Maru Elwood 5 strings - Nut width problem

[Maleco]

Hi everyone,

I am currently finalizing my order at Maruszczyk. An Elwood C 5 strings. The order is almost finalized, it only remains to make the payment but suddenly, I am wondering about the width at the nut.

I am very hesitant between 45mm (1,775') and 48mm (1,875') (the two options offered at maruszczyk). I have pretty big hands but I'm very hesitant to see that the vast majority of people take 45mm. Know that in terms of width at the bridge I want 19mm to facilitate the slap and not to change my PB and JB 4 strings.

Unfortunately, the only 5-string basses that I tested are Fender and especially a Squier JB, so with a nut width of 48mm (1,875 '). But I hear everyone telling me that 45mm (1,775') is really a lot more comfortable and a lot less tiring ... I don't know what to think ...

Do you have any advice for me?

Best regards,

 

[Maleco]

Do you eventually have an idea of the string spacing of the Squier Classic vibes 70's ? 18mm or 19mm ?

Thanks

 

[BassmanM]

Difficult to advise when it comes to the handling of a bass as it is a very personal, subjective matter.... Do you get along with the narrow nut width of a 4-string jazz bass? Then the 45mm on the 5er will most likely be okay too. I also think the 3mm difference to 48mm on a 5er neck will probably not be as noticeable compared e.g. to the difference between a 38mm JB nut and a 45mm P nut.

 

[Maleco]

Thanks for your reply.

Yep a jazz bass 4 strings is nice to me. But i think that the ratio of a jazz bass 4 strings in this case is the 48mm nut width (48/5= 9.6 for 5strings, and 38/4=39.5 for 4 strings).

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I have short, fat fingers...kind of like sausage.
I have found a comfortable medium with specific string spacing.
For me:
With 19mm bridge, I prefer 45mm (1.775”) nut.
With the Fender/Squier 18mm [actually 18.4mm], I like the 48mm (1.875”) nut.
I also have a 17.5mm G&L and it has a 1-15/16” nut (1.937”, 49.2mm) and it is within .5mm of the Fender combination in that critical “slap area”.
I have used that string spacing in the slap area as a comfort gauge. I never really thought about comfort with Nut Width. I have had only a couple of basses with 19mm/45mm combination, but those were 35” scale and had other ergonomic issues outside of that (really long stretch to the 1st fret for me) which never led me to think about it.

 

[Maleco]

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I'm not sure concerning the 19mm, i mean, it's very practical cause is the same spacing than a classic 4 strings jazz bass or Pbass. But, after thinking, a 5 strings is made for different things than 4 strings.

That's why i'm interesting by the 18mm.

I cant find pictures of maruszczyk 48mm nut width unfortunatly...

For you, if i correctly understand, your preference is : 48mm with 18mm spacing and 45mm with 19mm spacing ?
I'm surprised, I would have thought that the reverse was more logical (48mm with 19mm, and 45mm with 18mm).

 

[Sid the Kid]

I prefer a 48mm nut width with 18mm spacing at the bridge. This keeps the neck from having too much of a taper from the nut to the highest fret. I prefer to have the neck feel about the same in the first position as it does further up the neck.

I don’t think you can go wrong with any of their options. Which ever you choose will be what you become accustomed to. 18mm is more common than 19. Neck carves will vary from bass to bass. Seems like a decent idea to get your right hand used to the 18mm spacing and 5 strings leaving your left hand figure out what it likes.

 

[Maleco]

thanks !

I agree with the "connique" aspect of the neck which I don't like either, but in my head, 18mm spacing and 45mm at the silet doesn't give a very connique neck, does it? (not like 19mm / 45mm or there, I find it very marked, even visually it shows a lot).

Just to know :

-18mm spacing is the standard spacing for all Fender Jazz bass V ? and for the squier classic vibes 70's jazz bass V ? (it's a bass that i had on the past, and the spacing was nice, but i cant find the response on internet).
-The fender JB american elite/american Ultra/american deluxe has theses specs right ? I mean, 48mm nut width and 18mm spacing (sometimes i see 19mm but i dont know the truth ) ?

 

[Maleco]

Anybody have an elwood 5 with 48mm nut width ? Just to see the "curve" of the neck who's very important for me (i like the "straight" necks).

It's hard to find pictures on internet, all maruszczyk elwood i saw was with a 45mm nut width =(

 

[eastcoasteddie]

thanks !

I agree with the "connique" aspect of the neck which I don't like either, but in my head, 18mm spacing and 45mm at the silet doesn't give a very connique neck, does it? (not like 19mm / 45mm or there, I find it very marked, even visually it shows a lot).

Just to know :

-18mm spacing is the standard spacing for all Fender Jazz bass V ? and for the squier classic vibes 70's jazz bass V ? (it's a bass that i had on the past, and the spacing was nice, but i cant find the response on internet).
-The fender JB american elite/american Ultra/american deluxe has theses specs right ? I mean, 48mm nut width and 18mm spacing (sometimes i see 19mm but i dont know the truth ) ?

Yes, about 99% of Fender/Squier V’s are 18mm (18.4 to be precise) and have 48mm nut widths. There were a few Squiers that had 19mm spacing and something like 51-52mm nut widths. These were the Squier Deluxe Active Jazz V and Precision Special models, both discontinued. The necks were huge.
I prefer the 18mm bridge spacing and 48mm nut combination because I find the Fender V’s most comfortable to play.

Anybody have an elwood 5 with 48mm nut width ? Just to see the "curve" of the neck who's very important for me (i like the "straight" necks). View attachment 4073286

It's hard to find pictures on internet, all maruszczyk elwood i saw was with a 45mm nut width =(

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