I Found My String Spacing Sweet Spot

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Keep in mind that the nut width also plays a role in the spacing. You can have a wide nut and the string spacing will feel wide regardless of the spacing at the bridge.

And yes, all EBMM's 5-string basses that I know of are 17.5mm at the bridge.

 

[onda'bass]

my sweet spot is 16.5-19mm.

 

[Jaco Taco]

My 3 custom 6-string basses have 13mm string spacing, that's the spacing for me. Not interested in surfboard necks.

 

[N4860]

My 3 custom 6-string basses have 13mm string spacing, that's the spacing for me. Not interested in surfboard necks.

Nice, I'd be curious to try something like that. One that has tempted me is the John Myung signature MM Bongo. It is a 6 string bass but using their usual 5 string neck so the spacing is around 14mm at the bridge if I recall correctly.

 

[sethlow3]

Cool
It took me years too, but 17.5 (stingray) or 18mm (sandberg) and I’m happy. Those are my two picks.

Although I heavily have enjoyed a 16mm (Hofner) and a 19mm (Lakland) also, there aren’t many exceptions I’ll make.

 

[FeltTipPen]

Something isn't adding up, as other said your Stingray is 17.5mm. Should not be much of a noticeable difference from 17mm.

A lot of factors go into how a 5er neck feels. For me a narrow nut is more important than string spacing. Then of course there is the neck profile too.

MTD has the asymmetrical neck profile that is very comfy. I think that may be part of what you noticed too.

Agreed. Nut width, neck profile, radius, even fret size may be a factor. I found that I like smaller fretwire on fretted basses.

 

[Benko]

I'm still curious to know which model of MTD you tried, the shop only list the import (kingston) Lynn Keller model which is a PJ in 32 inch (it actually looks decent and I'd love to try one), it's not a "lot of money" (3 times cheaper than a Stingray Special)

My sweetspot for 5 srings spacing is probably around 18mm, I can do the Stingray 17.5 and even 17mm with no much problem (not lower) but the slap will get sloppy(ier).

19mm on my Fender Roscoe Beck (I believe) felt a bit too wide but the 19mm on my Zon is VERY confortable

 

[RickDeckardCain]

I have both a Ray35 and a tribute L-2500 and both of them have the same string spacing of 17.5mm. Just measured to confirmed. Both have the same nut size as well, so it makes switching between the two seamless. I'm okay with 19mm spacing for 4 strings but I haven't tried it for 5 strings yet -- nor 18mm spacing, but I suspect I'd be fine with it. Ibanez Soundgear 5 strings have 16.5mm string spacing -- that's too narrow for me -- while BTB 5 strings have 19mm string spacing.

 

[iiipopes]

For me, the comfortable string spacing at the bridge is 18mm. On a 4-string that is 54mm, or @ 2 1/8 inches. It just so happens that this is Rickenbacker bridge spacing. That's why I got my 4002 (yes, "2," not "1" or "3") all those years ago, in addition to the pickups' spacing being more J-style and split coil humbucking. In recent years I have found a $20 bridge on E-bay that is 18mm spacing for all my 4-string projects. Also, my left hand does not like full Fender 34" scale. But the Rickenbacker scale fits me well. So when it came to getting a 5-string, and it took a few years to get the neck I wanted, but my #1 gig bass is an Ibby SRA305 with the 18mm bridge string spacing and a custom 33-inch neck 45mm at the nut. (Yes, Rick is technically 33 1/4, but I didn't want to get too esoteric).

 

[burgerdj]

Yeah - I’m pretty much married to Warwick 5s…the 16.5mm is perfect for my carny hands.

 

[lordradish]

My 5's are all 17 or 15.5 and my sixers are 16.5 and they're perfect. No fours.

 

[retslock]

I was at my local independent guitar store (Replay Guitar in Tampa) yesterday to buy a used pedal I had my eye on. Of course, I had to visit the bass department as usual and while I checking out the new basses I came across a Jazz style MTD 5 string hanging on the wall. So I tried it out and found that it was easier to play than any other 5 string I've played. The setup was superb with low action but I've played other 5s with a good setup but they weren't as easy for me to play as this MTD was.

Shaun (Bass Dept Mgr) told me it was a 34" scale with 17mm spacing. So I picked up a Fender 5 string jazz and found it more challenging to play just like every other 5 I've played. The Fender had 19mm spacing. So if a narrower spacing made playing easier for me then perhaps going even skinnier would be better...not! I tried an Ibanez 5 which had about 15-16mm spacing and that just did not work for me. The spacing was too crowded for my fingers.

