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Strat copy to bass conversion Super Short Scale Content!

M.Mannix3

M.Mannix3

Jun 12, 2010
92
1
#1
While it's not exactly a build but more of a heavy mod, I have come here to share my ambitious(for me) attempt to convert a Starcaster (cheap Stratocaster style lead guitar) into a super short scale (25.5) bass.

First a picture of the victim:
IMG_20120606_165922_small.jpg

I started by taking off everything. Nut(which wasn't glued in), tuners, bridge, the whole tremolo system all gone.

Next I found some wooden dowel rods and put some titebond on 'em and hammered 'em into the tuner holes.
IMG_20120606_175041_small.jpg

Looking back I really should have cut them to be shorter first. No matter I ended up just cutting them afterwards.

I have most everything planned out, I have tuners from a MIM jazz, I can use a P bass nut as a drop-in replacement because the old nut was 1"5/8.

I just have two concerns, the bridge and the pickups.
If I use a standard fender bridge set up 25.5" from the nut, the string spacing will go from .321666" at the nut to .748031"(19mm) at the bridge. That change in string spacing is too rapid and forces the E & G strings off of the fretboard around the 15th fret. I did the math and because the strings will stop at 25.5" instead of 34", the bridge needs to be modified to make the string spacing at the bridge .641440" instead of .748031". I realize it's only about a tenth of an inch but without it the strings don't stay over the fretboard. I really want to use the parts I have and not go buy more if I can help it, so is there a way that I can reduce my string spacing by about .1" with the stock bridge? Will I be able to adjust it that much if I get the brass bridge saddles with the ridges?

I have no idea what pickups will end up in here, but I think I want a P pickup in the sweet spot and maybe a J or a 51 P (non-split single) angled in bridge position to keep that Strat look.

What do you guys think?

Also I'm running out of room for attachments, what is the best picture hosting site around?
 
#3
I'm wondering if the fretboard will be too narrow to accomodate 4 bass strings (unless you buy a set of piccolo bass strings).

Perhaps make it a three string bass - similar to Tony Levin's old MusicMan 3.
Then again - you are going for an extreme short scale - may as well call it a 3 string piccolo

Just my 2 cents
 
#4
I think if I can make the strings closer together, all 4 should fit but that's a good point. I don't really mind if the strings are a bit cramped, I'm making this to mess around with when I'm bored and to hopefully teach my little brother on, he's 7 now so small should be good.
 
#6
I am doing something similar, but with a bass neck. What are you planning to use for the bridge and how will you deal with the big hole that is left from the old bridge?

I have used photo bucket for pictures. It seems to work, but I have very little experience with it.
 
#7
At first, I was planning on using a standard Fender bridge, and cover up the hole the best I can with that, but after seeing the string spacing issue, I might get a different bridge, or modify this one to work.

If I can't cover up the hole, I'll just deal with it and plus with the tremolo system gone, maybe I could put it some kind of extreme bridge position pickup there.
 
#8
I am thinking of using a plate style tele bridge, converted to bass saddles. I got the threaded bolt style saddles from allparts. The plate covers a lot and I may use the pickup cut out for a bridge pick up.

I wish you all the best on your mods and have subscribed to follow your progress.
 
#9
well a bass trem is around 300 bucks.

It would be cool if you could drill extra holes in a standard bass bridge to work with the factory tremolo block.
The strings would not be able to go through you would just have to string it up as usual. But just drilling a few extra holes in the bass bridge could make it mount to the block and then you would just have to use all 5 of the springs and possibly have a working system. The block is tapped for the trem arm to. it would be close fit but you might be able to even drill a hole close to the G string and even have a trem arm.
 
#10
While a bass tremolo would be a neat trick, I would rarely use it and I've read in order to tune this to standard tuning I need the huge BEAD strings from a 5 banger. I don't think it would be wise to put that amount of tension on the little guitar neck and then bend it around a bunch.
 
#17
Here's a conversion I did awhile ago. I used an old SX short scale bridge that has a 2" string spacing. It was an almost drop in. Some new holes had to drilled. A Musicmaster or Bronco bass bridge has a 2" string spacing too. I have this bass apart and am going to use individual bass bridges on it.

I used a Squier Bullet strat with a hardtail bridge so I wouldn't have to deal with the trem routing.

IMG_0320.jpg
IMG_0318.jpg
IMG_0319.jpg
 
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#18
M.Mannix3 said:
Just in case anyone cares, I (pretty much just needs tuner bushings and a jack plate) finished this project. I didn't take pictures throughout but I have some finished pictures to share.

View attachment 292231
Click to expand...
Hi from the future! What solution did you find for the mismatched string spacing on the bridge? Cool that you kept the stock trem. I'd also love to know if this thing still works >13 years later...cheers!
 
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