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Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 3:11 am
by Owen
Hi folks,

I'd love a bass VI but with the current prices old & new it's a bit out of my league at the moment.

Is there any cheaper variations of the bass VI. i.e. anything that would have the same EADGBE tuning ???

Would you be able to convert a baritone into a bass VI without any serious complications and major re-setups., intonation & tension probs ????

I'm currently playing bits of bass and some solo stuff with my current project & this, I feel would do just the job.

Any help would be much appreciated.

thanks
Owen

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:00 am
by DarrelT
Not sure if this will help, but two of us (BassVIst and myself) have in the past successfully put USACG bass VI necks on Coronados.  The VI neck pocket dimensions are the same as a Strat or JM. The floating bridge on the Coronado made intonating possible with no permanent alterations.

For a brief time afterwards I put the same neck on my CIJ Jazzmaster body with good results.  I was neccessary to use a floating bridge ( my Coro bridge) that landing nicely in the space between the pickguard and the trem plate.  Placing the bridge this close to the trem unit did put the trem bar in a position that did not allow for much travel because of interference with the bridge.  It may have been possible to bend the trem bar for better functionalilty, but I didn't take it that far.

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2006 5:03 am
by mynameisjonas
AFAIK the jaguar baritone works pretty well tuned E-E.

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2006 4:45 pm
by aen
There was a lot of talk on the old forum about how th elow E is too floppy, but you just have to get a bigger string, adn bore out the tuner.

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 2:16 pm
by bassVIst
i've tried the Schecter Hellcat VI and the Jaguar Baritone Custom

and liked the Fender more

really liked the Hellcat neck
but overall, the JagVI was a far superior instrument

low E was a lil floppy
i would have put flatwounds on it if i would have kept it...

the USA Custom Guitars replicas are still my favorite alternative
superb.

someday i'll get a CoronadoII body!!!

i still plan on converting an Epiphone EB-0 to an EB-6
but it will take a lot more work than i thought
might have to machine my own 6string 3point bridge...

Danelectro reissues are probably the best alternative that i've never tried

what other 30"scale basses are out there that might make a good conversion candidate?

i've even thought about converting a 5string Jazz Bass into a JazzVI!
having a 34" scale VI
why not?
VI strings are certainly long enough...
i can't think of any reason not to try it
:)
tension might be murder...

might even make it from scratch with USA CG parts
using a P neck and hollow J body

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2006 9:31 pm
by dc

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 4:56 am
by bassVIst
cool

weird looking Danelectro knockoff?

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 6:04 am
by dc
bassVIst wrote: cool

weird looking Danelectro knockoff?

is that a trippin' headstock or what? it's like it's giving the audience a thumbs-up.

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:14 am
by FireAarro
How would a Music Man Silhouette Bass Guitar be? http://ernieball.com/mmonline/specs/ins ... hbass.html They're tuned E-E and a bit longer in scale than the Fender Bari, they're not cheap but they're not vintage/CS Bass VI expensive either. And EBMM make good instruments.

If you want something more vintage looking, how about a Danelectro or Jerry Jones VI?
http://www.jerryjonesguitars.com/NLHbass6.htm
http://www.jerryjonesguitars.com/JJO_LHbass6.htm

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Tue Nov 07, 2006 8:15 am
by bassVIst
i've heard good things about the Silhouette bass...
REALLY wanted to try one
they even had the cheap OLP Silhouette available for a short while...
haven't seen either in a long time
but i haven't been looking...

and i've heard nothing but praise for the Jerry Jones instruments
that will likely be my next major purchase...
someday
:)

Re: Converting a baritone into a bass VI setup

Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:48 am
by burker
bassVIst wrote: i've heard good things about the Silhouette bass...
REALLY wanted to try one
they even had the cheap OLP Silhouette available for a short while...
haven't seen either in a long time
but i haven't been looking...

and i've heard nothing but praise for the Jerry Jones instruments
that will likely be my next major purchase...
someday
:)


Yeah jerry jones is top notch stuff, I played one of theyre  bass vi type instruments (not sure what they call them, but it was uned the same way) it had a funky shaped body and sounded great.