I bought this Glarry a short while back ( see NBD Glarry 30" Short Scale Bass - Definite Modding Platform )
In that post, and discovering the neck heel was 2-1/2", I had pondered turning it into a 5'er. Well, I did. From the initial investment of $86.00, I now have approx. $145 total into it........plus a lot of hours and learning experience, lol.
The photos show my progress. The first pics show the original unmolested bass and the weight.
I then took it apart and organized the parts for installation/swapping. The footprint of the original bridge was the same as the new 5er bridge. Holes didn't line up, though, lol. -
Next, I did a few basic calculations and hogged out the pickup opening to accept an aftermarket MM-style pickup-
After that, I drilled and installed a "lefty" tuning machine.
New weight, approx 12 oz heavier from the extra string, new bridge and that massive humbucker MM style pickup.
I also cut a new nut. I got real close with the pickup. I had forgotten that all the saddles in the new bridge were situated all to one side, so I had to barely scoot the bridge to line up the A string over the middle poles and up the middle of the neck. I got close and that's good enough for me.
Oh, I must add - Every single hole in this body received a piece of toothpick and wood glue. This "Basswood" (seems more like Balsa or Pawlonia/Empress wood) is just not strong enough to retain screws tightly. Just figured I'd do 'em all and git-r-done in one fell swoop.
I painted this with cheap spray paint, then ended up sanding it all down and spraying Krylon Fusion Paint in "River Rock". I think it looks pretty good.
Last are the mostly finished/finished pics. I had to "sink" the MM humbucker down a ways because it was just waay too boomy. This tamed it a lot. I also had to turn the bass and mids way back and crank the upper mids a bit and dime the highs, utilizing my little Fender Rumble 40 Combo amp.
Strung with La Bella RX-N5C-S Short Scale Nickel Bass Strings.
This is a blast to play and now comes the decision whether to keep it or sell it. This is a never-ending thing with me, as some of you know already......
Hope you enjoyed my long-winded, ADD-infused story.
In that post, and discovering the neck heel was 2-1/2", I had pondered turning it into a 5'er. Well, I did. From the initial investment of $86.00, I now have approx. $145 total into it........plus a lot of hours and learning experience, lol.
The photos show my progress. The first pics show the original unmolested bass and the weight.
I then took it apart and organized the parts for installation/swapping. The footprint of the original bridge was the same as the new 5er bridge. Holes didn't line up, though, lol. -
Next, I did a few basic calculations and hogged out the pickup opening to accept an aftermarket MM-style pickup-
After that, I drilled and installed a "lefty" tuning machine.
New weight, approx 12 oz heavier from the extra string, new bridge and that massive humbucker MM style pickup.
I also cut a new nut. I got real close with the pickup. I had forgotten that all the saddles in the new bridge were situated all to one side, so I had to barely scoot the bridge to line up the A string over the middle poles and up the middle of the neck. I got close and that's good enough for me.
Oh, I must add - Every single hole in this body received a piece of toothpick and wood glue. This "Basswood" (seems more like Balsa or Pawlonia/Empress wood) is just not strong enough to retain screws tightly. Just figured I'd do 'em all and git-r-done in one fell swoop.
I painted this with cheap spray paint, then ended up sanding it all down and spraying Krylon Fusion Paint in "River Rock". I think it looks pretty good.
Last are the mostly finished/finished pics. I had to "sink" the MM humbucker down a ways because it was just waay too boomy. This tamed it a lot. I also had to turn the bass and mids way back and crank the upper mids a bit and dime the highs, utilizing my little Fender Rumble 40 Combo amp.
Strung with La Bella RX-N5C-S Short Scale Nickel Bass Strings.
This is a blast to play and now comes the decision whether to keep it or sell it. This is a never-ending thing with me, as some of you know already......
Hope you enjoyed my long-winded, ADD-infused story.
