Fender Jazz 5 String Spacing?

[lomo]

Originally Posted by DWBass

Are the American Jazz 5's full 19mm? I was under the impression they were a hair shy of that. Closer to 18.5-18.75. The MIM's are around 17mm.

The are adjustable 17.5-18.5

[vates]

So in the end of the day what is the default factory string spacing at bridge (in mm) on American Standard Jazz Bass V (post-2008 production year)?

I've contacted FMIC consumer relations department multiple times but received not a single reply so far.

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by vates

So in the end of the day what is the default factory string spacing at bridge (in mm) on American Standard Jazz Bass V (post-2008 production year)?

I've contacted FMIC consumer relations department multiple times but received not a single reply so far.

18MM.

[vates]

Thank you! I remember you've once had a Lull PJ5-er. How'd you compare neck shapes on F.Am.Std.Jazz-Vs and Lull 5-ers? Thanks again

[guy n. cognito]

Originally Posted by vates

Thank you! I remember you've once had a Lull PJ5-er. How'd you compare neck shapes on F.Am.Std.Jazz-Vs and Lull 5-ers? Thanks again

It's been so long since I owned a Lull that I really can't give you any meaningful feedback. Sorry.

[Doug Parent]

All non-signature models, being American;Standard, Deluxe, are essentially 18mm. RBV are 19mm.

Mexican and Squire V's : 18mm.

I've owned all of these and swapped pickups between them. The pole pieces line up under the strings where they should on all models give or take .5 mm.

Lots of data on this in other threads.

edit: Hipshot A style model, the FM-3 is a retrofit for the Fender 5 bolt on bridge. So if you have a Fender MIM V and want more flexibility, or a Squire for that matter, this bridge is a worthy upgrade.

[Doug Parent]

Originally Posted by vates

Thank you! I remember you've once had a Lull PJ5-er. How'd you compare neck shapes on F.Am.Std.Jazz-Vs and Lull 5-ers? Thanks again

Lulls are very similar to Fender in terms of the neck shape on the back. However, the fretboard radius is flatter on the Lull, I think 10 or 12". Fender Am Std V is 9.5. The Lull and Fender are both 18mm. The Lull neck may *feel* a little narrower due to the radius. Mike Lull makes a super Fender clone bass. Stock Lull V's are 35" scale, FYI.

[vates]

Thank you all for you valuable comments!

[khutch]

Just some more information for someone who actually searches and finds this thread in the future. I just bought a used 2000 MIM Standard Jazz V from a fellow TBer. The spacing is 17mm. There are grooves in the bridge plate the height adjustment screws for the two outside saddles ride in and these grooves pretty much fix the string spacing so I would not believe any value other than 17mm for MIM Standards of this era. It could have changed by now, of course. There is a post up above from 2009 that claims 16mm but that appears to be a typo, when you do the math on his B to G string measurement you get 17mm not 16mm. The neck is wide enough to support 19mm, just barely, but 18mm is quite feasible. You have to force those outer saddles out of their grooves but putting a penny between each of the saddles will get you 18mm. Probably not a permanent fix but quick and easy to give it a try.

Overall the bass is quite nice. Whoever used it for 12 years cared well for it and the original build quality is excellent. I kinda like the five in line tuners. The current MIM Standards have a 4 +1 arrangement which works well too and I can recommend them based on what I am seeing on this used bass. Not much playing time yet but I am liking the spacing better than the SR505 I tried earlier and I like it even better at 18mm so I will have to come up with a permanent spacing adjustment on the present bridge or a new bridge.

Ken