Would this work?

[smalls]

I've been thinking about what I liked about my 5 string.  I've decided it's the comfort of playing everything I'd normally play in 1st position at the 5th fret.  Could a 5 string be made with an extra short neck?  Basically imagine capoing a 5 string w/low B at the 5th fret and then chopping the excess off.  The resulting bass would be tuned E-C, be shorter (good for travel?) weigh less, and definitely have no neck dive, opening up the use of small body shapes, if so desired.  What do you think?  Am I crazy, or could this work?

[sgh]

Why not just use a standard set of 4 bass strings in E A D G tuning and add a C string from a 6-string bass set for the high notes to your comfortable 5 string bass? After listening to some Michael Manring and Trip Wamsley tracks, that's what I tried (and failed) :-)

[smalls]

It's not so much the high notes I'm after.  I just figured this was an interesting way to play in a little more comfortable playing position.

[sgh]

That's a very good point and you're not crazy at all for considering it. Looking forward to seeing the results.

[tbrannon]

I know there are several medium scale (32) 5's floating around.  If I remember correctly, there is a featured custom (Direwolf) that is a 32 5 stringer.  The same owner also had another 32 5 string built.  
 
Were you hoping for a short scale (30)?  They've done that too, but I can't remember any examples off the top of my head.

[elwoodblue]

This months Featured Custom is a 29 scale 6 string. I think they are calling it a bass : )

[crobbins]

scroll down to the middle. 32 5 string.
 
http://www.basscentral.com/alembicbass/ltd.shtml

[pierreyves]

You can tune your 5 strings with eadgc, it's work fine ! I did it with my MK5
http://club.alembic.com/Images/411/43157.html?1226333927

[mario_farufyno]

The idea seems to be trying to make a much shorter scale Bass than 32. If you cut a neck to the 5th fret you'll get something like a 25 1/2 scale Bass and I think you're right, it'll work better if you use thickier string. That way you may get a more proper (or regular) string tension in such short neck. Great idea and I think it will work as you expect (althought it seems too short for my taste).

[smalls]

Mario,
Yes, that's pretty much what I'm going for.  Purely hypothetical right now though.

[jazzyvee]

You may find that the thickness of strings needed to do this may make playing in the higher end of the neck uncomfortable as the frets will be pretty narrow. I notice this on my Short scale SC bass when playing up the neck on the lower strings.
 
Jazzyvee

[mario_farufyno]

There is another question...
 
If you do this as a 24 fretted Bass, the PUs will need to be pushed to far towards the Bridge and this will affect the tone. I don't know if this change would be necessaraly bad, but certainly different.

[keurosix]

Sean,
For all intents and purposes you have described a 5 string piccolo bass tuned hi C~low E on a short scale, typically 30, very easy to play with light bouncy strings tuned an octave higher in the guitar register. If you cut a bass neck off at the middle, be prepared to put a new fingerboard on it with frets in the correct positions for the new scale length. Also, a new truss-rod, and a re-positioned head stock. It might cost less if you search for this configuration already built than modifying a longer scale bass.  
Kris

[cozmik_cowboy]

Hey, Kris, I think was talking about a new build, and the chopping off the excess line was meant as an illustration of the effect, not the actual plan.
 
Peter

[keith_h]

Alembic made a 4 string 28 scale length bass a while back. The FTC thread is here.  
 
Keith