Yet another Cheapo Bass VI project.

AnArmyOfJuan · Post by **AnArmyOfJuan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:21 pm

I've been wanting a Fender Bass VI for nearly 20 years now, but just couldn't afford one. Then, I saw the Schecter Hellcat VI, and thought hey, I can almost afford that.. Then, this week, I saw the Agile Argus, and thought hey! that's even more affordable! Yesterday, I saw someone who had a '51 with a Bronco Bass neck that they had cut down the headstock and installed 6 tuners.

This makes me think: Why not just pick up a Bronco Bass, cut down the headstock, install new tuners, slap a Toronado bridge on there, and go to town? I'd have a 6 string Bass VI-type instrument for around $200! Maybe just drop a nicer Strat pickup in the existing route, and perhaps route out the body for another Strat pickup nearer the bridge?

What say the hive? Is there something I'm missing?

Further thought: Could a Strat tremolo bridge be adapted to the LaBella Hellcat VI strings?

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:50 pm

What is this cutting down the headstock business I keep hearing about!?
Does it mean it'll look like this:

► Show Spoiler

AnArmyOfJuan · Post by **AnArmyOfJuan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 5:56 pm

colabonham wrote:What is this cutting down the headstock business I keep hearing about!?
Does it mean it'll look like this:
► Show Spoiler

YIKES!! DO WANT STEINBERGER, DO NOT WANT SPOILT BASS VI-thingy

YEEEARG!!!

No! Not like that! What I've seen done is to basically cut a channel out of the headstock where the existing four tuner holes are, and dowel and glue it back together to achieve a similar size to the Bass VI headstock. Otherwise, a standard 4 string bass headstock is too large to mount 6 guitar-type tuners, and they'd be at the wrong angle, as well.

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:19 pm

Ah, good. Do proceed.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:05 pm

I was contemplating this exact same project. It should be easy to do, all things considered.

AnArmyOfJuan · Post by **AnArmyOfJuan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:12 pm

Any potential pitfalls you can think of?

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:25 pm

Perhaps compromising the structural integrity of the headstock?
Otherwise, I think it's a decent idea. Im looking forward to pics of it!

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:09 pm

Take a look at MatthewK's project,
Here: http://shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29867
and
Here: http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31305

Similar ideas

AnArmyOfJuan · Post by **AnArmyOfJuan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:12 pm

Ankhanu wrote:Take a look at MatthewK's project,
Here: http://shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=29867
and
Here: http://www.shortscale.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31305

Similar ideas

That's actually part of the inspiration for my project!

avj · Post by **avj** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:17 pm

I have nothing constructive to add here, so I'll say welcome and good luck! Also, nice to see another Metro Detroiter. I make it over to Hamtramck quite a bit to see friends playing out.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:18 pm

As far as the LaBellas and a Strat trem go, IIRC you'd need to modify the bridge somewhat to accommodate the strings, boring holes to a larger diameter. It would take work, but I think it could be done. Tension wise, I'm not sure how the stings and springs will cooperate, either. You're going to have similar issues with string diameter and guitar bridges in general though, unless you use something like a Bigsby, where the strings are anchored on posts rather than strung through a ferrule.

I've heard good things about those Agile VIs, and I play a Schecter Hellcat VI. They're pretty nice instruments. I love the idea of people building more of them

AnArmyOfJuan · Post by **AnArmyOfJuan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:20 pm

Ankhanu wrote:As far as the LaBellas and a Strat trem go, IIRC you'd need to modify the bridge somewhat to accommodate the strings, boring holes to a larger diameter. It would take work, but I think it could be done. Tension wise, I'm not sure how the stings and springs will cooperate, either. You're going to have similar issues with string diameter and guitar bridges in general though, unless you use something like a Bigsby, where the strings are anchored on posts rather than strung through a ferrule.

Yeah, the trem bridge was just mental riffing. I'll likely just go hardtail. I need to find out whether the LaBella Hellcat VI strings have a guitar-size ball end or a bass-size ball end, so I know what kind of ferrules to get. I suppose I could just buy the strings first. lol

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:56 pm

AnArmyOfJuan wrote:
Ankhanu wrote:As far as the LaBellas and a Strat trem go, IIRC you'd need to modify the bridge somewhat to accommodate the strings, boring holes to a larger diameter. It would take work, but I think it could be done. Tension wise, I'm not sure how the stings and springs will cooperate, either. You're going to have similar issues with string diameter and guitar bridges in general though, unless you use something like a Bigsby, where the strings are anchored on posts rather than strung through a ferrule.
Yeah, the trem bridge was just mental riffing. I'll likely just go hardtail. I need to find out whether the LaBella Hellcat VI strings have a guitar-size ball end or a bass-size ball end, so I know what kind of ferrules to get. I suppose I could just buy the strings first. lol

I'll take a look

My 'Cat is at my friend's place, where we jam, but I have a couple sets of strings here. Just a sec and I'll get the camera and strings.

One magic of the internet later...

Guitar sized ball ends. But, as you can see, the string is almost as big as the ball... it will hold in the tailpiece, though

Set of old guitar strings for comparison.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:59 pm

Oh, I also just remembered that the LaBella strings are custom built for the Hellcat (and fit the upcoming Ultra VI perfectly too, as it has the same spacings)... if you make the distance from the anchor point to the nut any longer, you will be in danger of having the string wraps fall off before the nut... so be careful. If you reduce the distance, you're only in danger of having thick wraps on the tuning peg (the default strings don't taper at all, so it's not a real issue).

AnArmyOfJuan · Post by **AnArmyOfJuan** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:20 pm

Sweet, thanks! That certainly helps narrow down my bridge choices. Research shows that the original Bass VI had a 2 1/8" string spread, and I note a few bridges on StewMac that meet that spec, and even a couple that are 2 1/4"! I've got some decisions to make, but I don't even have the base bass yet, so I guess I have time.

AnArmyOfJuan · Post by **AnArmyOfJuan** » Fri Apr 01, 2011 7:49 pm

After reading the Mustang Bass VI thread, I've decided to switch direction a bit. Seems that this:

Is almost exactly the same price as a Bronco, plus I like the way it looks much better.

My new plan is to pick up one of the SX Ursa short scale basses, cut down the headstock as before, and plop a dog-ear P90 (most likely from GFS) in the bridge over the original J-Bass pup route, and make a new pickguard routed for a soapbar P90, also in the stock pup location.

I may or may not go with the Mustang vibrato bridge, depending on whether it works out well for MatthewK once he has his completed.

I think this would get me to 90% of a Bass VI, at least aesthetically, but maybe with a little more sonic balls with the P90s. Sounds like a recipe for awesome, to me! I'm already playing my Jazz bass through my heavily modified '67 Bassman as it is, so I'm not too concerned about tradition. My bass tone is fairly overdriven right now.