therealting Posted July 20, 2018 Posted July 20, 2018 Has anyone taken a 35” scale bass and converted it to 33” scale by moving the nut to the first fret (or similar)? Just calculated that the first fret is 1.964” from the nut on 35” scale... Quote
ikay Posted July 21, 2018 Posted July 21, 2018 (edited) You could just detune by a semitone and use a capo on the first fret... Edited July 21, 2018 by ikay Quote
Twincam Posted July 21, 2018 Posted July 21, 2018 Its possible. You would have to move all the frets accordingly. It's not just moving the nut closer to the fret, as that would be totally wrong. The thing is even if done properly. It might still look odd around the headstock, nut area. But I hear there's maybe just maybe one guy crazy enough to help you. His name is unmentionable on here but he is a eBay legend. Converter of instruments extraordinaire. Haha 2 Quote
therealting Posted July 21, 2018 Author Posted July 21, 2018 13 hours ago, ikay said: You could just detune by a semitone and use a capo on the first fret... That’s the idea I have in mind, just more permanent. Quote
alittlebitrobot Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 Assuming the fret positions work all the way up the neck, it's really a matter of making a new nut that maintains the string spacing at the existing first fret. Here's a video of Matt Estlea at this point in his bass build series Quote
Sibob Posted July 26, 2018 Posted July 26, 2018 I’d probably say the work involved is more than worth it, just buy a 33” scale bass Si 1 Quote
fretmeister Posted July 27, 2018 Posted July 27, 2018 Don’t bother with a new nut. just install a taller fret where you want the nut to be. That will be your Zero Fret. Leave the existing nut where it is as a string guide. Then you you can always reverse the mod by putting a normal fret back in. Stickers for fret markers. Quote
alittlebitrobot Posted July 27, 2018 Posted July 27, 2018 2 hours ago, fretmeister said: Don’t bother with a new nut. just install a taller fret where you want the nut to be. That will be your Zero Fret. Leave the existing nut where it is as a string guide. Then you you can always reverse the mod by putting a normal fret back in. Stickers for fret markers. This is definitely less work than my suggestion but I'm curious.. do you think with the zero fret being the same height as the bottom of each groove in the nut, that the nut would need to be sanded down a hair? Or maybe that there should be some kind of string tree to keep downward pressure? Quote
visog Posted August 16, 2018 Posted August 16, 2018 8 hours ago, blackrg said: Thread reboot....did anyone try this? Only if they were a complete idiot. This is such a 'Basschat' thread - I want to turn my 'something' into 'something it's clearly not'! installing a whammy bar on a Hofner or converting a jazz bass into a Rickenbacker. Chowny have off the peg short scales.... there's a 33 Warwick for sale here currently. Bit more money will get you an Ibby Volo - lovely shortie 5 E-C. Loads of options. Quote
tommorichards Posted August 16, 2018 Posted August 16, 2018 Brad over at http://www.lowecustomguitars.com sells 33" conversion necks for those interested, or 32" i think. Quote
Sibob Posted August 16, 2018 Posted August 16, 2018 18 minutes ago, tommorichards said: Brad over at http://www.lowecustomguitars.com sells 33" conversion necks for those interested, or 32" i think. It’s 32” Si Quote
blackrg Posted August 17, 2018 Posted August 17, 2018 (edited) I am most interested in a 33 scale 5 string. I can use search but as I am something of an idiot, I have not so far been able to locate the 33 scale Warwick for sale on here currently, any clues? Edited August 17, 2018 by blackrg Quote
visog Posted August 19, 2018 Posted August 19, 2018 Sorry I missed directed you. I was referring to this: Which is neither a 5-string or 33" scale. But it is a Warwick so 1 out of 3. Sorry. Quote
therealting Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 On 16/08/2018 at 16:17, visog said: Only if they were a complete idiot. This is such a 'Basschat' thread - I want to turn my 'something' into 'something it's clearly not'! installing a whammy bar on a Hofner or converting a jazz bass into a Rickenbacker. Chowny have off the peg short scales.... there's a 33 Warwick for sale here currently. Bit more money will get you an Ibby Volo - lovely shortie 5 E-C. Loads of options. There aren’t many affordable options for 32/33” six strings. I tried the Steve Lawson signature Elrick which is around £4k, it was the most comfortable 6 I’ve played, but I can’t swing £4k for a sixer that would only get occasional use. There was an S Martyn on here for £2k. I’m thinking of getting a narrow-spacing 6er and sticking a capo on it; and then maybe thinking about making it permanent if it works out. I have lots of pretty fine instruments which I and those who hire me think I play pretty well. I’d hope I’m not an idiot, I’m just trying to be sensible with my money. Quote
visog Posted August 23, 2018 Posted August 23, 2018 34 minutes ago, therealting said: I’m thinking of getting a narrow-spacing 6er and sticking a capo on it; and then maybe thinking about making it permanent if it works out. Ibanez's Gerald Veasley (not the custom which is zillions) but the GVB36 has a famously narrow string spacing (14mm) 1 Quote
therealting Posted August 23, 2018 Author Posted August 23, 2018 (edited) 8 minutes ago, visog said: Ibanez's Gerald Veasley (not the custom which is zillions) but the GVB36 has a famously narrow string spacing (14mm) I have seen that one, just a little narrow for me! I have a Conklin 8-string with 14mm spacing which is nice for chords and chord melody, but way too tight for normal playing. I’m think an RBX JM or similar. The Ibanezes are nice but necks are too thin for me. Edited August 23, 2018 by therealting Quote
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