5er, tight string spacing, narrow&thin neck, small headstock, 34" scale, lightweight

[Gare Boo]

Hello. I used to have an old Warwick Streamer 5er from the 90s, it had a skinny neck and very tight string spacing --- 16.5mm, and the nut width was around 44 or 45 mm, I can't really remember. I dug the dims of the neck a lot but it was all Wenge so the neck was super heavy.

So I wonder if there are any other 5-string basses that have similar neck profile, around 16.5mm string spacing, 44mm(or 45mm?) nut width, small headstock or headless(the Fender style is a no), 34" or 33" scale length, and fairly lightweight with good balance. I know the Ibanez SR and BTB offer something like that but I would like to have more options. Some basses have adjustable string spacing but the neck width is still there to compensate that, which still makes it a wide neck, I'm more looking for a skinny neck that was designed for tighter string spacing.

Thanks!

 

[Nenor]

Look for a Ken Smith Burner/BSRB 5'er from the 90's - the deluxe Ash model.

 

[Samatza]

Tune Bass Maniac 5, pencil thin neck, close spacing and the lightest bass I’ve owned that’s solid body.

 

[who]

Any budget constraints?

 

[Green Knight]

Fender mb-5? Yamaha bb-5000?

 

[Gare Boo]

below 3k

 

[Gare Boo]

Look for a Ken Smith Burner/BSRB 5'er from the 90's - the deluxe Ash model.

hey thanks! Do you happen to know if the imported KSD version has the same neck dims?

 

[Nenor]

hey thanks! Do you happen to know if the imported KSD version has the same neck dims?

KSD is actually not a Ken Smith instrument. They're not comparable with the excellent MIJ Burner/BSRB basses. I wouldn't go there regardless string spacing. No idea about KSD dimensions.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

Not trying to be the guy suggesting whatever bass he just bought, but I just bought a Maruszczyk and it’s great. You can have one built with 17mm spacing, 45mm neck, and lightweight with chambered wood.

 

[gg22]

Yamaha TRBX505/605

 

[Ggaa]

Ibanez. Miss my Ken Smith Burner too.

 

[Waltsdog]

Might be worth checking out a Stingray 5 special, it’s not too far from those specs with a 44.5mm nut and 17.5mm spacing. They are also lightweight now.

 

[Gare Boo]

Might be worth checking out a Stingray 5 special, it’s not too far from those specs with a 44.5mm nut and 17.5mm spacing. They are also lightweight now.

thanks! Do all Stingray 5ers have the same neck dims or only the Special is slimmer? And do you have any experience with the Bongo and the Sterling? Thanks!

 

[Gare Boo]

Yamaha TRBX505/605

It seem like they do have slim necks but the string spacing is still 18mm

 

[Gare Boo]

Not trying to be the guy suggesting whatever bass he just bought, but I just bought a Maruszczyk and it’s great. You can have one built with 17mm spacing, 45mm neck, and lightweight with chambered wood.

May I ask what model you got? I checked their website but didn't see chamerbed body as an option

 

[Waltsdog]

thanks! Do all Stingray 5ers have the same neck dims or only the Special is slimmer? And do you have any experience with the Bongo and the Sterling? Thanks!

The Special is just lighter so that’s he one you should try, an old Ray5 could be up to 12 or 13lbs but the new ones come in around 9 generally.
A sterling 5 has the same neck as a stingray 5, never laid hands on a bongo but from what I understand they are generally good and not too heavy.

 

[PotsdamBass8]

May I ask what model you got? I checked their website but didn't see chamerbed body as an option

It’s not the model that I got, but the Elwood L (stands for light) has chambering standard. And I believe they recommend swamp ash (Not just ash) if you want the lightest body wood.

 

[Grueber]

Have you looked at the Rockbass line from Warwick? I also had one of the old Warwick Streamer Standards and loved the same dimensions you mentioned. I picked up a Rockbass Streamer Standard (Right) and a Rockbass Streamer LX (Left) and they capture a lot of that same feel, but they both feel lighter overall

 

[kesslari]

You really described the Ibanez SRs to the T in your post @Gare Boo There is a lot of variety in that line from low end to quite high. I’d encourage you to check some out.

 

[Gare Boo]

Have you looked at the Rockbass line from Warwick? I also had one of the old Warwick Streamer Standards and loved the same dimensions you mentioned. I picked up a Rockbass Streamer Standard (Right) and a Rockbass Streamer LX (Left) and they capture a lot of that same feel, but they both feel lighter overall

View attachment 3956718

I've owned a couple of the later German made Warwicks but they had thicker necks than the ones from the 90s. Never tried the RBs tho