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Six string Jazz conversion? (for cheap?)

Sadly, it seems all the Sixer J's in Rondo are gone..... Word on the street is there'll be more in mid-2011 but I really can't wait that long.

So my question is, how difficult would it be to mod an inexpensive fiver to suit my extended-range needs? This guy did it.....

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Thanks guys any help appriciated
 
Looks like you already have the blueprint in hand.

Lets see....

New bridge, nut, and tuners for sure. May or may not need new pups depending on design. A friend of mine had his old Washburn converted to a 6 string by a guy named Steve Azola. It turned out really nice.

Cloning the pic you have would not be that hard, I'm thinking a Saturday afternoon once you have all the parts gathered up.
 
let's be realistic here, it is not going to be cheap or easy. If you do not know how to replace a nut, you need to talk to a luthier or repairman to see about having this done, as you are looking at having nothing to play once you destroy this.

Look to Ebay, you can find cheap 6ers for less than you will put into changing this one over, and if you like it, sell the 5 and make back the money. Brice and Douglas 6ers (made at same plant as SX) can be had on Ebay for less than $150 frequently
 
i did this to my Squier too. it was easy to do. i replaced the nut with a Tusq nut. i had to file out the slot to widen it for the new nut. I fitted it for a Kahler Trem and made it a fretless. i also put a Carvin J99 in the bridge and redid the electronics. it's wired with only the bridge p/u to a volume pot then to the jack. simple and easy. plays awesome and is totally worth doing.

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i did this to my Squier too. it was easy to do. i replaced the nut with a Tusq nut. i had to file out the slot to widen it for the new nut. I fitted it for a Kahler Trem and made it a fretless. i also put a Carvin J99 in the bridge and redid the electronics. it's wired with only the bridge p/u to a volume pot then to the jack. simple and easy. plays awesome and is totally worth doing.
You sir, are too cool 4 school.

Seriously, that is awesome and kinda what I've had in mind for a project. :bassist:
 
Why the Kahler on a fretless?
Probably because he didn't think it through. Or he wants to dive bomb harmonics and open strings? :D

The Squier conversion looks nice, but I would strongly recommend filing the nut to fit the slot, not the other way around - if anyone else is to undertake this.

OP, go ahead and do this if you want to, but musiclogic is right. If you don't know how to remove a nut or how involved this is, you're probably not ready to problem solve the other 20 or so minor issues that will arise in the process. This is not a dig, just a recommendation that you start doing some research. Removing and replacing nuts, drilling tuner holes, finding replacement tuners that match, replacing bridges (including measuring and locating) etcetera...
 
OP, go ahead and do this if you want to, but musiclogic is right. If you don't know how to remove a nut or how involved this is, you're probably not ready to problem solve the other 20 or so minor issues that will arise in the process. This is not a dig, just a recommendation that you start doing some research. Removing and replacing nuts, drilling tuner holes, finding replacement tuners that match, replacing bridges (including measuring and locating) etcetera...

Thanks for the constructive advice man. I wouldn't dream of starting a project without serious research!
 
You sir, are too cool 4 school.

Seriously, that is awesome and kinda what I've had in mind for a project. :bassist:


Why thank you!

The Kahler has been on there before it was fretless. It does seem kind of odd, but it works. This bass is great for mods. It has so many different things you can do to it.

If you want more pics, just ask. whatever helps with doing the mods yourself.