Is this string spacing normal for a EBMM Stingray Special 5?

[Michael Rosen]

Hey, guys! I am about to purchase my first ever 5 string bass, and I am curious, what do you think about the instrument that I have chosen. It's a Stingray Special 5, but since these basses are super rare in my area, I have to order it online. The retailer was super friendly, and sent me some pictures of the neck, and from what I can see, the G string is very close to the edge of the fretboard. Looks like the string is touching that little slope, like it's about to slip off very easily. I know that this is a common "issue" amongst Stingrays, but this one seems to be too off. Or is it just me? What do you think? Thank you very much in advance for the help!

 

[aproud1]

Looks tight to me but most do. Here is one on Sweetwater.

 

[lordradish]

I've heard of this, but I bought two new Special 5HH's last year and it's never been a problem for me.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

They tend to be close and some people do have issues with it.

 

[Chris Chong]

it’s a known thing, that the G string is close to the edge and can easily fall off. You need to adjust your left hand fingering.

 

[CryingBass]

+1 known thing, some live with it, some do not.

 

[ole Jason]

Looks weird, I don't think I'd like that

 

[Mastermold]

Hey, guys! I am about to purchase my first ever 5 string bass, and I am curious, what do you think about the instrument that I have chosen. It's a Stingray Special 5, but since these basses are super rare in my area, I have to order it online. The retailer was super friendly, and sent me some pictures of the neck, and from what I can see, the G string is very close to the edge of the fretboard. Looks like the string is touching that little slope, like it's about to slip off very easily. I know that this is a common "issue" amongst Stingrays, but this one seems to be too off. Or is it just me? What do you think? Thank you very much in advance for the help!

All Stingray 5s are tight like that, Specials and the standard version they did for years. Here is a photo of my 2013 EBMM and you can see it’s the same. Some like it (I do) and some don’t, but that’s how they are.

 

[Pep]

it’s a known thing, that the G string is close to the edge and can easily fall off. You need to adjust your left hand fingering.

I would never buy a bass with either one of the outer strings that close to the edge. That's a deal breaker for me. You know EBMM has heard about this before and in all likelihood they're listening to their endorsees who may have told them it isn't a problem. Considering that their revenue comes from paying customers such us, not those who getting free instruments, it should have been addressed by now.

 

[Craig22221]

i recently purchased a SR5 here on Talkbass. The G string is close to the edge. You have to adjust your playing to not pull it off the fretboard. Takes some getting used to. Otherwise it's a great instrument. Very useable sounds in all 3 positions. Great neck, good B string.

 

[Slade N]

I havent owned or played any specials but the G on the classic 5 I used to own was close enough to come off untill I adjusted my technique- my 3band 5 doesnt have that issue. Its common enough issue that youll find posts about it if you search

 

[Doug Parent]

It's been an issue for me on several occasions. To my way of thinking if you have to change your mechanics to suit a design feature (flaw?) then it's a non starter. Too many other viable options out there.

 

[FullumMusic]

From my understanding luthiers/manufacturers will have the distance between the highest-pitch string & its fretboard edge smaller than the distance between the lowest-pitch string & its fretboard edge. Reason being, our fingers are coming up from around the bottom of the neck, meaning we tend to press either directly in, or up towards the low-note-strings. So the highest-pitch string is less likely to be accidentally pulled off the frets, while the lowest-pitch string is more likely to be accidentally pushed off the frets. The G needs less space than the B.

That said, when i played my friend's Stingray Special 5 at a jam session, the G string did seem closer to the edge of the fretboard than i'm used to. I did accidentally pull the G string off the edge of the board a couple times at first. I was more careful with it by the end of my 2 songs and it was fine. I assume it's a non-issue to Stingray Special 5 owners because they're used to it and have adjusted their playing? Otherwise we'd hear complaints about it all the time.

 

[jdwinva]

They are all like that. Can be an issue for some players.

 

[Doug Parent]

From my understanding luthiers/manufacturers will have the distance between the highest-pitch string & its fretboard edge smaller than the distance between the lowest-pitch string & its fretboard edge. Reason being, our fingers are coming up from around the bottom of the neck, meaning we tend to press either directly in, or up towards the low-note-strings. So the highest-pitch string is less likely to be accidentally pulled off the frets, while the lowest-pitch string is more likely to be accidentally pushed off the frets. The G needs less space than the B.

That said, when i played my friend's Stingray Special 5 at a jam session, the G string did seem closer to the edge of the fretboard than i'm used to. I did accidentally pull the G string off the edge of the board a couple times at first. I was more careful with it by the end of my 2 songs and it was fine. I assume it's a non-issue to Stingray Special 5 owners because they're used to it and have adjusted their playing? Otherwise we'd hear complaints about it all the time.

Very interesting and it makes sense. Yes I think you are correct, people adjust to it. I did for awhile. And the bass overall has great features. However I've been hearing about this issue for years here on TB. It's not a new thing.

 

[Michael Rosen]

Wow, thank you so much for the valuable responses, I think I will pass on this bass then. Saw other Stingray 5s somewhere else, and from the pictures I can clearly tell that the G string on those instruments are seemingly further from the edge of the fretboard. I think that EBMM might have some margin of error.

 

[Mastermold]

Wow, thank you so much for the valuable responses, I think I will pass on this bass then. Saw other Stingray 5s somewhere else, and from the pictures I can clearly tell that the G string on those instruments are seemingly further from the edge of the fretboard. I think that EBMM might have some margin of error.

Both sides of the fretboard are tight spaced on their 5s, it’s actually really comfortable for me. I got rid of my other 5 string basses after getting my SR5, the necks felt too wide by comparison. Not for everyone, but they do have their fans.

 

[FullumMusic]

Very interesting and it makes sense. Yes I think you are correct, people adjust to it. I did for awhile. And the bass overall has great features. However I've been hearing about this issue for years here on TB. It's not a new thing.

I guess i've been reading the wrong threads because i never saw anything about it until i played my friend's Stingray.
So i guess it's more of an issue than i thought, because they DO complain about it all the time... i just never noticed.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I think it's too close, but EBMM says it's fine. I've tried to get used to it, but the distance to the edge of the fretboard is too close for me. I sold both 5 string specials that I tried. On the first attempt I thought it was a factory mistake, but it's by design. The second bass behaved the same and I gave up on them. I didn't have any problem with the pre-Special Stingrays.

 

[CryingBass]

String spacing, neck width, outer-string proximity to the edge.

Pick any 2