with such variance in string gauges, a precisely-cut nut is important, too.

 

[Darkstrike]

Or Warmoth will send it to you.

Edit: They'll also sell ya an eight string neck that'll fit on your bass.

 

[emblymouse]

To get a workable tuner arrangement on a P you will likely have to plug the headstock and drill new holes. To save on space and weight, use small-footprint tuners like Hipshot Ultralites or mini-Schallers for the regular courses and quality guitar tuners for the octave ones, and put both G tuners on the opposite side.

You can order the Schaller bridge from Allparts UK. They also have a Wilkinson 8-string bridge in stock, but it's even more expensive and looks less adjustable.

EDIT: And with such variance in string gauges, a precisely-cut nut is important, too.

I had a guy do a P neck conversion for me and that is precisely what was done. He trimmed down the headstock and added wood to make a V style shape 4 per side tuners. The p neck width was just fine and it held up under tension with no problem.

 

[BlackLake]

The bridge is only one hurdle. The neck is a bigger issue. Necks on 8-stringers have to handle a lot more tension than those on 4-stringers.

That was my first thought too...can a 4 banger neck handle the tension of 4 more...you may be in for a major neck dilema in the long run.

 

[Herrlster]

Are there any 2 piece 8 string bridges available?

 

[cdef]

Are there any 2 piece 8 string bridges available?

Ibanez used to make a brass bridge/tailpiece combo for 8-string bass. I have it on my converted 4-string Framus Nashville, and it's ideal. The best thing would be to email Ibanez CS and ask about availability.

 

[Rickett Customs]

I loved the vultures on that page!

 

[Hoover]

Years ago I used to see an ad in Guitar Player magazine for an "8-string conversion kit" for Fender-style basses. Consisted of a combination bridge/tuning machine array (for the octave strings) and a special "tailpiece" (sic) that attached to the headstock for anchoring those octave strings. IOW, the octave strings were strung up backwards with their ball ends up at the headstock. Presumably the kit also included a new nut...or at least it was implicit that a new (or re-cut) nut was required.

I have no idea who made this kit, but the idea was so that someone could do precisely what the OP is requesting: COnvert an existing Fender 4-string to an 8-string without having to buy a new neck.

These days I think a new neck (from Warmoth, or one of the many other fine custom luthiers) with a Schaller bridge is the easier solution