I Found My String Spacing Sweet Spot

[Bass Ape]

This. I have a Carvin BB75 with 19 mm spacing. The asymetrical neck makes a HUGE difference in feel over a "standard" shape.

This to 1000%. 19mm with just under a 1.75” nut is amazing. That’s what my Reverend has and it’s the best feel of all my basses. My SBMM ray25 has 18” mm and is ok. The Mule is 16.5 and while it plays fast for me, the string spacing is too narrow.

don’t get rid of the Ray!

 

[lowfreqgeek]

A lot of bad assumptions on the actual measurements... Few people seem to know what they're actually playing. Weird.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

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.

Two points:

1. Fender Am Dlx P 5 was 18.25mm (23/32", also published as 0.718").
2. The OP already owns an EBMM Stingray Special 5 (11/16", or 17.46mm).

 

[bassballs27]

I’ve found string spacing and neck design tend to work together. Tighter spacing and a flatter neck profile would give me a problem just as much if the neck had a thicker profile. I’m going through something similar with fretting hand issues causing pain and playing had issues wanting more spacing (19mm seems preferable)

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

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.
View attachment 5369205
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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Nice bass but your measurements and specs info is off on all accounts. You would regret selling that BFR StingRay5 Special. You probably just like that asymmetrical neck on the MTD. Buy yourself a used import MTD and spend a year with it . Then you will know if you should spend big bucks on a USA version. The grass isn't always greener.

 

[ELG60]

Shawn's a good guy, and Replay is fun to visit. He usually makes sure to have TI's in stock and I've gotten some good deals on amps and cabinets over the years. He got me a custom D.I.S.T. 2 12 from Epifani a few years ago.

 

[bassballs27]

Nice bass but your measurements and specs info is off on all accounts. You would regret selling that BFR StingRay5 Special. You probably just like that asymmetrical neck on the MTD. Buy yourself a used import MTD and spend a year with it . Then you will know if you should spend big bucks on a USA version. The grass isn't always greener.

Very true! Stingrays are also quite available. I’ve owned MTDs and instruments worth more. I have trouble now understanding the value of the BFR when you can save quite a bit for on get the same results with a “more reasonable trim level”. Do you need the Cadillac when you can work with the GM? It’s possible you can figure that out faster than in 12 months.

 

[DrBnz]

The mind is a powerful thing. If you believe something to be true, that's all that matters. I don't know what my string spacing is and I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter. Same with radius, and overall length. I notice the difference but its not a hinderance. Same with pick or no pick. I believe I can play equally as well with or without a pick. Its the negative beliefs that are dangerous. Whether you're hitting a golf ball, shooting, playing bass. If you believe you can't do something well. You probably won't.

 

[Nolan Tremblay]

As others have said, you may or may not have felt a legit difference and that difference, if real, could easily be due to any number of factors as people have alluded to. Beyond string spacing, neck carve and nut width, I'd also suggest that the setup of the bass could be a factor. A recent example I have is that when I received my SR5006, it arrived (shipped, used) with what I would call a pretty poor setup. I plugged it in before measuring anything and found that I really wasn't agreeing with the feel of the bass. Right hand felt fine, left hand did not. 30 minutes later and some work with some feeler gauges, hex keys, straight edge and a pickup height adjustment and it very much felt like a different bass.

I'm not suggesting that it's a setup issue, only that it could be any number of things. I personally felt the call of a really nice feeling bass on a demo that I walked away with (F Bass BN6). I sold it not too long later as the 19 mm bridge spacing did not work well for me. It was absolutely an amazing bass, and I have looked into getting one with custom narrower bridge spacing.

 

[lug]

The mind is a powerful thing. If you believe something to be true, that's all that matters. I don't know what my string spacing is and I'm pretty sure it doesn't matter. Same with radius, and overall length. I notice the difference but its not a hinderance. Same with pick or no pick. I believe I can play equally as well with or without a pick. Its the negative beliefs that are dangerous. Whether you're hitting a golf ball, shooting, playing bass. If you believe you can't do something well. You probably won't.

I believe I don't play bass very well, in fact I Suck at it. I'd like to convince myself that this is only because of your postulate above, unfortunately all my friends, relatives, acquaintances, and even the common man on the street agree with my internal assessment. Sometimes the truth and the perception of truth in the mind actually line up almost perfectly.

 

[Eilif]

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 can't comment on the bases you describe, but in my experience, if you find specs that fit you ergonomically there is no reason for your bases not to conform to that. After owning dozens of basses of various types over the years, my small stable of bases now conform to a fairly narrow set of neck specs that I settled on and I'm happier with my instruments than ever before.

Before purchasing anything I would play other bases with the spacing you have discovered and see if they feel similarly. Pay attention also to nut width and neck thickness.

 

[Stranger Danger]

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?

You got some interesting measurements there. I’m almost certain they’re all incorrect

 

[Mastiff_5]

Buy the MTD. You will play and practice on a bass you love, and the 5 is a great instrument. More Economy of Motion is available when you have an E available at the 5th fret position. At LEAST you now know what string spacing snd neck shape you like.
Blah blah blah. Buy the MTD.
You deserve it.
It is crying out for you right now.
“I regret buying and driving that Porsche, wish I would have kept the Mustang” - said no one ever.

 

[Stranger Danger]

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

Carnies have small hands and smell like cabbage

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

17mm is too narrow for me, I sold my 5er because of that.

 

[Bassdirty]

My Sweet spot is 16.5 on my 5ers. Which is the main reason I only play Ibanez sr5's.
(they have all kinds of different options going up to-"expensive" in that line, so there's plenty to choose from).

That and the thin slick necks, "light" weight.. and well.. Thats all I need in a 5.


As far as OP stingray 5, I never got along with the spacing, although, only tried em 10 min at a time during store visits. BUT, I'm sure that given enough time, one could get used to most any spacing.


I've played 16.5 spaced Ibanez 5 ers since the 90's, so I'm not changing now.


T$

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

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?

Hmm usually fender 5s have tighter than 19mm. It's like 17.5, or 18.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

17mm is too narrow for me, I sold my 5er because of that.

Me too. Standard J5 spacing is perfect for a five for me.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Fender 5's are usually 18mm. Unless you get an adjustable spacing bridge

That's what I thought. I don't think I've ever picked up a Fender 5 with 19mm

 

[Spectre Gunner]

Sorry but I should have clarified that my string spacing measurements were really more of a comparison rather than exact specs so. I didn't have ruler available so I used a business card that I marked the string width of the MTD and compared that width to the Fender and Ibanez. It was a crude way of measuring but it did show that the Ibanez was narrow, the MTD was medium, and the Fender was wide by comparison. Since I knew the MTD was 17mm I incorrectly assumed the Fender was 19mm and the Ibanez was 16mm. I'll stop by the store today and do some actual measurements of the spacing at the bridge and nut width and I'll post a pic or two.

The MTD reads 534-24-17 on the back of the headstock. Obviously that's short for 5 string, 24 frets and 17mm spacing at the bridge. It's signed by Michael himself and his son (not that it matters). I'm aware of MTD's asymmetrical neck profile and I like that profile because it matches the curved shape of a hand between the forefinger and thumb. Ironically, the asymmetrical curve is shaped like a Bass Clef.

I appreciate all your comments as they are helping me make a more informed decision.