Warwick standard is still 19mm for 4 string basses, 16.5 for 5 and 6 string standards (they have wide neck 5 and 6's with 19mm spacing), according to their site. I did find a Danelectro replacement bridge that says the saddle width is 16.6, so you might be right there. I can't find jack about Aria except another TB thread that claims they're narrower. They're plentiful used, though. Might be in the running for another project guitar in a few months.
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4 string basses with narrower string spacing?
- Thread starter harrumphicus
- Start date
Another route to go would be getting a schaller or hipshot bridge that have adjustable saddles. Then set your string spacing to your preference. Costs a lot less than buying another bass
My Gibson Tbird has a narrow and fast neck, 1.5" width at the nut.
The Warwick Thumb 4-string has the same width neck, as do the Ibanez SR 4-strings.
The Warwick Thumb 4-string has the same width neck, as do the Ibanez SR 4-strings.
Doner Designs
Steve Doner
- Jun 2, 2012
- 5,784
- 6,819
- Disclosures
- Doner Designs is an alias for Steve Doner
I'll add to the Danelectro vote. I just pulled the tape measure out, and 16mm is what I measure on my Longhorn. The necks are broomstick narrow, too.
I've got tiny hands, have played Voxs, Gibsons and Epis, plenty of varieties of Fenders/Squires. I can play any of them, but when I want to play fast without getting tired, I grab the Dano.
Dude....like raphaeld said above, if you're able to, you really need to check out Overwater Basses from England. Chris May makes different scale Basses that are impeccably crafted. The Scott Devine Series original and the SDJ Jazz are both Really Phenomenal 33" scale instruments. I've got one of both in the 16.5 mm string spacing. That makes for some Really Easy playing! In fact, I'm blessed enough to say that my SD Jazz is the Black one with the Gold anodized guard and Ebony board that is shown on the SD Jazz model's webpage. Chris and the whole Crew are Extremely Easy to work with. Another option is a Bass from Drake Guitars (Andrew Drake) located in Iowa, USA. He makes Fantastic Basses in different scales and string spacing also. I have a 33" scale one of his (DC model 7 #060612) and a 34"(Marilyn) that are unbelievably well made. You can check them out in his Gallery on the Drake website. For Build Quality and Customer Service... You can't go wrong with either an Overwater or a Drake.... or both! By the way, I'm not affiliated with either one of them. I play and Love all of my other basses too.... Sadowsky, Warwick, John Maghini, Mike Lull, Fodera, Fender, Ken Smith, Spector....I'm just saying that, IMHO of course, the Overwaters and Drakes sound like what your looking for to address your spacing needs. I Believe that We're So Blessed to have so many Great builders for us Bassist!!!!
No way, I'm from Iowa originally. Never heard of Drake. Definitely looking into it now.
16 at the bridge. Wider nut, lighter, p tone and shorter scale. All around easier to play.
I saw one of these on Reverb with a dark brown burst for $300 plus shipping. The finish was sanded off the neck too, I don't know if that's standard or something the PO did, but I'll definitely be doing that too if I find one later. Looks like a nice piece of gear.
The sanded neck isn't standard. ARIA usually had super thick poly on everything. I got all three of mine for 150 each. People don't understand what they are getting.
I know what you mean. I recently picked up a 70's Memphis P-bass pre-lawsuit made in Japan for $80. It wasn't in perfect shape, I already replaced the stripped truss rod nut and the frets need work, but it sounds absolutely dreamy.
Ah I search TB and I find...the same thread I was about to create. I'm also looking for 16.5-18mm string spacing, I find the standard 19mm feels a little weird. I'm so used to my old Guild that has 17mm, never measured until yesterday, and coincidentally I like playing the Ric 4003, the Schecter Elite 4, Schecter Custom 4, don't like the Modulus J, don't like the Geddy Lee Jazz as much. Actually I do like them but I find the narrow spaced basses super easy to play.
So I'm looking for other basses that are about 17mm, I love the pictures of Alembics where the strings look almost parallel from the nut to the bridge.
Bump for any other ideas? 4 string bass with string spacing less than 19mm.
So I'm looking for other basses that are about 17mm, I love the pictures of Alembics where the strings look almost parallel from the nut to the bridge.
Bump for any other ideas? 4 string bass with string spacing less than 19mm.
Bought Hipshot Kickass to put the Squier VM Jazz, nice idea to try.
I used to own a late '90s/early '00s Danelectro DC Bass. It was 34" scale length, NOT short scale like most Danos, but the neck was still very guitar-like. The neck pocket dimensions were more like a Strat/Tele, not wider like a bass. I never did measurements, but string spacing at the bridge definitely seemed narrower than a Fender bass.
I really loved the playability of that neck, but the chintziness some people find endearing about Danos wasn't my thing. I see Danelectro started making this model again with a better bridge and tuning machines.
I really loved the playability of that neck, but the chintziness some people find endearing about Danos wasn't my thing. I see Danelectro started making this model again with a better bridge and tuning machines.
Might've missed if it was mentioned previously, but with a Birdsong 4-string bass you get 17.5mm spacing at the bridge. Scale is 31".
I've just spent the last few minutes measuring some of my basses, so -
- my Ricks? 11mm at the nut; 17.5mm at the bridge. It's not that the string spacing is particularly narrow, just that it doesn't change much from start to finish.
- Danelectro DC 59 Pro? 11.5mm at the nut; 17.5mm at the bridge. Like the Ricks, not all that narrow, just doesn't change much.
- Violin basses? These puppies are narrow. 10mm at the nut; 15mm at the bridge - for both of mine; a Starfire and a Rogue VB-100.
- Epiphone EA-260? 10.5 mm at the nut; 16.5mm at the bridge. Again not a lot of change, and these early '70s Japanese basses are usually regarded as having pretty narrow string spacing.
Now I'm starting to wonder; is this why I like playing these basses with a pick...??
- my Ricks? 11mm at the nut; 17.5mm at the bridge. It's not that the string spacing is particularly narrow, just that it doesn't change much from start to finish.
- Danelectro DC 59 Pro? 11.5mm at the nut; 17.5mm at the bridge. Like the Ricks, not all that narrow, just doesn't change much.
- Violin basses? These puppies are narrow. 10mm at the nut; 15mm at the bridge - for both of mine; a Starfire and a Rogue VB-100.
- Epiphone EA-260? 10.5 mm at the nut; 16.5mm at the bridge. Again not a lot of change, and these early '70s Japanese basses are usually regarded as having pretty narrow string spacing.
Now I'm starting to wonder; is this why I like playing these basses with a pick...??
This is all wrong. 10mm at the nut is like less than half of an inch. Even a jazz neck nut is 38mm or 1.5 inches. Not sure how you made your "measurements".
