Does anyone make a 5 string BEATLE bass?

[jlepre]

You guys always seem to be in the know. Anyone?

 

[fretlessguy]

Not to my knowledge. Did a Bing search and all came up with was no as well.

 

[jlepre]

I play in a 60's 70's tribute band that plays ALOT of Beatles, but I only play 5 string basses. I was hoping to find a 5er violin bass.

 

[Webtroll]

I did a little searching and came up empty as well. I bet it would be cool; is there one with a wide enough neck for a decent conversion?

 

[JimmyM]

Doubtful. Most violin basses I've played have pretty thin necks.

I could never take a Beatles band that the bassist uses a 5-string. Just isn't correct.

 

[giantbaba]

LeCompte offers a violin shape, but it doesn't have the proper Hofner specs (solid instead of hollow, wrong pickups etc,.)

http://www.lecomptebass.com/bass-models/vb

 

[T-34]

I am not sure I would like to hear how the B string sounds on a short scale hollowbody...

 

[wednesdayagain]

I suppose there are builders who would be willing to make one if it doesn't exist yet

 

[atheos]

The whole idea of playing Beatles on a 5-string just sounds wrong. And If I ever saw a 5-string 500/1 copy, my first and only thought would probably be "Dear God why, oh WHY?".

And I have to second T-34, the B string would probably be a disaster on a short scale hollowbody. If something doesn't exist, there's usually a reason for that.

 

[Red_Merkin]

5 strings on a short scale hollow body? That B string would be a god awful floppy mess.

 

[KISSbestfan]

WIth this scale iId find it more possible to make a six string Beatle

 

[Gorn]

This is probably crap and isn't really a beatles bass, but it's interesting.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-string-ba...s-/390635549798?pt=Guitar&hash=item5af3b17466

 

[T-34]

The "craftsmanship" is outstanding...

 

[mcarp555]

Given the fact that Hofners are prone to neck joint problems, a 5-string would probably lead to all kinds of difficulty. They'd rather spend their time doing things like this:

 

[iiipopes]

It's not a Hofner, but Ibanez just introduced a 5-string hollow Artcore bass. The pickups are in the Hofner position, 30.3 scale, single cutaway like a Club meets Senator, and the tailpiece is far enough back that, like the Harmony H22 reissue, you use standard scale strings:

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[T-34]

AGB is a semi-hollow I believe and not a full hollow like Beatle bass? It should have better sustain in theory.

 

[iiipopes]

Possibly, but it is advertised as a hollow instrument. In any event, it's the only critter out there presently, and it does have a dark sunburst.

I forgot to add: there are two good flatwound B strings out there: 1) the T-I .136 if you use T-I nickel flats or Optimas; and 2) the D'Addario .132 for the other flats, including Chromes, Pyramids, etc. The LaBella is a .128, but I don't have any experience with that one, and with the shorter scale, I'm not sure it will have enough tension, or the GHS .126, which is only for 35-36 inch scales, so will be too long.

 

[Webtroll]

The "craftsmanship" is outstanding...

Aside from some odd points like the bridge alignment, pickup hole and neck pocket it still looks kinda cool. What is it?

 

[lomo]

I am not sure I would like to hear how the B string sounds on a short scale hollowbody...

I am quite sure I would not

 

[T-34]

Beware Brown Note!