Recent content by Curtinsmith

Cheers! Personally I am am used to narrower string spacing (My 5 string builds are actually 16.8mm and adjustable +/-1mm). Having said that, over the years I've played 19mm and 20mm 5 strings too and find you get used to playing on a wider fretboard real quick. Kinda like driving a hatchback...

A little too long for the 32" to then fit into the guitar gig bag. For that scale length I need a shorter bridge like the classic vintage style bridges.

Thanks for the input. You make a good point! My hope is to simplify the bass and still make it with a few options (tonewoods, 4 or 5 strings, fretted or fretless, pickup colour, hardware colour passive or active) rather than too many that people get confused and every build requires different...

I am deciding on what string spacing to do for my 5 string bass builds. I have narrowed it down to either 16.5mm or 18mm, but am curious to know what other bassists prefer.

Interestingly, in that video, I prefer the original over the X series. Maybe the bass or the genre/style, but they sounded better to me. Yet in my bass, played through the amp, I preferred the X series.

I have tried quite a few EMG pickups in my bass builds. The X series is better in my opinion. More headroom and just sounds fuller. Comparing the 40DC to the 40DCX in the same bass - the X series had more everything - bottom end, midrange and top end. Perhaps a little more scooped? But the...

45 - 65 - 85 - 105 - 130

I use Pitbull 30 series short scale strings on my 30", 30.5" and 31" builds for both 4 and 5 strings. The 30 Series strings are made of nickel alloy windings and high carbon alloy hexagonal steel core. Comparing them with other strings, I have found that they have a higher tension than strings...

I use Pitbull 30 series short scale strings on my 30", 30.5" and 31" builds for both 4 and 5 strings. The 30 Series strings are made of nickel alloy windings and high carbon alloy hexagonal steel core. Comparing them with other strings, I have found that they have a higher tension than strings...

I use Pitbull 30 series short scale strings on my 30", 30.5" and 31" builds for both 4 and 5 strings. The 30 Series strings are made of nickel alloy windings and high carbon alloy hexagonal steel core. Comparing them with other strings, I have found that they have a higher tension than strings...

I offer different fret size preferences for my custom builds - small, medium, jumbo. Personally I like them all. I played jumbo frets since I started playing bass and feel at home with the larger frets, but I have also found the tiny mando sized frets very comfortable and fast too ... for the...

But remember that the string sits on top of the zero fret so there should be something higher to guide the strings to the posts.

You are correct. Just make sure the slots are lower than the zero fret. If the slots are slightly higher it can cause buzz. The zero fret does all the heavy lifting and the nut slots just guide the strings.

Don't give up on the short scale 5 string. When you can't order a dedicated short scale set, try using your regular long scale string set. Use a pair of pliers to unravel the outer winding just before the tuning post. Use the pliers to loosen the outer winding, then with a firm grip with the...

I use .125 or .130 on my short and medium scale 5 string builds. There are only a few brands who do a dedicated short scale 5 string set, but you can also use almost any long scale round wound string by unraveling and cutting the outer winding of the B string with a pair of pliers.