upright bridge on a electric bass?

[whisper14072]

I was playing around wit the idea of attaching a upright bass bridge to a electric bass body..... it this even possible? and if so what kind of pick-up system do ya think would work??

 

[T-Bird]

Hi.

Of course it's possible.

With steels, any magnetic PU will work, but piezos would probably be more to Your liking if it's the sound as well as the looks you're after.

Regards
Sam

 

[reverendrally]

Definitely, but you'd have to change the neck angle as well as a few other things to get it happening properly. Do you want to tell us what bass you are thinking of doing this with?

 

[whisper14072]

it's an old Yamaha RBX170 I have laying around. I stripped the body down to re finish it and the idea popped into my head

 

[reverendrally]

just quick reality check. you realise upright bridges are 4" high while electric bridges are 1/2" high?

to do it properly, new body would probably be in order. I say this coz you need to fit a tailpiece on as well as changing th neck angle by roughly 30degrees.

 

[whisper14072]

yea I know it sounds totally crazy... was just thinking.... had too much time at work....lol

 

[reverendrally]

not crazy. has been done, but you need to get all the details right is all. I gather work is slow at the mo then?

 

[whisper14072]

not crazy. has been done, but you need to get all the details right is all. I gather work is slow at the mo then?

Extremely

 

[kb9wyz]

I have thought about a similar kind of thing, but without the obvious mechanical issues. I thought of doing string thru ferrules far back and then wedging a carved ebony block under the right spot. I would think you would need a VERY THIN finish for this. That is, if you have a Fender, forget about it.