Bass: 4 to 8 string conversion

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Because some of you asked: no, I do not expect the neck or trussrod to suffer from the additional load. The regular 8 string Corvettes that Warwick sells have the same neck width as my Fortress - otherwise this 8 string nut would not fit my 4 string neck. I gave the trussrod an extra turn, but that was it. Straight as an arrow. Also, this particular bass here has handled the 4 thicker strings of a _5 string_ set (130-100-80-60) tuned one _half step higher_ than standard tuning (C-F-A#-D# instead of BEAD, no G) for *30 years* and never complained or shifted the tiniest bit. Rest assured, I am *not* worried about the neck.

[@veglord_the_profane]

One of the most soothing voices on the internet

[@UCEg7z1wK]

@@veglord_the_profane yeap can't sleep without it 😴

[@shaunstephen9761]

A 10string conversion of a 5string would be awesome 👍

[@UCEg7z1wK]

And then 12 strings.....the stupidity goes on and on

[@백석-k3q]

그렇게 12현 괴물이 탄생하고 😂😂

[@patrickbuzzo1970]

Shaunstephen , you can watch MORTone channel to discover instruments like that .

[@martysmith2756]

16-string djent conversion!

[@alexisjordan3303]

Mate is your bass doing the voiceover?

[@PawsAndProse27]

While I must confess to knowing little to nothing about the intricacies of converting a 4-string bass to an 8-string, I was thoroughly entertained by your video. The humorous introduction grabbed my attention immediately, and I must commend you on the exceptional quality of both the visuals and the sound throughout. Moreover, your voice is truly distinctive and adds a remarkable dimension to an already meticulously crafted production. The short sequence of bass playing was also a real highlight-absolutely lovely to listen to! Have you considered doing any covers? With your great playing and unique voice, I'm sure they would be an absolute delight. At a time when much of the content on KZbin feels repetitive or uninspired, your video is a breath of fresh air, offering both creativity and authenticity. It was a real pleasure to watch, and I look forward to exploring more of your work! ;)

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Thanks for the high praise and for investing so much effort on feedback. I read every word. 😊

[@doctordoggo9464]

These videos motivate me to work on my hardware, it was great watching the mistakes you made and how you fixed them along the way. Makes it feel like you're actually watching a passion project happen instead of the ' perfect ' builds other people do. The result was very beautiful, you earned yourself a subscriber.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Brilliant video! Thanks man. The voice, the vocabulary, script, method, humour, tools, process ... 😵‍💫 Those wee errors are just part of intelligence, it's how we learn stuff.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Fun fact: I don't do scripts. 😉 I take it line by line. (I do have a general concept, of course - I just don't flesh it out completely before doing the voice-over. I see how far the given footages carries me and try to find the best phrase for the given moment. You might notice that I change speeds of the footage a *_lot_* to get the timing right for how much I have - or don't have - to say.)

[@PolarMCBearNr1]

"Yo, let me see what you watching" "None of your business"

[@rodshop5897]

Glad to see this video. I have a Warwick Corvette Double Buck that I've been thinking of converting to an 8 string, and even picked up the Riot tuners. I am now glad I procrastinated. Thank you also for leaving the screw-ups in the video. They are some of the same ones I would make! Cool sound with that finished product, and I hope you enjoy it!

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

If you ever get to do the conversion, I would be interested to learn how it went for you. Maybe make a video of it. 😉

[@rodshop5897]

@@Noone-of-your-Business You have indeed inspired me! I have never posted a video, so maybe it will be my first!

[@avantorchidzone]

Great to see this channel back in business! Greetings from where they build Warwicks.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Custom Shop or Rockbass? 😁😉 Greetings back from Pro Series country! 😘

[@avantorchidzone]

@@Noone-of-your-Business I'm a five minute drive away from the Warwick factory in Markneukirchen :)

[@jean-philippemorin1176]

Nice work. Modifying instruments to receive hardware that was not in the original design always brings a couple of challenges... always. Lol. You did well. Thanks for sharing

[@Nanashi_MYOB]

This is the answer to the question nobody asked. So, why am I now looking at my Chickenbacker and replotting tuner locations? Even if it wasn't asked, it's still epic and awesome.

[@KitchemonTokigaya]

I have been watching with great interest. I bought a Rickenbacker 8-string version in April 2000 and enjoyed the sound for a while, but then I stopped playing it so much and have been using it as a 4-string bass since 2010. The main reason I stopped playing it is that the strings are hard to find (I can't choose the gauge I prefer) and it's still very hard on the neck. I am impressed with your playing skills and the equipment you have to modify your bass.Well done.

[@CoolGuyAtlas]

Great video. You showing the mistakes you ran into ended up being very informative and helpful.

[@galmbassquadron6757]

One of the greatest bass content creator is back 🙇

[@S0SS0L]

I converted a Squier P bass to 8-string (I call it the "Squeight"). The neck really doesn't like the extra string tension, but In the 5 years since I finished it the neck hasn't gotten any worse. Impressive for one of the cheapest basses on the market.

