Doug Parent
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The Ibanez SR series 5ers have (I believe) 17mm spacing at the bridge. Lightweight, fast basses by all accounts.
I prefer a very narrow string spacing on my 5 strings.
This one is just about 15 mm.
This one is just about 15 mm.
I am a strange fella I suppose. Don't know that I could tell you spacing on any of mine, just that they are very different. MTD Kingston classic, ibanez srff805, DP custom 5.
I completely understand how folks would prefer a very specific measurement. For myself, the sum is greater than it's parts. If the whole instrument feels good, I can work with just about anything. Also, I'm no virtuoso. I can play 8th notes on just about any piece of lumber. Some just make it a bit easier.
I completely understand how folks would prefer a very specific measurement. For myself, the sum is greater than it's parts. If the whole instrument feels good, I can work with just about anything. Also, I'm no virtuoso. I can play 8th notes on just about any piece of lumber. Some just make it a bit easier.
I'm really fussy about it, actually.
I don't know if it's because I switch a lot between 4 and 5 or because my hands are large-ish, but I like my strings spaced wide both at the bridge and the nut. I sold a Tobias Growler 5 and a MM Stingray 5 - both great basses - because I just didn't care for the narrow spacing. All my 5s have 19mm(3/4") spacing at the bridge and wide nuts at either 1 7/8" or 2".
I think I'm in the minority with my preferences, though.
I don't know if it's because I switch a lot between 4 and 5 or because my hands are large-ish, but I like my strings spaced wide both at the bridge and the nut. I sold a Tobias Growler 5 and a MM Stingray 5 - both great basses - because I just didn't care for the narrow spacing. All my 5s have 19mm(3/4") spacing at the bridge and wide nuts at either 1 7/8" or 2".
I think I'm in the minority with my preferences, though.
I think for pick players in particular switching back and forth can be tough. Fingerstyle players that started on a 4 tend to look at a a five string like a four string with a great thumb rest and a few extra notes. As far as neck differences I imagine it really comes down to your hands. I’ve never had an issue with string spacing playing any 5 strings sure they might take a little practice to get used to but I got used to them all fairly quickly. For me with 6 strings I do get more picky about string spacing. Don’t like spacing so close it makes slapping pain, but I don’t want to struggle with the neck at all either. The neck on my 6 string Warwick is about the same feel as some of the bigger 5 string basses I’ve played but the string spacing is wide enough not at the bridge that I can still cleanly play slap parts even though at the nut the neck feels Like a chunky 5
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I absolutely cannot handle anything above 18mm. It’s “ok” on my plucking hand but, just to wide on my left hand above the 6-7th fret. Not that I can’t stretch but, it takes too much effort. Playin an instrument shouldn’t be uncomfortable or painful.
I'm the opposite, I have RIGHT hand problems when the string spacing is 19mm for a 5- or 6- string bass. Pick style makes it even worse. My first quality instrument was a Rickenbacker 4001, so maybe those formative years influenced that. In any case, 16.5mm is nice for me. Ernie Ball Music Man Classic StingRay 5, Fender P5, ESP/LTD, Schecter, Ibanez SR are all comfortable for me, but I feel like slightly narrower would be a little better.
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Gee thanks everyone. To clarify I alternate between pick and fingerstyle. I am better with the pic, but getting there with the fingers. When I posted this I was really meaning the feel of the neck. I played on of these today and holy smokes what a bass....16.5 spacing just like my Foundation.
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I played my MIM Jazz 5 for a while and went back to my Stingray 5. I am good with either spacing, but the Stingray feels faster and easier to play.
How does one go about measuring ? Is it as simple as measuring between strings or is there a certain process ?
I agree. 18 is great. My NS Design CR5 are 18 as well and I dig em.
I want a nut with a width of 1 7/8" and 3/4" spacing at the bridge. The majority of my basses are those dimensions but I have 2 Laklands. The difference between the 17/8" (i.875") and the 1.81" of the Laklands is easily felt for me. As long as I have those widths, I am relatively insensitive to scale length and have a combination of 34" and 35" scale lengths.
Dan
Dan
It matters, but if I like a bass enough, I’ll deal with something less than ideal for me. I absolutely can’t stand the tight spacing on Music Man Stingray 5 strings. I like the sound too much, so I don’t entertain the idea of never playing one.
Years ago, there was talk of Music Man making a wider spacing SR5 if a minimum order was met. That whole charade was a prime example on online dicketry and silliness.
Years ago, there was talk of Music Man making a wider spacing SR5 if a minimum order was met. That whole charade was a prime example on online dicketry and silliness.
