I have a cheap guitar that I would like to change to a bass guitar... I was recently told that this is impossible... What do you think? Has anyone out there ever done this?
2006-07-19 15:40:49 · 10 answers · asked by karen 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
The bracing beneath the sound hole is not set up to deal with the foot/lbs of tension generated by the heavier strings. For the same reason, an acoustical guitar cannot be fitted with steel strings. The tension on a set of 12 string guitar strings runs about 1200 lbs, compared to a light tension of acoustic strings. At the very least, you will likely pop the bridge off the face of the guitar. Secondly, the neck is not braced for the high tension and will probably warp. Steel string guitars have a rod embedded inside the neck.
2006-07-19 15:58:47 · answer #1 · answered by Lance U 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, Lance is right. Also, the fret spacing and neck length for a bass are different. So, even if you managed to put bass strings on it without crushing the whole guitar, it would be completely untunable. Also, bass strings are way thicker and the neck and frets aren't sized for that so the bass strings would just touch the entire neck making it unplayable.
And, yes, there are acoustic basses. Go to Sam Ash/Guitar Center and buy one for a few hundred.
2006-07-20 12:53:27 · answer #2 · answered by skinny0ne 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there is no way to do it without completely rebuilding the instrument. Even if it had a bolt on neck that wouldn't work because the distance from the end of the fretboard to the bridge is different. There are a couple acoustic bass guitars out there on the market. Check out Guitar Center or go to their website and they'll hook you up with a nice instrument.
2006-07-20 16:53:54 · answer #3 · answered by synchronicity915 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sound like you use a lot of drugs. Just buy 6 packs of guitar strings....pull only the thickest E string from each pack. String your guitar with these...you will have to buy 5 new tuners and replace the ones on your guitar before you do this.
Tune your strings as follows: E, D, B, E, C, A
You will now have an aocustic base that will sound awesome while you are high on drugs. Hippie.
2006-07-19 22:47:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The divots in the nut will be too small for those fat strings, and the spacing would seem to be too narrow. Just buy an acoustic bass, they're awesome.
2006-07-19 23:52:21 · answer #5 · answered by Alias400 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lance is right,too much tension would arise with a simple heaver gauge bass string conversion.unless you only used two strings-total maybe three if you tuned way down...cheap guitar?experiment...
2006-07-20 01:03:15 · answer #6 · answered by scary visionary 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They make acoustic bass guitars - check out any Mexican mariachi band!
2006-07-19 23:02:12 · answer #7 · answered by Blues Player 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree. I don't think it's possible. If it's truly a cheap guitar, just take it to a music shop and ask them what you need to convert it. It's worth a shot. Good luck!
2006-07-19 22:46:34 · answer #8 · answered by teacherman 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Change the strings .
2006-07-19 22:45:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yea it is impossible..... ive never herd of an acustic bass....
i only play electric's so i wouldnt really know but i dun think its possible
2006-07-19 22:44:45 · answer #10 · answered by Landon 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