[@jeffreystroman2811]

I just got done modifying an old cheap 4 string that belonged to a deceased friend. Put active pick-ups from an Ibanez sound gear that had a bowed neck. Making the potentiometers fit was a bit of a miracle as they each have their own circuit board. Then an adjustable nut and new bridge. I really liked your screw-up counter as I had one too, the only video is In my memory though, just like my friend who died.

[@michaeljarvis5489]

Good timing. I'm gathering parts to do a conversion. The victim has a big headstock, the bridge is my headache part so far. So here's this video with some help on that!

[@artbk]

Lovely timbre, fun stuff

[@markdeloria20]

If the end result wasn't so absolutely cool, I would say this whole thing was sacrilegious.

[@scottm7720]

Very cool, well done. That bass model is worth keeping around. It sounds great at the end.

[@snflip]

I love the look of an 8 string headstock.....

[@Spector2112]

Yep, went down this road (twice), with my old Spector NS2A, (however in a much more hack method) It's back to a 4-string now, and will stay this way. There are a few videos on my channel featuring it as an 8

[@svt4001]

Brilliant! Bloody brilliant!!!

[@sarguitars6603]

Monetarily, you spent about the same amount to convert your Warwick as I spent on my LTD 8 string. Granted there is a quality difference between the two, but I didn't figure that the 8 would be my main bass.

[@markharmon9892]

Cool mod. I have seen others have trouble swapping the zinc bridge to brass, which is not good. They are supposed to be the same boundary dimensions according to Warwick drawings.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Well, the bass and the new bridge are 30 years apart, so I don't mind a little grinding to make it fit.

[@Bobert_here]

Me tuning pegs woudnt turn and it was cuz of a loose screw. I removed them for the first time in my life and eliminated the problem. after sucsesfully tuning and making sure the axe's alright I had an intense masculine urge to watch this video. I do not regret doing it.

[@lucagarciaferrari]

i do really like your work videos! they're always well produced and you end up with quite nice results (even aesthetically, considering the mistakes you highlight, haha)

[@trance9158]

Cool conversion... I have a Spector 4 stringer that would make a good candidate for a project like this ..with a little more pre planning and design

[@producer202]

Great job! 👍🏻 Thinking about 8 string acoustic bass😊

[@ianthomson9363]

I like your style and the sound of the finished bass. I play a 5-string Charvel and I'd love to add another set of octave strings to it, but I don't think it would be a wise thing to attempt, even if I could find the hardware. I once almost commissioned a custom 15 string after having a go on a Hamer 12 string bass but finances wouldn't allow it. The Hamer sounded awesome though! I nearly bought a set of Riot Works tuner for my guitar, but after they failed to respond to repeated emails I gave up on them.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Yes, yes, yes, THAT kind of 8 string extended range bass. Jeff Ament is the only one who plays 8 string octave up 😂

[@sheeppf5265]

It's certainly one of the basses ever... well done, though, bloody dedicated

[@mickhill6972]

Thank you kindly for Posting and sharing this Video 🎉 🇬🇧 😊

[@fat_ninja_status]

Very cool i want an 8

[@MrDanalaimo]

There are a handful of 8-string basses that known guitar manufacturers marketed. I would guess that they addressed the neck/truss rod question one way or another. Among them Hagstrom, Dean, Schecter, Harley-Benton.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

I guess the average bass/guitar neck just has plenty of reserve when it comes to structural integrity. Wood can stand a _lot_ of compression as long as you keep it straight. And the neck you see here has no problems with that. Also, I did not find any Harley Benton 8 string basses. Are you referring to a discontinued model?

[@MrDanalaimo]

...probably. it was a quick Google search

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

I think most manufacturers of 8 strings (Dean, ESP, Warwick) generally base their 8 string models on their 5 string models as the extra nut width comes in handy with the extra strings and the added tension. I’m currently on the hunt for a decent cheap 5 string that I can mod to do this

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

@@ChrisHopkinsBass Well, Warwick certainly doesn't, as this is the only 8 string hardware I found in their shop, and it fits my 4 string Fortress. No extra nut width there.

[@ObscuraDeCapra]

@@ChrisHopkinsBass There's negligible tension added, and it makes no sense to make a four string that frickin' wide. Wood is much stronger than the average internet guitarist's brain plasticity.

[@GeorgeGeorgeOnly]

The sound of this bass mod is awesome. However, there is no mention of the truss rod adjustments that surely must have been necessary on the neck. How accessible is that t'rod nut with a whole set of extra strings in the way?

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Well, I gave the truss rod an extra turn before I put on the middle string. It's a small price to pay for the overall result. If you forget, you can easily take the one string off to make the adjustment.

[@lancethrustworthy]

I'm impressed. Bravo!

[@patrickbuzzo1970]

Very interesting ! Could you tell me the width at nut? I knew that Rickenbacker had a model of bass with 8 strings , maybe Lemmy of the Motorhead had one of those . As bouzouki player , i have found a good information regarding the bridge for the 4+4 set , never seen before the Warwick model . Thank you for this video, best regards, Patrick from Italy

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

38.5mm - the link to the nut is in the description.

