Adapting an Acoustic Guitar to Become an Acoustic Bass?

[stewievslois]

Hey,

This is just an idea (so try to refrain from giving me too abuse to begin with), I was wondering if it was possible to convert an acoustic guitar into an acoustic bass?

The reason i ask is because acoustic basses cost quite abit of money, especially in relation to acoustic guitars, I wanted to convert a very cheap acoustic guitar (the kind of £18 acoustic guitar that can be purchased from a supermarket) into a very cheap bass acoustic guitar. The acoustic bass would only be for using at festivals / messing around the house so it doesn't have to be amazing quality or anything, I would never use it to gig with etc.

If it is possible how would I go about doing the conversion at minimum cost?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

[patrickhowell]

Well, it's possible, but it's not going to sound good... Since the scale length of the guitar is so much shorter, it won't be able to resonate as well at the lower frequencies. If you want to give it a shot, go for it. It'll be fun to make, and it'll be a good story, but I wouldn't expect it to be very usable.

The only parts you'll have to replace are the nut and the bridge... You'll have to buy a replacement nut blank and carve it for 4 strings instead of six. You will probably have to make your own bridge out of wood and glue it to the body, you can probably use the existing endpins and saddle.

[stewievslois]

I'm hoping if I can get some short scale strings it will make it sound a little better. On a scale of 1-10 (10 being identical to a real acoustic bass, 1 sounding like elastic bands stretched over an empty baked bean can) how good do you think it will sound (with the adjustments you suggested above and short scale strings)?

[ACA]

I heard of someone trying to do this, and failing miserably. Just a headsup, I don't think it works out well.

Maybe save money for a cheap acoustic bass.

Good luck.

[TheSkyline]

Take the two high strings off of your acoustic guitar.

Congratulations, you now have an acoustic bass!

[patrickhowell]

Take the two high strings off of your acoustic guitar.

Congratulations, you now have an acoustic bass!

A bass is tuned an octave lower than a guitar.

[TheSkyline]

A bass is tuned an octave lower than a guitar.

I'm well aware. I was joking.

[frenchatticus]

Umm, isn't it going to be a little hard to string those things through the tuners?

Buy an acoustic bass, I've seen good ones at Guitar Center for around $200