diff --git a/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/DefaultConversionService.java b/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/DefaultConversionService.java
index 0af53dd94bd..8b3c3208498 100644
--- a/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/DefaultConversionService.java
+++ b/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/DefaultConversionService.java
@@ -31,6 +31,12 @@ public class DefaultConversionService extends GenericConversionService {
 	 * Create a new default conversion service, installing the default converters.
 	 */
 	public DefaultConversionService() {
+		initDefaultConverters();
+	}
+	
+	// subclassing hooks
+	
+	protected void initDefaultConverters() {
 		addConverter(new StringToBooleanConverter());
 		addConverter(new StringToCharacterConverter());
 		addConverter(new StringToLocaleConverter());
diff --git a/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/GenericConversionService.java b/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/GenericConversionService.java
index c77876600a8..ca34e8dd6a7 100644
--- a/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/GenericConversionService.java
+++ b/org.springframework.core/src/main/java/org/springframework/core/convert/support/GenericConversionService.java
@@ -58,9 +58,7 @@ public class GenericConversionService implements ConversionService, ConverterReg
 	private final Set<GenericConverter> matchableConverters = new LinkedHashSet<GenericConverter>();
 
 	public GenericConversionService() {
-		addGenericConverter(new CollectionGenericConverter(this));
-		addGenericConverter(new MapGenericConverter(this));
-		addGenericConverter(new ArrayGenericConverter(this));
+		initGenericConverters();
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -183,6 +181,16 @@ public class GenericConversionService implements ConversionService, ConverterReg
 
 	// subclassing hooks
 
+	protected void initGenericConverters() {
+		addGenericConverter(new CollectionGenericConverter(this));
+		addGenericConverter(new MapGenericConverter(this));
+		addGenericConverter(new ArrayGenericConverter(this));
+	}
+
+	protected void addGenericConverter(GenericConverter converter) {
+		this.matchableConverters.add(converter);
+	}
+
 	protected GenericConverter getConverter(TypeDescriptor sourceType, TypeDescriptor targetType) {
 		GenericConverter converter = matchConverterByClassPair(sourceType.getObjectType(), targetType.getObjectType());
 		if (converter == null) {
@@ -197,10 +205,6 @@ public class GenericConversionService implements ConversionService, ConverterReg
 
 	// internal helpers
 
-	private void addGenericConverter(GenericConverter converter) {
-		this.matchableConverters.add(converter);
-	}
-
 	private List<Class> getRequiredTypeInfo(Object converter) {
 		List<Class> typeInfo = new ArrayList<Class>(2);
 		if (converter instanceof ConverterInfo) {