Strat. Bass

[xaxxat]

He used a bridge with a 2 1/4" spread. That's a bit too wide. A 2" spread is what is needed. This one is 2 1/8", which is the closest I can find.

On Ebay: Quality CR 4 String Bass Bridge for Bass Guitar L Shape Saddle Wholesale Parts | eBay

 

[Nic.]

@xaxxat Thanks for the warning! Yeah, on the photo you linked, they looked really really close to the edges of the neck... dangerously close.

You said you used the strings from a short scale, but since the guitar scale length is several inches shorter, did you find it very floppy?

 

[xaxxat]

@xaxxat Thanks for the warning! Yeah, on the photo you linked, they looked really really close to the edges of the neck... dangerously close.

You said you used the strings from a short scale, but since the guitar scale length is several inches shorter, did you find it very floppy?

They were somewhat floppy. I think using a BEAD set from a fiver would help. A .125 B tuned to E would have decent tension.

Look at this thread. Lot's of info there about fixing floppy strings and intonation: Sub-Short Scale Talk | TalkBass.com

 

[Nic.]

@xaxxat alright, thanks for the info! Hope this helps other people inspired by the thread too.

 

[xaxxat]

Let us know how yours turns out.

I might get off my butt and re-do mine. They are fun to play.

 

[bholder]

I've wanted to do something similar to these guitar-with-bass-strings projects, but with a twist:

• Piezo bridge
• Kala [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I'd go with a blank Tele/Esquire body (no need for pickups) and an Allparts TMO-Fat neck.

The only question I have, which nobody has answered, is whether the strings are actually long enough for the strat's 25.5" scale - the packaging says something like "up to 21" scale" on at least one kind (pahoehoes).

 

[bholder]

I did this to an Epiphone Les Paul Express 22" scale guitar, with encouragement from members of Talk Bass. I wanted a Telecaster, but there are none that small, so I went with the Les Paul. Had fun doing it, Here' a link to a video I did when it was complete (which includes conversion details), then I ran across Blue Star Guitar who makes small Telecasters and Bruce Herron agreed to make me a small Tele bass (my drawing below), which should arrive this week.

-https://Epiphone Les Paul Express guitar to bass conversion. - YouTube

View attachment 569648
View attachment 569649

If you want to convert a tele, check out DC Kunkle's conversion necks: DC Kunkle Std 30 25" T Style Bass 4 Conversion Neck Bin $125 | eBay

Also, narrow spacing bridges, I got a Schaller one with adjustable spacing from Allparts that should do it (got it for my Musicmaster restoration): 4-String Bass Bridge Black | Allparts.com

 

[LanEvo]

The Gold Tone Microbass comes in a 25" scale. Maybe the Kala strings won't work, but you should be able to find something that does.

 

[bolophonic]

I'm digging all these weird jalopy basses.

 

[mel0dic.bassist]

I just GAS'd myself with the Shifter again.. Except in a 5 string, Trans Cream/Maple

 

[Feral Feline]

I guess you don't know about the Comanche...

View attachment 569307

Don't forget the Italia Imola ...

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I did this to an Epiphone Les Paul Express 22" scale guitar, with encouragement from members of Talk Bass. I wanted a Telecaster, but there are none that small, so I went with the Les Paul. Had fun doing it, Here' a link to a video I did when it was complete (which includes conversion details), then I ran across Blue Star Guitar who makes small Telecasters and Bruce Herron agreed to make me a small Tele bass (my drawing below), which should arrive this week.

-https://Epiphone Les Paul Express guitar to bass conversion. - YouTube

View attachment 569648
View attachment 569649

Great Job!

At one time I found a parts replacement supplier that did a smaller Telecaster (guitar) body; I was planning to use it for a U-Bass build.
Damned if I can find the link now, the name/link/info is on my old computer.

Though I couldn't find the parts supplier that I found previously, I did find LOTS of threads in guitar-land on making tiny strats and teles...

 

[76jazzbass]

Where is that from? Best looking one I've seen...

 

[groooooove]

How do you figure? A bass with 3 pickups, 5 pickup combinations, 1 vol, 2 tone is a worse design than a guitar with one split coil in the middle and 1 vol and 1 tone? Not saying the p-guitar would suck but I fail to see how it would be superior in any way, unless you're going for the whole "less is more/that's all I need " thing...

i just feel like the P-vibe would translate to a guitar better than the strat vibe transfers to bass. mostly, im basing this on the one strad bass i've played, and that i diddn't really like it. wasn't G&L doing p-like pickups on guitars? just one in the sweet spot.... i'd love to try it.

just personal preferance, really. no particular reason why.

 

[Ric5]

Where is that from? Best looking one I've seen...

I just found it on the internet

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Landing Bass
Link Removed

Gotta admit - that's sharp!

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

I think the G&L Comanche is about as close to that as anything, though still not at all the same really. For the most part the P-bass is the bass counter part to the Strat at least visually imo, if there were no Landing Bass I would have posted a picture of a P.

The Jazz bass was intended to be the bass equivalent of the Start. The P was out 9 years earlier.

 

[rogerbmiller]

I say Godin Shifter for sure.

 

[deeptubes]

My Fender HM on the right.

 

[MrLenny1]

Godin Shifter

 

[scourgeofgod]

The Jazz bass was intended to be the bass equivalent of the Start. The P was out 9 years earlier.

Not sure what you mean by any of that, my likening of the p and the strat has to do with looks and looks alone. Pickups and controls from p to strat to j are all very different. As far as I know the J was meant to be a quicker feeling, sleeker version of a fretted bass and nothing to do with a strat. Not sure why you're mentioning the p was out 9 years earlier than I'm assuming the jazz, strat came out in 54.