[@patrickbuzzo1970]

@Noone-of-your-Business thank you very much.

[@LunarCascader]

Was it really luck that your bass happened to have a conversion kit available or...never mind. Anyway, I guess you have rail pickups, so there's no problem with poles being in the right places. This makes me wonder about doing the 8 string mod to a bass with pole pickups. Would the best solution be to add an adjacent pickup nudged over the distance between the strings of each course? Here's a thought- incorporate four headless Steinberger type tuners into a bridge for higher entoned strings and make it so the nut acts as a means to anchor those strings. Swap out the saddle and bridge and nut, and wah wah- an 8 string bass.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Yes, I was lucky to happen to buy a brand that would survive long enough for spare parts 3 decades later. 😁 Actually, I hadn't thought about pole pieces and I cannot get any definite info on the "Dynamic Correction" MECs on this bass , but they do seem to be blade/rail pickups. Regardless, the new string placement is exactly centered on the old string positions anyway - just look at the nut. So the new string _pairs_ are equally distanced from any potentional pole piece below them. That being said, I have not noticed any volume drop for individual strings after the mod. And yes - the headless tuner idea had crossed my mind as well, but after I had found the gearless Steinbergers, they were much less hassle than mounting machine heads behind the bridge. That might be a usable solution for other basses, though. That's some interesting ideas... thanks for the input! 😘

[@pitaorj]

how the truss rod behaves with the conversion???

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Works fine. I gave it an extra turn, which it handles gracefully. The neck is perfect. Then again, this instrument already had 25 years of 130-100-80-60 (the low 4 out of a 5 string set) strings tuned another half step up (B to C, E to F, etc.), so I am not worried about string tension damaging the neck.

[@organatron]

have a conversion project using a headless system...

[@greatkingrat]

I liked the video. No gold coloured tuners instead of black? Good on you for sharing the mistakes also. Sounds great. I’ve played in three piece bands and always had an octave pedal handy. Any concern re the extra tension on the neck and the amount of adjustment needed?

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

I chose the black tuners because it makes them close to invisible on the dark headstock. At first sight, you don't even _notice_ that it is an 8 string. I like elegant understatement. 😉 For neck stability, see my pinned comment above.

[@aquarius5264]

good shit unc

[@skdzbop]

nice, now do a pickup only to capture the octave up strings and put a stereo output so you can amp both separatly 🤣🤣

[@Captain_Yata]

I could listen to you do random shit to guitars forever

[@PARAMONARIOS]

Awesome!

[@ascendtranscend3812]

I know a guys who converted a 6 string into a 3 string using this technique doesn't play djent but plays some wild shit, lemme grab a link if you're curious

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Sure, go ahead. 😊

[@stephenleung9189]

Looks like you know what you are doing, good luck. I would rather buy a kit that’s designed for an eight string bass.

[@Davix-tt9sh]

Very entertaining video, but now, PLAY IT WITH SOME FUZZ OR DISTORTION please. Should sound massive

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

Sorry to disappoint. I don't like fuzz. It's coarse and rough and irritating, and it gets everywhere. 😉

[@zachjones1716]

That was the most Freudian slip 😂

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

It was carefully rehearsed, of course. 😉 I took a page from _Ze Frank's_ playbook. Shoutout to all science hippies! 😁

[@sicknashty3837]

Is that your voice? It's got me kinda bricked up😩

[@MrDanalaimo]

I enjoyed watching you work through this project. Do you expect any neck problems as a result of adding the strings?

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

I don't. Any 8 string bass I have seen so far had a neck that looks exactly like on 4 string versions (except for the headstock) - no space for a second truss rod or the like. As you can see, the 8 string nut is designed for 4 string neck width. Also, mine is holding up perfectly so far. I did give the truss rod an extra turn to prevent bending, and I do not expect any trouble.

[@neekoneekoni]

now play achilles last stand with it

[@danschoenharl3856]

Ich gebe dazu, dass für mich das schmerzhaft zu sehen war. Ich mag nicht doubelte saiten und wähle mandolin mit nur 4 saiten zu spielen. Sicher wird mine Warwick Corvette viersaitig bleiben.

[@stephenleung9189]

It is close to ruining a good bass, I will not attempt to do it myself. Even it can be played at the moment, there is no certainty that the truss rod will hold up for a longer periods of time.

[@Noone-of-your-Business]

@@stephenleung9189 I don't think so. The regular 8 string corvettes that Warwick sells have the same neck width. And my particular bass has had _lot_ of additional tension on the neck (130-100-80-60 tuned to C-F-etc. instead of B-E-etc.) for the last 30 years, so I am not worried.

[@TurtleTurtle316]

13:59 😂

[@Johnbobboy]

W voice

[@chickenlickin3820]

brilliant stuff, subcribe now folks!

[@cunjoz]

nunya

[@HotPink90sSun]

creepy creepy creepy voice the creepiest 🥴

[@wckme]

ha djentlemen

[@kengyang1908]

Anymore strings n go play another secondary instrument like a paino alright alright alright alright headless players indeed

[@despot3880]

why?

[@frederickplude254]

Just go buy a 8 string 😮