Turning guitar into bass

[Bexuga]

Guys, I have a crappy old strat that I use to learn about the mechanics of electric instruments that I've been thinking about turning into a SS bass. I'd string it with the 4 thicker strings of a 7 string set for guitar, so like a piccolo gauge, and change the pickups for some p-bass pickups I have.
Do you think this would be feasable? I don't want to make it an instrument to play on gigs, just maybe have it as a fun project. However, I don't want to ruin the guitar completely.
Any thoughts?

 

[hypercarrots]

You don’t even have to change the pickups

 

[charlie monroe]

Go for it.

 

[mongo2]

I've converted guitars into basses and I've gigged them.

 

[Bexuga]

I've converted guitars into basses and I've gigged them.

Any advice?

 

[mongo2]

Any advice?

Plan ahead.

Here's the first one I did about 4 years ago...

View attachment 3097902

I later removed the unused tuners on each side of the headstock and the bridge tailpiece grommets filling the holes with black plastic plugs.

 

[Bexuga]

Plan ahead.

Here's the first one I did about 4 years ago...

View attachment 3097902

I later removed the unused tuners on each side of the headstock and the bridge tailpiece grommets filling the holes with black plastic plugs.

You kept the pickups but changed the nut?

 

[electracoyote]

Reminds me of one of McCartney's first basses. A crap six string electric (though it was symmetrical) strung with a few stolen piano strings.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

 

[Bexuga]

Reminds me of one of McCartney's first basses. A crap six string electric (though it was symmetrical) strung with a few stolen piano strings.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

Nice, imma check it out

 

[alder]

Stratocaster Bass ( and Jazzmaster, and other forbidden birds )

about a dozen different ways to do it

see page 5

 

[mongo2]

You kept the pickups but changed the nut?

Yes.

 

[GtenderG]

I've had a rediculous project in my head that relates to this. I am thinking of converting a baritone guitar to 6 string bass. Three courses of two. Tuned ADG. Like the top neck on Chris Squires triple neck.
I have absolutely no need for this but I don't need half the gear I own.

 

[Bexuga]

Stratocaster Bass ( and Jazzmaster, and other forbidden birds )

about a dozen different ways to do it

see page 5

This is super helpfull, thank you.

 

[lz4005]

Guys, I have a crappy old strat that I use to learn about the mechanics of electric instruments that I've been thinking about turning into a SS bass. I'd string it with the 4 thicker strings of a 7 string set for guitar, so like a piccolo gauge, and change the pickups for some p-bass pickups I have.
Do you think this would be feasable? I don't want to make it an instrument to play on gigs, just maybe have it as a fun project. However, I don't want to ruin the guitar completely.
Any thoughts?

Not feasable wth those strings if you want to tune it anywhere close to standard bass tuning.

Piccolo basses are tuned an octave up from standard bass, identical to the low 4 of a normal guitar. To do that you'd just take off the skinniest two strings that are already on there.

If you want to try to tune it like a bass you'll need thicker strings than a bass would use, because the scale is almost 10" shorter. To get close to the same tension as a normal bass you'd need to start somewhere around a 0.120. But you won't find a string that thick with a taper that will fit through a guitar tuner at guitar scale.

Replacing the nut with one set up for 4 strings will be relatively easy. Just get a blank and some files.

Replacing the bridge will be almost impossible if it has a normal Strat tremolo. You won't find anything to go in that hole that will give you 4 strings equally spread across the space of the 6 that are on there now. I guess you could try different saddles and keep the tremolo, but you'll likely have to make them yourself to get the right alignment.