Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Some of you may remember from another thread I started on a quest for a true acoustic bass guitar tone.One that needs no amplification for projection. What you are looking at is a 1/8 size upright bass.

approx. dimensions are 54" long, 30.5" scale(if I placed the bridge correctly), body is 7" deep, 20 inches wide at lower bout,12 inches wide in the middle, 16 inches wide at top bout. Body is about 33 inches long.

I believe an Ernie Ball Earthwood body is 24 1/2" long, 18 1/4" wide, and 6 5/8" deep. Although the article I copied it from speaks of a deluxe model which is 2" deeper.

Crazy as it might seem, I believe it's possible to take the neck off this thing, get an acoustic bass guitar neck and bridge, then some how work it onto the upright body. My plan is to get such a neck by purchasing a Musicians Friend or Music 123 ABG with damaged body. Then I have to learn how to remove parts and glue together. Might work, might not. Either way, it's not really that expensive a proposition except that if it turns into junk, it'll be somewhat unsalvagable as parts.

Bring it to MARF, we'll fix it right up for ya'!

Why not just learn to play it as is?

I've got a grown up version one of them....

Have a go at playing it like it is, You will find it to be plenty of fun!

Eden.

Ever consider a guitarrón?

That's cool Marc. Like Jeff and Eden have said, I would keep it as it is and play it. In my case it might be try to play it

Did you know that Woody Allen played cello in marching band?

ken_j wrote:Ever consider a guitarrón?

Yup Ken, we discussed that in the other thread. The Guitarron seems like it will have problems with the top every few years. Although I have read about serveral hybrids with ABG necks working

jps wrote:Did you know that Woody Allen played cello in marching band?

yeah, that was from...Take The Money and Run...still remember seeing that as a triple feature with Bananas and Sleeper


I can bring the upright to MARF and yeah, I'm jamming with it, but I'm still thinking about the conversion.Although another try might be to just get an adjustable bridge. Wondering if my Chrome flats from my Ric would fit it...

marc61 wrote:Wondering if my Chrome flats from my Ric would fit it...

Scale length and string length are totally unrelated. Measure total string length to determine if that would work.

jps wrote:

marc61 wrote:Wondering if my Chrome flats from my Ric would fit it...

Scale length and string length are totally unrelated.

This much I know. After sizing it up, seems like the chromes will be just a tad short. Especially because it looks like the wrap part would go past the nut, which I have to believe would be a problem.

If it is only a tiny bit, maybe you can get the tailpiece to extend a bit closer to the neck.

I'll let ya check it out this weekend, and you can see what's what

Play it as is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!