i just don't want them too close together. my NS Design Radius basses have 18 mm spacing that feels pretty great.
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5 String Spacing Poll
- Thread starter Curtinsmith
- Start date
Sorry, that was poorly worded. I didn’t mean other people wouldn’t like the narrower spacing, rather that there might be a particular group for whom it could be a godsend. I read a lot of the short-scale threads here and those with small hands, age related conditions and others seem really well represented in them, so really I was indicating that potential market given these basses are also quoted as being in the lighter range.
Also, I thought that if a builder had two options it might simplify inventory, jigs etc but maximise customer options.
Especially for 5 string, I really don't like anything tighter than 19mm. I'll take a wider neck than have my picking hand cramped.
So... a few years ago I was wondering about the 5 stringers I play so I measured them.
MM SR5:
nut = 9.25mm
12th fret = 13.25mm
bridge = 17.5mm
Pretty sure all my 5ers (G&L, Carvin, Stingray, and a few Yamahas) are 9 - 9.25mm at the nut and 17-19mm at the bridge.
All mine are 17.5 mm. I think it's a reasonable compromise between too tight and too much reach to the G string. When I started on 5's, coming from 19mm 4's, it was all kinds of awkward, but even with ginormous hands, I got used to it, and now it's home.
Every time I think about this, I think about drummers - would one of them not be able to play if the toms moved by 2 millimeters?
Every time I think about this, I think about drummers - would one of them not be able to play if the toms moved by 2 millimeters?
- Dec 17, 2020
- 16
- 6
- Disclosures
- Owner/Luthier of Curtinsmith Guitars, specialising in short and medium scale custom builds.
I am familiar with your website and the range of basses you make and I am going to throw in a curved ball (ok, we're a cricketing nation but anyway...).
I would think the shorter scale basses would be more sought-after by people with smaller hands or a degree of incapacity, eg arthritis or carpal tunnel etc. These are the people who I imagine would most appreciate a narrower string spacing. The 30" scale Nordstrand Acinonyx (although a 4 string only) has a 17mm string spacing and people here on TB have raved about how "comfortable and fun" they are to play. I personally find I can cover multiple strings far more easily with narrower spacings but my Ibanez Soundgear 5 string at 16.5mm is the minimum I could play efficiently (good muso, challenged fine motor skills).
My thinking - given you have the mono-block pickups custom made,
30" scale; 17/17.5mm
32" scale; choice of 17/17.5mm or 18/19 - 18.5mm (perhaps split the difference?)
34"-35" scale; 18/19 - 18.5mm.
That would still give you the option of getting a batch of pickups made and sitting in your workshop awaiting orders but gives you an option for small hands or a level of incapacity in the shorter scale and narrower spaced basses. My $0.02 anyway.
PS I would love to hear a better recording of the Southland too if you could get some soundbites up on your website.
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 pickups and bridges. I have since modified my design to focus on short to medium scale lengths for the Southland (30" or 30.5" or 31" or 32"). The new design will mean that they will fit into an electric guitar case. I have some custom gig bags being made and having the one size makes production and inventory so much easier. If I use a certain 18mm 5 string bridge I can even fit the 32" in the bag. I am yet to find a short based 5 string bridge with 16.5mm spacing to enable for a shorter body design. So in theory, I can offer 16.5mm or 18mm spacing in either 30", 30.5" or 31" 5 string Southland basses and 18mm only in the 32" 5 string Southland. (The 4 strings can all have 19mm).
It seems the majority are happy with 18mm but it could be nice, as you mentioned, to provide a narrower string spacing option too? Keep the inventory and process simplified or offer more choices?
PS I would love to make some better recordings but just have the iPhone for that at the moment.
- Dec 17, 2020
- 16
- 6
- Disclosures
- Owner/Luthier of Curtinsmith Guitars, specialising in short and medium scale custom builds.
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.
I used to assume that because I don’t have very big hands, that a 19mm on a 5 string would be to big for me, but as I’ve gotten to be a better bassist over the years, and I add more slap stuff and fancy technique to my playing, the 19mm is absolutely preferred.
Fair enough. I have a mystery ebay 5 string bridge that's really nice and I've seen sold elsewhere; I think it might be an Il Sung and is shorter front to back and 16.5. It's also really solid. If I can find a link later, I'll post it.
That makes a lot more sense. I guess it just felt that way to me and it just means that it’s not a good fit for me
This is a good point, and there is a line somewhere between $300 and $5k. Between going with someone else's choice(s) for a production run & paying top dollar for a true custom.
Even approaching $2K used, that's still in the "production" zone now, and I did indeed settle for rather than choose 18mm for my current workhorse 5-string. (The Roscoe Century Standard Plus is outstanding in every other aspect, I can still manage slapping with a bit more practice, and if I'm being really honest that spacing actually helps with other things!)
I feel for the OP & others mulling any sort of design spec for a production run. (I know from my glass art business how too many options can create significant logistical headaches.) I guess at some point you just have to commit to a vision and hope enough consumers agree with it.
Sorry, it's 17mm, but very well built.
Bass bridges > BB 105 1 페이지 (sung-il.net)
They're all over ebay and Black Dog in the UK sell them too but I'm sure you'de be able to find a wholesaler if you chose to use them.
PS: I also have had the BB005 on one of my basses for years.
Bass bridges > BB 005 1 페이지 (sung-il.net)
