Experimental 5-string build

[ctmullins]

I'm gonna ask you for your advice since you're smart enough to build a 5 string that didn't come in a kit or pre any thing. Do you think that I should change my electric guitar into a 6 string bass or not? I trust your advice so tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Please PM me with your advice or post it here.

Thanks,
Eric

Hi Eric,

I think it's awesome that you're interested in modifying your instrument to suit your desires! When you step outside the boundaries of what the manufacturers want to sell you, then the possibilities are endless!

However, your question is far too vague for me to begin to answer. Let me suggest that you approach this methodically: first, make a decision about exactly what kind of bass you want to end up with. Then do lots of research about the various different ways to arrive at your goal. Sometimes modifying an existing instrument is economical and efficient, but sometimes it can limit your choices. There are structural considerations, electronic considerations, ergonomic considerations, aesthetic considerations, etc. Learn the effect of each of these, and that will help you figure out how they apply to your own unique situation.

Start small - refinish an existing bass; add a pickup; do a defret/refret, etc. Learn how to do a proper setup. All of this will help you understand how all of the different parts of an instrument work together.

I have learned a ton of information simply by reading all of the other build threads here - there's a lot of wisdom and experience here, and it's all just sitting there waiting for you to dive into it.

And, after you go through that process, if you have specific questions, you can bring them back here to the forum.

Good luck, and have fun!

 

[Rickett Customs]

Clips sound good, I bet there's alot of personality in that sound, yet to come.

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

I'm gonna ask you for your advice since you're smart enough to build a 5 string that didn't come in a kit or pre any thing. Do you think that I should change my electric guitar into a 6 string bass or not? I trust your advice so tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Please PM me with your advice or post it here.

Thanks,
Eric

The short answer is that most guitars dont have the ability to have a long enough scale length to make an effective bass.

 

[Ben Heard]

The short answer is that most guitars dont have the ability to have a long enough scale length to make an effective bass.

Unless he wanted to build a baritone guitar, along the lines of a Fender VI. But for a typical 6 string I definitely agree.

 

[jjk2007]

I think this should be dubbed the "Wow Wow Wubbzy" bass!! (yes, I have kids: 5 yr old and a 2 yr old)

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

Unless he wanted to build a baritone guitar, along the lines of a Fender VI. But for a typical 6 string I definitely agree.

I thought of that, but a baritone starts at 26-26.5" scale length and unless he moved the bridge back and redid the fingerboard it is just going to be a flabby sounding guitar.

 

[Ben Heard]

The best baritone guitar for metal?

 

[Eric Albany]

The short answer is that most guitars dont have the ability to have a long enough scale length to make an effective bass.

It's a 34 inch scale which, to my understanding, is 2 inches larger than the standard scale bass.

 

[ctmullins]

I have to figure out a way to shave some significant weight from the body. I can't mess with the lower third of the body, since that's where the electronics cavities are. I don't want to mess with the middle third of the body, since that's where structural rigidity is most important. So that leaves the top third of the body.

So far I've only come up with two options:

1. Aggressively bevel the top of the body.

2. Cut windows through top of the body, in some sort of artistically harmonious way, kind of like the Gibson Holy Explorer.

Any opinions?

 

[Ben Heard]

Dont do number 2! Dont do it!!!!!

It's a 34 inch scale which, to my understanding, is 2 inches larger than the standard scale bass.

You have a 34" scale guitar? That's the same scale as a standard long scale bass, but 35" is fairly popular with 6 strings.

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

It's a 34 inch scale which, to my understanding, is 2 inches larger than the standard scale bass.

Just so we're all on the same page here, the scale is measured from the nut to the bridge. That being the case, if you have a 6-string instrument that has a 34" scale, you already have a bass.

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

I have to figure out a way to shave some significant weight from the body. I can't mess with the lower third of the body, since that's where the electronics cavities are. I don't want to mess with the middle third of the body, since that's where structural rigidity is most important. So that leaves the top third of the body.

So far I've only come up with two options:

1. Aggressively bevel the top of the body.

2. Cut windows through top of the body, in some sort of artistically harmonious way, kind of like the Gibson Holy Explorer.

Any opinions?

3. cut the crap out of the body like the explorer-but dont go all the way thru-and skin it with a 1/4" top.

 

[Rickett Customs]

+1, or cut out the core all the way through and cap it front and back.....

 

[ctmullins]

Thanks - capping front and/or back isn't really on the table for this one.

Not a lot of love for the windowing idea, eh? I actually really like the Holy Explorer; guess I'm in the minority there...

 

[pilotjones]

I saw a Holey Flying V, I thought it was pretty cool.

 

[Hopkins]

I wouldn't cut the body up like that, I wouldn't chamber it and put a top on it either. I think I would probably leave it alone and just put up with it being heavy. I think it looks awesome as is.

 

[Basstovsky]

I would advise cutting down the body shape to lose weight rather than cutting holes, unless you can find a way to spread them out evenly like that explorer, I'm sure you could alter the shape without throwing the balance off.

 

[bass rocks]

route the chambering from the back and put a boring top on the back.like alder

 

[ctmullins]

Okay, beveling it is.

Contouring, actually. It's not exactly straight.

Before that could happen, though, I needed to deepen the bridge recess by about 5mm, which I did while the face of the instrument was still flat.

Then I freehand terraced with the router:

Then, after much rasping and belt sanding (and loss of daylight), this is what I ended up with:

I'm pooped for now, but I'll finalize the shape with the palm sander soon.

 

[Stealth]

Oooh, now it's getting refined. Very nice.