So now after so many years, I finally know that 17mm string spacing on a 5'er is the sweet spot for me. I've been mostly playing 4 string basses but now I'm encouraged to play a 5 string but only if it's 17mm.

The MTD is such a fine bass and a great fit for my hands but man it's a lot of money and would be the most expensive bass I've ever purchased. Now I have to decide if I want to sell my beautiful EBMM Stingray Special 5 with 19mm and another one or two of my 4 stringers to help finance this MTD. I can afford it, if I sell off some of my 4 stringers but should I?

I welcome any comments that may help me decide. How well do the handmade USA MTD hold their resale value? What would you do?

I had an American made Precision Deluxe a few years back that I thought would be the last bass I'd ever need. It turned that the 19mm string spacing on a 5 string just didn't work for me. I sold it and now play custom built basses with narrower spacing. It matters. I switched to 5 strings years ago and won't be going back to 4 so in the spirit of the TB enabling tradition I would say get a 5 string with 17mm spacing. It doesn't have to be outrageously expensive though. Keep a 4 string - the Stingray perhaps - and take some time and look around at what else is available.
I wrote this before I read some of the other comments and they reminded me that my first 5 String - a Cort - had a Music Man style pickup and bridge. It had 17mm spacing so check out some Stingray fives and see how they feel. A good used one shouldn't hurt the wallet so much.

 

[Pilgrim]

Fender style bridge with threaded saddles. Adjust strings as needed.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

I'm so used to playing Spectors and EBMMs - I guess even with big hands I like narrow string spacing. The Spectors are 16.7 and the MMs are 17.5. But more than that is the neck shape. If it's too wide and flat, I immediately get turned off. I like some chonkiness.

 

[eddododo]

On a 4 string, I’m not sure I could care any less about the spacing.. on a 5 it’s a huge factor. I’m very fond of and partial to Roscoe’s standard of 18.3mm at the bridge, with their taper from the nut.

Something to ponder- the spacing at the bridge is an important factor, but no less important to the feel of an instrument is the spacing at the nut, and how that interacts with the bridge to form the taper of the string spacing. I would almost go so far as to say that this spacing taper is a bigger comfort factor than the bridge spacing itself- as in the perfect taper with the wrong bridge spacing is better than the right bridge spacing with an uncomfortable taper.

Something isn't adding up, as other said your Stingray is 17.5mm. Should not be much of a noticeable difference from 17mm.

A lot of factors go into how a 5er neck feels. For me a narrow nut is more important than string spacing. Then of course there is the neck profile too.

MTD has the asymmetrical neck profile that is very comfy. I think that may be part of what you noticed too.

.5mm is not at all an insignificant difference in feel.

 

[GreyBeard]

For years I played a MMSR5 (17.5mm) and was fine with it. Last month I decided I was only going to play my Lakland 5502, which is a 35" scale with 19mm spacing, and if I got used to it I would keep and if not I would sell it. One big plus for the 5502 is that it feels quite a bit lighter than the SR5. Well as it goes, my hands are fine with it now and my other basses feel cramped.

 

[Lackey]

Moments like this remind me that many people are susceptible to the power of suggestion.

 

[B String]

Fender style bridge with threaded saddles. Adjust strings as needed.

I've done this with my older American Deluxe 5. Love the bass but the 19mm spacing is tough with my very short fingers, so I fudge the string spacing to about 18mm. Helps a lot.

 

[Chris Chong]

The comfort in slapping on a 19mm 5string Sadowsky makes me want to sell the 17.5mm G&L

 

[DrThumpenstein]

That's a good point. What makes me hesitate on selling my Stingray 5 is that it's a Ball Family Reserve and was limited to just 55 basses. I had one previously but I had to return it (a long story) and I thought I'd never see another one. But a year later I found one, bought it and told myself I'm not letting it go this time. But yeah, if it's not working for me as well as this particular MTD then maybe I should let it go and not look back.
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The color is Kinetic Blue and is color shifting from blue to purple or green depending on how the light hits it. It's not just a pretty face, it also sounds great. If I played slap then 19mm would probably work better. I'm starting to see that my reason for hanging to the Stingray is more emotional than practical.
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If you sell that Ray, uh, dibs? That thing is wolf-whistle gorgeous! I'm pretty well done with fivers, but I want THAT one!