Crazy Conversion Project Contemplated

[selowitch]

I have long wanted a three-pickup, short-scale 5-string, and I'm thinking of picking Link Removed up cheap and modding it. All I would really need is new bridge and a new nut to get started (I could simply not use one of the tuning pegs; if, later on, that starts to bug me I could remove all the tuners, plug the holes, and re-drill for five new tuner holes, probably with lightweight "bass" tuners instead of the guitarish ones on there now).

The pickup pole pieces won't line up, of course, but I can switch those out for bar-magnet ones later if it's a problem.

One thing deterring me is Kurt Z. at Rondo Music tells me this thing runs around 10lbs., which will be probably too heavy for my tastes.

Am I nuts?

 

[iiipopes]

The problem is that you really need about 1 3/4 inch width at the nut in order to have sufficient room to put five strings on it. The linked instrument does that.

Now, I have played the Ibanez short scale 5-string, and to me, the B string has all flub and no tone for that short a scale. So before you purchase or mod an instrument, take a regular 34-inch scale 5-string bass, capo the 1st fret for a 32 inch scale, or the 2nd fret for a 30.3 inch scale, tune down the strings accordingly, or put heavier strings on it tuned down, so you can see if you really like the shorter scale in a 5-string.

Ibby has a hollow 5-string, which all you would need to do is add the third pickup.

 

[selowitch]

The problem is that you really need about 1 3/4 inch width at the nut in order to have sufficient room to put five strings on it. The linked instrument does that.

Now, I have played the Ibanez short scale 5-string, and to me, the B string has all flub and no tone for that short a scale. So before you purchase or mod an instrument, take a regular 34-inch scale 5-string bass, capo the 1st fret for a 32 inch scale, or the 2nd fret for a 30.3 inch scale, tune down the strings accordingly, or put heavier strings on it tuned down, so you can see if you really like the shorter scale in a 5-string.

Ibby has a hollow 5-string, which all you would need to do is add the third pickup.

I have an Ibanez SRC6, which you could describe an Ibby version of the Fender Bass VI short-scale six-string bass. I like that one! I have thought about the Artcore semi-hollow, but reports of a flubby B-string turn me off.

What I'd really like? A Fender Rascal Bass at about 8lbs., 4oz. with five strings on it. Probably my ideal instrument and main player, if it existed (which it doesn't).

 

[selowitch]

This one, a Link Removed, is 5-string and 30" scale and around 8.5 lbs. Maybe it's a possibility.