Stratocaster Bass IV (1/3) ~ Luthiery Laboratories

Stratocaster Bass IV (1/3)

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Uses the bottom four strings of a Bass VI set to get a low enough total string tension for the Strat tremolo to work.

On the right is the Bass VI. Six bass strings over-stressed the Stratocaster tremolo. It barely worked, so I blocked it. On the left is the Bass IV, with the bottom four strings of the VI. The modified tremolo works perfectly. Both are custom 30" maple necks on eBay bodies.

Here is Stanley Clarke with his version of my original.

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Basses, Body - Bought, Body - Solid, Electronics - Active, Fender, Neck - Built, Projects, Short-Scale Basses,

Fender Projects

Fender Jazzmaster Bass 1

Fender Jazzmaster Bass 2

Fender Jazzmaster Bass 3

Fender Stratocaster Bass 1

Fender Stratocaster Fretless Bass

Fender Stratocaster Bass VI

Fender Stratocaster Bass IV

Fender Stratocaster Bass 2

Fender Stratocaster Micro Bass 1

Fender Stratocaster Micro Bass 2

Fender Stratocaster 12-string Guitar

Fender Stratocaster Uke Bass

Fender Telecaster Bass

SX Precision Bass

As everyone should know, the Stratocaster guitar is actually the guitar version of the Precision Bass, which came first. The big innovation on both was the extended upper horn, a necessity on a long-necked bass for balance and to bring the low frets within reach when the instrument is hanging on a strap. Not strictly needed on a guitar, but looks great, and back in the 1950s nothing had ever been seen like it. It was an instant hit.

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Conversion Necks

A conversion neck is one that can convert an instrument from one scale length to another with no other modification. A common conversion is 34" to 32". By overhanging the 20th fret, or leaving it off, you can use the stock bridge location on the body, just adjust for intonation. Such a neck will work on any standard bass body. A conversion from 34" to 30" requires overhanging two frets, or losing one or both.

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Series Wiring

When two pickups are wired in series, the output of one is connected to the ground of the other. The outputs are directly additive, there is no loading effect as with parallel wiring. You get noticeably more output, and usually a much fuller sound. Two pickups may be wired in series with a standard [ON-OFF-ON] switch, available at any hardware store.

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Short-Scale Basses

Basses built with a short scale length of 30 inches.

Short-Scale Basses

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Jazzmaster Bass 1

This started as a Squier Jaguar body with a Mighty Mite neck. Stock pickups ( which are pretty decent ) with cream-colored covers and upgraded electronics. I used a MusicMan bridge to evoke the round Jazzmaster tailpiece, and likewise cream Strat knobs. I think it is a vast improvement over the Jaguar it started out as. The Cowbell inherited some of the Jaguar electronics.

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