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my mikro 5 string is on the way!

pcake

pcake

Sep 20, 2011
10,169
31,502
Los Angeleez
#1
AMS said they'd have the mikro 5 strings in stock on august 1, and i had already paid for it as a birthday present to myself. imagine my surprise when i got an email this morning saying it had shipped! i logged in to AMS, and my account said the mikro 5 strings were still scheduled to be in stock on august 1, but my account listed CUSTOMER PICKUP as the shipping method, but a rep gave me a fed-ex tracking number, and the bass was actually sent a couple days ago and it due to get here tomorrow.

what an unexpected surprise, and how cool is that? :)
 
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#7
@pcake

I'm curious to hear how you like the 5-string Mikro. I've been interested in one for a while. Please report back with your opinions. Also, will you be tuning it in B standard or something else? I've been thinking of getting one to tune EADGC, since I like higher tension.
 
#8
skeeler said:
@pcake

I'm curious to hear how you like the 5-string Mikro. I've been interested in one for a while. Please report back with your opinions. Also, will you be tuning it in B standard or something else? I've been thinking of getting one to tune EADGC, since I like higher tension.
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i'll post as soon as it arrives and i have a few minutes to play it. i have owned 3 4-string mikros and several long scale 5 strings, but this will be my first short scale 5. i'll probably keep it tuned to standard, but will also experiment a bit.
 
#9
skeeler said:
@pcake

I'm curious to hear how you like the 5-string Mikro. I've been interested in one for a while. Please report back with your opinions. Also, will you be tuning it in B standard or something else? I've been thinking of getting one to tune EADGC, since I like higher tension.
Click to expand...

so far, so good. i'll be doing a NBD post, but don't have pics yet. the low b has a deep, well controlled sound, and it turned up to E nicely, although the E string has a hint more bass to it when they're both tuned the same. i'm not sure about how the neck on it - or any bass or guitar - will stand up long term to the higher tension, but it did very nicely for a short time with everything tuned up. one thing worth mentioning is that one of my several micros has a less smooth neck than the rest, although my new 5 has a pretty smooth neck. just letting you know it's always possible. btw, it's pretty heavy for a mikro - 8 pounds - and arrived with very little neck relief, but that took only seconds to remedy. i'm really happy with it, and when i'm ready for new strings - but these actually sound quite good - i can't wait to try these: Invalid Link Removed
 
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#11
I hope you like the bass! Very curious though as to why fodera is making strings for the mikro. It's good that they are, just interesting.

I used to have the esp 5 string that is the same scale length and the short scale labella flats worked great on it.
 
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#12
mrufino1 said:
I hope you like the bass! Very curious though as to why fodera is making strings for the mikro. It's good that they are, just interesting.

I used to have the esp 5 string that is the same scale length and the short scale labella flats worked great on it.
Click to expand...

i was curious about that, too. maybe jason has the answer.

i really liked that ESP 5 string. my original plan was to buy one, but it was discontinued so i got the mikro. so far so good :)
 
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#13
skeeler said:
Keep in mind that the tension to tune the 125 to an E at a 29.6-inch scale isn't enormously more than that required to tune a 105 to an E at 34.
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No it isn't - in fact, it probably is about the same or slightly less. However, I was of the understanding that the scale length 5-string miKro is the same 28.5" as the 4-string models, in which case the tension should be less than a .105 at 34" by a noticeable amount (I'd say about 5 lbs), even accounting for a possibly slightly tauter and/or stiffer construction of the Fodera .125.
 
#15
pcake said:
so far, so good. i'll be doing a NBD post, but don't have pics yet. the low b has a deep, well controlled sound, and it turned up to E nicely, although the E string has a hint more bass to it when they're both tuned the same. i'm not sure about how the neck on it - or any bass or guitar - will stand up long term to the higher tension, but it did very nicely for a short time with everything tuned up. one thing worth mentioning is that one of my several micros has a less smooth neck than the rest, although my new 5 has a pretty smooth neck. just letting you know it's always possible. btw, it's pretty heavy for a mikro - 8 pounds - and arrived with very little neck relief, but that took only seconds to remedy. i'm really happy with it, and when i'm ready for new strings - but these actually sound quite good - i can't wait to try these: Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...
I'm not sure but did you say that you tuned the B string to E? Why would you need 2 E strings?
 
#20
pcake said:
the low b has a deep, well controlled sound, and it turned up to E nicely, although the E string has a hint more bass to it when they're both tuned the same. i'm not sure about how the neck on it - or any bass or guitar - will stand up long term to the higher tension, but it did very nicely for a short time with everything tuned up.
Click to expand...

I realize you only did this for a quick test for the benefit of another TB member so no problem. If you do want to tune your five string Mikro EADGC or any other bass to any other tuning then there is NO long term concern about the tension on the neck AS LONG As you buy strings that are appropriate for the tuning you plan to use. With the right strings for the tuning you can put the total stress on the neck right where it was with the original strings and tuning. The neck won't know you changed anything and the truss rod won't either!

I'm glad to hear your initial report and any follow ons you might post. I have a slight notion to get a five string Artcore so I am interested to hear how the 5 string Ibanez short scale fives work out. It would be a matter of faith to assume that an Artcore plays as well as a Mikro but Ibanez seems pretty consistent to me and hopefully your Mikro results will match an Artcore's.
 
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