Headstock fivers: two by three or three by two?

[grandstick]

My first (and only) 5-string is 2+3. The 6-strings I’ve had have been 3+3.

 

[Aloe]

I prefer 3/2 for two reasons:

1. less drama shifting from a 2/2

2. more even tension. D and A have the most tension, B the least. so moving D and A to one side seems kinda unbalanced for me

both assume it's low B, not high C though

 

[InhumanResource]

I have 3+2 currently but I’m not really sure it matters. The issue is kind of in the same bucket as “oh man, I love to play 34” scale but 35”? Sorry simply cannot deal” and the whole neck dive mythology thing.

 

[steve_rolfeca]

I prefer 3 x 2 on a Fender-ish headstock, like a Music Man. It just feels more logical and intuitive to me.

After all, it's how I designed my homemade fiver, long before I ever saw a Music Man 5-string:

However, my current #1 (A Dingwall ABZ) is a 2 x 3, and I've made my peace with it. The outstanding overall design and the way it plays, make it pretty easy to overlook a single minor beef...

Five in line is the only one I take exception to- it's hard enough to make a light, comfortable 5-string that balances well, without tying one hand behind your back.

 

[Thumpin6string]

My 5 string fretless is 4 and 1. Never had an issue with any configuration.

 

[swink]

This unsolvable dilemma is the entire reason 6-string basses were created.

I want to oppose this, you are only adding options to your dilemma. 0+6, 1+5, 2+4, 3+3, 4+2, 5+1, 6+0,...

 

[Fuzzbass]

My fiver collection contains:

5+0 (2)
4+1 (6)
2+3 (1)
Headless (1)

For tuning alone, I prefer the headless! The roller tuners at the bridge aren't easily bumped in transit as traditional tuners are, so it's usually perfectly in tune when I pull it from the case.

I purged all the 3+2 basses from my collection. But that had nothing to do with the tuner configuration.

 

[Ric5]

I am quite blessed and fortunate in many ways. I have great family and terrific friends and I love my job. Even my health is pretty good. In spite of all this, I am also cursed. I am cursed because I own one five string bass whose tuner configuration is three by two, and a second five stringer whose configuration is two by three.

Every time I reach for the A string while tuning I'm about 50/50 erroneously either grabbing the E or the D.

Ibanez BTB745: two by three.

Warwick RB Corvette $$: three by two.

Cursed.

4 + 1

 

[Ric5]

2 + 3

 

[Ric5]

3 + 2

 

[mikecd1]

3+2 is my preference and though my fiver is 4+1 that is the only thing I'm not thrilled about it

 

[Discount Bassy]

I've always considered my 5 to be 3+3-1, figuring on acquiring a 3+3 6 at some point in the future.

 

[rogerbmiller]

No preference here. If it is a good overall headstock design, I like it.

 

[buzzbass]

I have 5 up, 3 up/2 down, and 4 up/1 down. I prefer 4 up/1 down, strictly for cosmetic reasons. Old Musicman vibe

 

[pepj]

I have 6 5's and all 4 and 1.

 

[Jefenator]

To me, two by three seems more practical and logical. If you're gonna have one side with an extra string it should be the treble side.

We'll have to agree to disagree on this.
I hate to say this because I'm usually all about function, but when it comes to headstocks, I'll actually place looks ahead of most other considerations.
I'll deal with any tuner configuration, but when a headstock looks lame to me, I'm going to have a real hard time justifying any kind of serious money for it.

 

[Isaac_James]

Oh, I don't know... if you have a four by one and a five inline, might you not sometimes reach for the G only to find you're twisting the D? (So to speak?)

I have a four inline Fender and a 4+1 Yamaha, it took me a while to get used to the top tuner not being my G string. I'm lucky I didn't break a string twisting the wrong knob! I still have to look occasionally to make sure I'm doing the right one.

I've never gotten used to the 2+2 headstock on my Ibanez, but I don't play it very often.

 

[JRA]

Every time I reach for the A string while tuning I'm about 50/50 erroneously either grabbing the E or the D.......Cursed.

look before you leap! good luck with the "cursed" thing!

 

[Koog]

Definitely a first world problem. This said I prefer 2 X 3. For me it's cosmetic. I can adapt to function with either configuration.

Koog

 

[dave64o]

In addition to three basses that are 4+1s, I also have one 3+2, and one 2+3. It doesn't really matter much to me, but I think 3+2 is the "better" way, not that there's actually a right way and a wrong way.

That bring said, I prefer 4+1 over 3+2 or 2+3.