Converting a 4 string into an 8 string

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sat Aug 05, 2006 6:40 am

I'm keeping the stock RIC bridge although I do a mod to the saddles whereby I cut straight down a little over 1/16" on the "peak" of the saddle all the way across it so that the string sits in a verticle notch. This saves me from having to move the saddle back further as I notch it deeper for the string. That was hard to explain but if you're at the "Rickenfest", I'll show you what I mean. I do it to all of my bass saddles. I may have something custom machined up with a separate saddles per string in the future but for now, this will do.

prog_rockin_metal_man · Sat Aug 05, 2006 7:46 am

sorry Dane I won't be at the Rickenfest...wish I could but I'm just a broke university student...but I can always look forward to the 100th year anniversary haha

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 6:44 am

I found a picture of Entwistle's 4008. It's identicle to Squire's except for the fact that Squire's has the octave strings first.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:10 am

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:21 am

Jared, dude, where are my string spacing specs?

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:36 am

Nice work Dane. Looks like a great bass.

Remember Randy Decker ??? Wasnt he the one fixated on the whole potato head 8-string there for a while??

He'd faint if he saw this.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:50 am

That's what I'm counting on...LOL

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 8:52 am

Very cool Dane, I'm looking forward to seeing and hearing it soon.

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Sat Aug 12, 2006 2:18 pm

DOOOOH!

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 2:41 pm

I just picked up the 4008CS from my fretter/setup dude and is it awsome! I'll probably play every 8-string riff I can think of tonight at rehearsal before I head home with it for a last minute polish before Friday morning.

johnallg · Post by **johnallg** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 3:38 pm

Hey, congrats on your custom 8, Dane. I'm looking forward to seeing it on Friday. Jeez, I gotta work until midnight and it's killing me! I fly in the morning at 7:20AM, and it can't come soon enough.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:28 pm

Ya..I feel like that goofy kid in the commercial who can't sleep 'cause his parents are taking him to Disneyland in the morning.

prog_rockin_metal_man · Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:51 am

I just had an insanely evil idea...would it be at all possible to rout out some channels in the headstock and put four tuners perpendicular to the others? you know like a 360/12 only it would be a 8 string bass. I doubt it's possible but it would be really unique if it could be done.

teb · Post by **teb** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:02 am

I had the same idea a while back with my 2030 - and it would be really cool. Unfortunately, even though the 2030 head is pretty big. the bass tuners stick so far into the middle of the headstock that there doesn't seem to be room for them, plus the octave string tuner slots, plus the TRC all on the same head. I'm not sure it would be impossible to get it figured out, but once you start looking closely at the head and trying to plan it all out, you get the feeling that it certainly wouldn't be easy. I also wondered about the possibility of using straight-through, geared banjo pegs for the octave strings. In any case, I'd probably have to move the bass tuners a bit to get good looking spacing, so I haven't messed with it. I did manage to pick up a Schaller 8-string bridge with adjustable saddles, new in the box last year for $15 off of eBay and it would drop right into the same screw holes as the factory bridge, so it's always tempting.

aceonbass · Post by **aceonbass** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:29 am

Here's a pic of my 8 string next to a 4001CS at the Confluence.