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Post subject: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:35 pm
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I have an opportunity to pick up (rescue) a 5 string MIM P bass for a few bucks and a favor.
I've had a 5 string bass before and didn't really care for it too much so I traded it away years ago.

Have any of you ever had a 4 string nut cut to replace a 5 string nut and replace the 5 string bridge with a 4 string? I realize the string spacing will be different and the pick up alignment wont center the pole pieces directly under the strings and the neck might seem too wide and all ramifications down the line this will cause but I still feel like going for it and seeing how I like it.

I can't be the only one to have tried this.

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Post subject: Re: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 12:44 pm
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You could change the PU´s to 4string, too.
But why are you planning to convert the bass into an 4 string?

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Post subject: Re: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Mon May 25, 2015 1:11 pm
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I don't want a 5 string bass but I'm almost getting it for free so I might as well try to make it more useful. If I left it a 5 string, it would spend most of it's life in the closet.

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Post subject: Re: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 9:24 am
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Ok, thats an argument.
In your case I´d replace the bridge, the pickup and the nut. Maybe you have to cut a blank nut by yourself to place the strings on the fretboard like you want.
After that is done you can decide if you embellish the headstock because of the 5th hole of the missing 5th machine head; for example you could change the shape of the headstock by cutting the wood or something like that.
Ok, have fun and good luck. And don´t forget to post pictures of the finished project :wink:

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Post subject: Re: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 10:03 am
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How about taking it and trading it for a 4 string like you did last time? Save a lot of time and money and you won't end up with 4 that looks like a five the extra tuner/hole, etc.

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Post subject: Re: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 2:10 pm
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Either that, or you could string it with a high C string, if the low B is what gives you the issue.

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Post subject: Re: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 2:19 pm
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PaulLF wrote:
Either that, or you could string it with a high C string, if the low B is what gives you the issue.


That´s an great idea, too. Never came to that idea :wink: . I´ll try it just for fun, too.

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Post subject: Re: 5 string neck "conversion"?
Posted: Wed May 27, 2015 2:38 pm
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Location: On the loo, regretting that gas station burrito.
At least that way, the E would still be on top, too. That was one thing that kind of threw me off when I messed around with a 5-string was the location of the E, since I was so use to a 4-string. That, and the neck width. That was 20 years ago, though. Maybe I should try one out again and see if my dexterity has improved to where that doesn't seem so awkward.

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