Hey there! This may have been discussed, but I'm kinda new to the forum. I'm thinking of purchasing a 5 stringer (always been a 4er) but am not wanting too wide a neck. I don't slap much if at all. Any ideas? I have tried out the MM SR5 HH. Seemed OK, but want to investigate all possibilities. Can you also help me out with the language of spacing......I know some spacing is 19 mm.....but don't know if that is wide or thin...any help will be appreciated. Bud
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5 STRING SPACING......
- Thread starter BigBud
- Start date
For a 5er, 19mm [or even 18mm] seems wide for me. I like 17 or 16.5mm spacing. I find I can still slap with "tight" spacing. It's just another matter of personal preference.
Ibanez is known for producing stock [5er] basses with "tight" spacing.
Ibanez is known for producing stock [5er] basses with "tight" spacing.
The SR5 has 17.5mm spacing so since you tried that already, you could use it as a reference point.
It all depends on your preference. There's a "19mm club" here, and I read a post from a guy who could not find a neck ,(nut) width wide enough for his taste. I have a 5ver with around a 2" nut and 19mm spacing and I love it but I am 6'5" with long fingers.
The Musicman you picked up was 17.5mm spacing. You can go tighter at 16.5 with a Warwick or Ibanez, and I believe some MTDs go that tight as well.
Yamaha BB415 has some tight spacing, too. I mainly play a MMSR5 and I felt right at home on the BB. Everytime I pick one up, I wonder why I don't just pick up one of them. They're terrific.
Glenn
Glenn
maybe you could try out some basses that have adjustsble bridges so you can set your own spacing? just an idea
Peavey USA Millennium basses (not the BXP line) have 17.5 mm spacing but the bridge allows you to move the strings right or left a bit so you can customize your string spacing.
Here are a few examples of what they look like:
Here are a few examples of what they look like:
Bud-
It seems that spacing on here is generally categorized on TB as the following:
17.5mm - "narrow" spacing at the bridge. Found on the Musicman you played, as well as on some Peavey, Pedulla, Modulus, and Ibanez basses (among others).
19mm - "wide" spacing at the bridge. Also considered "standard" or 3/4' spacing. The spacing at the bridge will be the same as on a Fender 4-string bass. Found on MTD, Lakland, some Pedullas, and a bunch of other instruments.
There are also instruments that have 18mm spacing. I believe Ken Smith is one such example. AND, there are instruments with extremely wide spacing - up to 20mm or larger at the bridge.
In terms of what works for you, it's really a matter of personal preference and what feels right in your hands - not just in terms of width, but in terms of beefiness (the "baseball bat" feel) of the neck.
Myself, I've been playing 17.5mm necks with extremely thin profiles (Pedulla) for years and sometimes when I pick up a bigger-necked instrument like a Warwick it just feels a bit cumbersome to me. It's all what feels right in your hands in terms of dexterity and comfort.
Lonnybass
I tried a lot of different basses but for me, the best seems to be a 1 7/8" nut and 19mm (3/4 inch) bridge spacing. I have average sized hands but slapping on a tighter layout is MUCH more difficult for me. I can play on tighter stuff as long as it is all fingerstyle but the minute I start to slap I want the wider spacing.
Dan K.
Dan K.
With the adjustable bridges that Hipshot sells you could have approximately 18mm spacing on the B, E, and A strings, and tighther on the D and G strings.
I have both a MM SR5 (17.5 mm) and a Lakland 55-01 (19mm). I have small hands. The Lakland is more comfortable in the string spacing department to me. I love both basses for different reasons. In part, I think it's what you were reared on. I was reared on a MM Sabre, with a precision-width neck, so that's what I naturally prefer. I can never seem to warm up to a Jazz width neck.
I would urge a word of caution, though. If you get too narrow on the string spacing, even with small hands and fingers, you might have a tendency to trip on your fingers. I don't know how else to describe it other than the narrow spacing doesn't give you much room to maneuver the fingers. Now if you're a picker, prolly no problem.
I would urge a word of caution, though. If you get too narrow on the string spacing, even with small hands and fingers, you might have a tendency to trip on your fingers. I don't know how else to describe it other than the narrow spacing doesn't give you much room to maneuver the fingers. Now if you're a picker, prolly no problem.
My 5er issues are that I like 4 string spacing @ the Bridge & also @ the neck,,,, but I did'nt have the $$$$ for a boutique Bass.
Answer: To my surprise the Squier (yes thats right Squier) Jazz Deluxe 5 is possibly my fav buy of yet. It does have a slightly larger than 2 inch nut and 19mm spacing, but the neck is nice and flat smooth and comfy.
Oh and I am no gorrila handed Giant. I'm about 5' 8" with average palms and longer than average fingers.
I used to have a problem w Squier in the distant past but after playing the vm jazz and my Black active deluxe 5 w ebonol fingerboard, my opinion has 180'd.
Answer: To my surprise the Squier (yes thats right Squier) Jazz Deluxe 5 is possibly my fav buy of yet. It does have a slightly larger than 2 inch nut and 19mm spacing, but the neck is nice and flat smooth and comfy.
Oh and I am no gorrila handed Giant. I'm about 5' 8" with average palms and longer than average fingers.
I used to have a problem w Squier in the distant past but after playing the vm jazz and my Black active deluxe 5 w ebonol fingerboard, my opinion has 180'd.
When I was learning 5 string, I had no idea that different spacing was available. I grabbed my Cirrus 5 and simply enjoyed it. I have some narrow Peaveys and a 19mm 5 and don't really pay attention or notice differneces when I'm playing them. On a 6 string, I prefer 17mm.
You may want to try an Ibanez BTB to get a feel for a wider string spacing.Seems wider all the way up the neck too.Where some have tigher spacing at the nut ,then get up to 3/4 spacing at the bridge.
What you need to do:
a. Go to a bunch of music stores.
b. Try every bass you see (brand does not matter- you just want to check out string spacing)
c. Keep in mind that you should concentrate on string spaicing and nothing else (neck radius will be next...but that is a different story)
d. Check out what is best for YOU. Not anyone else only YOU.
As a bass player, you are more in tune to the construction aspects of your instrument than most others. You are an individual. My hero's like different string spacing than me. Remember.... it is all about You.
I hope this helps- God Bless & Happy Easter-- Rob
a. Go to a bunch of music stores.
b. Try every bass you see (brand does not matter- you just want to check out string spacing)
c. Keep in mind that you should concentrate on string spaicing and nothing else (neck radius will be next...but that is a different story)
d. Check out what is best for YOU. Not anyone else only YOU.
As a bass player, you are more in tune to the construction aspects of your instrument than most others. You are an individual. My hero's like different string spacing than me. Remember.... it is all about You.
I hope this helps- God Bless & Happy Easter-- Rob
I used to own a BTB555. The spacing is nice, but I wasn't crazy about the B-string. Not bad, but not great. The point of having a 5-string is easy access to notes lower than low E, but if those notes are undefined or have a different tone than the notes on the other strings you're not going to want to play them.
Lakland B's are great!
G&L L2500 B's are pretty darn good if you string through the body
Hex core strings help with B-string tightness.
+1
The best way to know what you want is to know what you like and what you don't like, and the best way to do that is to play basses that you've never played before.
I know Schecter makes some basses with narrow spacing and every GC I've been to has them in stock. It's worth a shot, I'd give them a try.
The Squier (non-deluxe) version has a spectacularly comfortable neck, 2 inches at the nut and wider string spacing than my MIM jazz.
