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5 String Spacing Poll
- Thread starter Curtinsmith
- Start date
For me it's around 17mm. I have very average size hands for an adult male. I like a bridge with adjustable spacing. I'm not a slap player so don't need the extra room.
I like a jazz width nut too. For me too much real estate down around the first 4 frets results in more fretting hand fatigue and more injury.
There's clearly no one size fits all, and it's great that there's something for everyone out there.
I like a jazz width nut too. For me too much real estate down around the first 4 frets results in more fretting hand fatigue and more injury.
There's clearly no one size fits all, and it's great that there's something for everyone out there.
I have 5’s at either end of the string spacing spectrum. I can switch between them but I prefer the narrow spacing for comfort and muting, the wider spacing if I’m doing a lot of slapping.
When I was looking for my first 5-string bass 4 yrs ago, I was comparing Ibanez (16.5mm) and Yamaha (18mm). I ended up with a Yamaha and couldn't be happier as the 18mm spacing feels just right for me.
19mm for 4-string, 19mm for 5-string.
I also prefer a very wide nut on a 5-string to better approximate the string spacing of my 4’s.
I can adjust to something a bit narrower, just as I can adjust to the narrower bridge spacing of my 4-string Rickenbackers, but I don’t prefer it.
I also prefer a very wide nut on a 5-string to better approximate the string spacing of my 4’s.
I can adjust to something a bit narrower, just as I can adjust to the narrower bridge spacing of my 4-string Rickenbackers, but I don’t prefer it.
I prefer narrow to wide, and have basses from 16.5mm to 19mm, but many of my basses (all of them are 5s and 6s) are 19mm so apparently I'm not very discerning. 
I own 3 5 strings. 16.5, 17.5, and adjustable 19. I squash the 19 as small as it’ll go. 19 or wider just feel too wide. 17.5 for stiff strings and 18.5 (ish) for more bendy strings is my preference.
19mm is very comfortable to me, but I have 5's with 17mm, 18mm, and 19mm. I will pretty much play anything that sounds good, so the string spacing is relatively low on my list of important features in a bass, though I would prefer wider spacing.
I've tried several 5-strings with a variety of spacing from 16.5mm - 19mm.
My absolute favorite 5-string is an LTD with 17mm string spacing (45mm nut width). I can make 16.5 work too, but that .5mm makes a difference to my fingers. 19mm is a little too wide for me on a 5er.
My absolute favorite 5-string is an LTD with 17mm string spacing (45mm nut width). I can make 16.5 work too, but that .5mm makes a difference to my fingers. 19mm is a little too wide for me on a 5er.
I have basses with 19mm (Fbass AC6 and Sadwosky 5) and 16.5mm (Warwick Corvette 5 and Warmoth custom 6) and I find the 19mm more comfortable to play. The 16.5mm feels too tight to me, but that is just my preference. 18mm might be the sweet spot from my perspective.
If I'm paying good $ for a custom and I'm limited to a spacing I don't like, you won't even be considered. There's a big difference here between putting up with it on a $300 bass because the rest of it is OK, and spending $5k and not getting what I want.
I have no clue what mine is. It never occurred to me to measure it. But if I was building myself a bass, I’d darn well would know I’d enjoy playing it before starting.
I play Fender and G&L 5s. I love the Precision Bass (18mm bridge/1.875 nut) sound and the L2500 (17mm bridge/1.75 nut) feel. I have medium size, but very manly 
, hands.
Waiting on that G&L LB-105 that G&L has never even hinted at...of course they're trending toward wider necks and "750" bridges these days, anyway.
So my answer is: 17mm bridge/1.75 nut
, hands.Waiting on that G&L LB-105 that G&L has never even hinted at...of course they're trending toward wider necks and "750" bridges these days, anyway.
So my answer is: 17mm bridge/1.75 nut
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Because I like to slap it has to be 18-19mm even 20mm possibly on a 5.
On a 6 I prefer 17-19, I typically won’t slap on a 6, that’s what I use 5s & 4s for. I have small hands so a wider neck becomes challenging.
On a 6 I prefer 17-19, I typically won’t slap on a 6, that’s what I use 5s & 4s for. I have small hands so a wider neck becomes challenging.
17.5-18 is my preference. I have relatively smaller hands though so it does make it bit easier to get around. IMO it really depends on personal preference more than what the highest percentage of people prefer in a vote 
You need to find what works for you.
You need to find what works for you.
I prefer 17-18mm. I have relatively small hands, play mostly with a pick, and never slap, so the narrower spacing is great for me. My G&L M-2500 is just about perfect, and I think it's 17.5mm but I'm not sure.
