my latest 5 string conversion

[jwr2]

I picked up a 2003 Jetglo 4003 and converted to a 5 string bass for a guy in France. It had a few scratched and dings but the neck is sweet. I stripped off the hardware and gave it a scratchx and zymol treatment. Then I installed black hardware and black plastic. I even used black screws where I could. It turned out pretty good. The only problem is I would like to keep it.

More opictures on this link here.

http://www.3dentourage.com/425/2003-4003-bt.htm

[jingle_jangle]

Fine-looking bass, Jeff...Goth, indeed...

You may have already addressed this issue, but how do you decide where to put that 5th tuner? I have seen a few done with the peg through the Kewpie Kurl, instead.

Oh, sorry. Kewpie Kurl:

[rickenbrother]

Someday I'd like to 4-2-5 a 4003 or 4004. However, I'd prefer to plug the two exiting holes on the bass side of the headstock and make three new ones. I think it would look much better as well as be easier to tune.

[jwr2]

Paul ... it seemed like the best place to put the 5th tuner to me ...

But if someone is willing to remove a headwing and refinish the bass then you could do something like this ...

you could use the 4 existing holes and just replace the top headwing and just add one more hole. Then you wouldn't have to fill any holes.

[jwr2]

When I do a conversion I try to keep the cost down and try not to fill existing holes and refinish the bass.

[jingle_jangle]

Gotcha. But how about in the middle of the curl?

[jwr2]

I thought about that one ... but for several reasons I went the other way ...

[jingle_jangle]

Te only reason I ask is that I've got one of these in for a refin, and it doesn't look bad...haven't played it though...

[jwr2]

Maybe in the future I will utilize your services if I have a customer who is willing to pay more ...

[VRICKY63]

I like that black 4003 and have no problem tuning my Rathed 4-2-5 .

[jingle_jangle]

Not trying to drum up business, Jeff, just picking your brain a bit...

I can't see any functional reason for locating the 5th where you do, or in the center of the curlicue as in the one I'm repainting. Hence my posts.

[jwr2]

When I put the tuner on the treble side I can get 3 evenly spaced tuners ... The tuners on the bass side are almost 2" apart, so to put a 3rd tuner in there you have to get one way up in the horn. Almost off the edge of the horn. Or put them in assymetrically. Or add a headwings and drill and fill holes. ARRGHH!

One of the things I like about the p-bass neck is there is plenty of room for a 5th string and there is a nice place for a 5th tuner on the treble side of the headstock.

The solution I came up with is the simpliest least intrusive, it changes the look of the headstock the least, it does not require a refinish, it only requires the drilling of one hole, no holes have to be filled, and it works.

[markbass99]

Hey Paul, are you talking about the green boy Laredo fiver I sent you? If yes, than it's one of three conversions I did where I put the hole in "the wave". There is a method to my madness though, I'm going to use Hipshot Ultralite cloverleaf tuners and they won't work in any other configuration than that one. I don't think you're going to be able to play it though, I didn't send it with any hardware, I even took the truss rods out. You could be talking about somebody else's bass but I haven't heard of anybody crazy enough to drill a hole there.....yet. I put cloverleafs on the Cii conversion I did almost two years ago, I'll get off my lazy butt sometime and take some pics.

[jingle_jangle]

Thanks to both of you; Jeff for sharing the wealth that is knowledge about your own well-known 4-2-5 conversions; Mark for clarifying your reasons for doing it "your" way. It is your green-boy I'm referring to, and the reason I'll never play it like this is precisely that you only sent a carcass. (It's in the short queue for the spray booth, finally, BTW)

This is possibly the best example I've seen of things coming together this way--in only three posts--to provide a majority of knowledge on a very specific topic.

[jwr2]

if you want to do a 4-2-5 you are looking at choices like these ...

For my tastem the first one looks more "Rickenbacker" to me