6 string basses with narrow string spacing

[jbl71004]

I know this general topic has been touched on here on TB over the years, but I recently acquired an older custom built 6 string (by Geoff Smith-don’t see much about him anywhere). The string spacing is around 14.5mm at the bridge, and I was hooked within a day. I know there’s a Gerald Veasley signature out there with that spacing (I just don’t dig the bass at all). Are there any other basses around (mass produced or otherwise) to anyone’s knowledge with that spec or really close? I’ve owned and still own 6 string with 16.5mm, which was my previous favorite. Hoping to come across something in the 14.5mm range.

 

[JKos]

John Myung Bongo 6 HH? 14 mm at the bridge.

 

[GTHintz]

Aside from getting a bridge system that you can adjust like Warwick with the 3d bridge for instance I'd say you're shooting for music man, Ibanez or Warwick. It's all depending on what neck profile you like best. Each of those 3 are a bit different. If you get a Warwick for instance you'd be able to narrow the spacing quite a bit. I have mine at the 16.5mm that's standard.

 

[B-Mac]

I know this general topic has been touched on here on TB over the years, but I recently acquired an older custom built 6 string (by Geoff Smith-don’t see much about him anywhere). The string spacing is around 14.5mm at the bridge, and I was hooked within a day. I know there’s a Gerald Veasley signature out there with that spacing (I just don’t dig the bass at all). Are there any other basses around (mass produced or otherwise) to anyone’s knowledge with that spec or really close? I’ve owned and still own 6 string with 16.5mm, which was my previous favorite. Hoping to come across something in the 14.5mm range.

Dean 6 string Edge from the aughts.

 

[Watchootognbout]

My NS/Stick is 14mm on the bass side.
11mm on the melody side.

 

[A9X]

John Myung Bongo 6 HH? 14 mm at the bridge.

I wasn't aware of that, and the 45mm nut width is to my liking too. Unlike some I find the shape pleasant, but I'll never own one as $US3k means about $A6k here. Maybe I'll get to try one one day. In the interim, I'll stick to my 16.5mm Ibanez 6s.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Any bass with a Kahler 2450-N6 bridge can be set up with 13.97mm string spacing. I've had a Modulus Graphite Quantum-6 SPX since 1988 that came that way.

 

[jbl71004]

Any bass with a Kahler 2450-N6 bridge can be set up with 13.97mm string spacing. I've had a Modulus Graphite Quantum-6 SPX since 1988 that came that way.

What’s the nut width on your Modulus?

 

[Bob_Ross]

What’s the nut width on your Modulus?

Huh, not sure, I don't think I've ever measured...and I'm out of state away from my instruments until the new year so I can't just pull it out of the case and check. It's probably around 1.8" or 1.875" because it feels similar to the nut width of my 5-string basses that have more conventional string spacing.

Here are a couple of pictures that maybe could help guesstimate based on scale?

 

[kcducttaper]

Ibanez SR most everything is 14.5mm. Pretty sure a lot of their BTB 6-strings are also 14.5. Schecter makes some 14.5 6-strings that are also very nice!

 

[ComeHomeShane]

John Myung Bongo 6 HH? 14 mm at the bridge.

And isn't there a used one in the classifieds right now?

 

[A9X]

Ibanez SR most everything is 14.5mm. Pretty sure a lot of their BTB 6-strings are also 14.5.

Nope SRs are 16.5 and BTB6s are 16.5 or 17 though I think a couple of the BTBs may be larger. Spacing is listed on the Ibanez website for all models.

 

[jbl71004]

Any bass with a Kahler 2450-N6 bridge can be set up with 13.97mm string spacing. I've had a Modulus Graphite Quantum-6 SPX since 1988 that came that way.

And that’s actually the bridge on the used custom build I just acquired. The nut on that one is just over 2 inches. I’m guessing the closer you get to a typical 6 string nut size, you’d likely end up with a lot of excess fretboard on either side of the high and low strings. The width on mine feels pretty nice.

 

[Bob_Ross]

And that’s actually the bridge on the used custom build I just acquired. The nut on that one is just over 2 inches. I’m guessing the closer you get to a typical 6 string nut size, you’d likely end up with a lot of excess fretboard on either side of the high and low strings.

Remember, 13.97mm is the minimum string spacing available on that bridge. But it has a fairly large range available; I think you can get a maximum of over 15mm string-to-string.

 

[21DaHoagie12]

Ibanez SR most everything is 14.5mm. Pretty sure a lot of their BTB 6-strings are also 14.5. Schecter makes some 14.5 6-strings that are also very nice!

Unfortunately this is incorrect, 16.5 is standard on 5 and 6ers and BTB are even wider..

 

[logdrum]

One of these days we will probably get down to 7 mm, just like they do in computing chip production.

 

[Thumpin6string]

I can't imagine playing anything narrower than my 18mm 6 string, but I have fat fingers.

 

[Ric5]

I know this general topic has been touched on here on TB over the years, but I recently acquired an older custom built 6 string (by Geoff Smith-don’t see much about him anywhere). The string spacing is around 14.5mm at the bridge, and I was hooked within a day. I know there’s a Gerald Veasley signature out there with that spacing (I just don’t dig the bass at all). Are there any other basses around (mass produced or otherwise) to anyone’s knowledge with that spec or really close? I’ve owned and still own 6 string with 16.5mm, which was my previous favorite. Hoping to come across something in the 14.5mm range.

some Ibanez models

 

[jbl71004]

Anybody know of any other bridges in this range? Waiting to hear back from Kahler.

 

[A9X]

Anybody know of any other bridges in this range? Waiting to hear back from Kahler.

Several Hipshot models OTTOMH. Look at BBG for dimensional .pdfs as Hipshot are crap at getting them working on their own website.
Otherwise ETS, ABM, Sung Il all have them too. I think 18 is Gotoh's narrowest.