Author Topic: Right to left conversion (Read 229 times)

mint_bass · « **on:** November 18, 2004, 02:28:32 AM »

Hello

Ok heres the idea: I am left handed and fancy being creative i have managed to get hold of a scrapy old Squire p Bass it cost ?30 which i think is about $45. I have all ready done a fretless conversion on this Jaco style and know i am thinking about making it a bit more useful left handed. I want to get rid of the top horn but am concerned about balence and the neck join strength i do not plan to move the controls simply glue them in position and put them inside the scratch plate. i am going to have to move the jack as it gets in the way.

What do you guys think any ideas would be nice.

Andrew

tbrannon · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2004, 06:00:39 PM »

mint
My first bass was a cheap squire...they aren't super light. In my opinion, if you cut off the top horn, you will have balance problems.

Neck strength should only suffer if you hack it off all the way down at the neck. Maybe just lop the top off and leave a decent stump? If you attempt a large cutaway in able to access the top frets, then you can expect that neck to weaken without the side bracing the top horn provides. If you're not doing handstands on it and jumping around, you should still be OK. Tuning might be required more often?

I'm most curious about your attempts with the controls...can you explain glue them in place..? Also, if you're gonna move the jack, you're gonna have to either open up a new cavity on the back or move it somewhere else in the existing cavity...I think that you might find it in the way if you leave it anywhere in the existing cavity.

Either way, if you want to attempt a frankenstein job, a used squire is the one to cut on!!

811952 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 24, 2004, 06:17:21 PM »

Geddy Lee cut up an old P-bass into a teardrop shape and said in an ancient interview that it forever sounded like crap after that (when it was once his favorite). He used it live on Bytor the Snow Dog after that for awhile. So, if you're gonna cut something up, the Squire would seem to be a good call unless you are attached to the way it sounds already (because it will sound different afterward).
John

mint_bass · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2004, 02:52:52 AM »

Thanks for the input

this bass is of no importance to me i bought it to mess with. I agree with you on the balence issue.

what i mean by glue them in place is the way the controls are just now they are in the way i keep turning the bass off with my forearm. What i intend on doing is taking the knobs off the pots and putting the pots behind the scratchplate. Iwill sett them to a sound i can live with and superglue the turning post on the pot so it can not move to avoid it changing inside the cavity. I will then wrap the pots in foam to stop them moving about inside.

What i was thinking about for the jack is to move the jack to the side of the bass rather than being mounted on the scatch plate. I am going to keep in in the same cavity i will make a hoe into the cavity from the side and add the jack.

i will probably take some pictures while i am working i should have while defreting as these may have been some use to Paul but i did not think of it the defret was very spur of the moment.

thanks
andrew

tbrannon · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2004, 10:55:18 AM »

Should be an interesting job...you've obviously thought through it all. Good luck and let us know how it comes out.
In the future, I would recommend building your own bass. I'm currently building my own 6 string. it's a lot of fun and much simpler than you might imagine. I'm not equipped to machine my own hardware and I'm obviously not turning out Alembic quality basses, but I reckon they're a fair bit better than most Korean and many US made production line basses. I just pour myself into the body and neck and then go out and buy the pickups and hardware. It's a lot of fun and from what I can tell by reading your post....you've got the same itch I have. Might as well scratch it!

mint_bass · « **Reply #5 on:** November 30, 2004, 05:02:24 AM »

Indeed i have thought about it many times the only thing that stops me is cost. I am definatly going to build one when i get a full time job and leave uni but just now i cant afford it.

It will be extra useful for me as i am left handed and struggle to get hold of basses anyway. I bet you have great fun doing it though i am totaly bass mad so i cant wait to have as many as i can make.

MB

mint_bass · « **Reply #6 on:** November 30, 2004, 05:07:13 AM »

sorry double post

(Message edited by mint bass on November 30, 2004)

kungfusheriff · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2004, 11:34:32 PM »

I'm right-handed and have played several left-handed basses out of economy or because I got them cheap. Do NOT chop up that bass, cheap as it is. Drill a hole in the bottom horn, mount a strap pin there and learn to deal with the balance; that's the best I can tell you.
Leave the controls alone (Hendrix dealt with it, so can you) and play the bass sitting down, which should improve the balance and your control over its' intonation. Good luck.

mint_bass · « **Reply #8 on:** December 06, 2004, 02:24:25 AM »

oh dear too late

The top horn has Gone! it is still to be finished i got frustrated when my new amp did not arrive on time so decided to cut it off. I have all ready moved the strap pin to the bottom horn. I bought the bass not because i needed it, but to begin my attempts of customising basses if i mess it up its not the end of the world but a learning experience.

I am having a lot of fun with it even if it turns out all wrong.
MB

the_mule · « **Reply #9 on:** December 06, 2004, 10:17:25 AM »

Although I'm not into snuff pictures and merciless bass mutilation at all, would anyone mind if I asked for pictures?

;-)

Wilfred

eastcoastepic · « **Reply #10 on:** December 06, 2004, 08:13:09 PM »

pervert...