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Question for 5 string players regarding the neck size.

#41
I have three fives (and one six) that are 19mm, a five at 18, one 17 and I think one might even be 16.5.
They're all eminently playable, though at 63 I'm not sure I'd want to be gigging the TRB-6 these days and I'm not yet certain that I want to go to 17mm as a main. I'm getting ready to build a couple 32" scale 5-strings and will likely go with an 18mm bridge. I think that the Hipshot A-type with its plus or minus 1.5mm per saddle will allow me to go as wide as 18.75mm or as narrow as 17.25mm.

Regarding the narrower spacing making slapping more challenging, I agree with @Core Creek. If the desire is there to figure it out, it's just a matter of time and practice. Having said that, I can also easily understand someone preferring to spend their time on other challenges and sticking with whatever spacing they're used to.
 
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#42
Green Lantern said:
Those who play a 5 string, we all want a neck that is comfortable to play. Do most find larger 5 string neck sizes with 19 mm spacing like Fender, Sadowsky, etc. manageable or do you prefer smaller neck sizes like Yamaha Nathan East bass, some Ibanez and others which assigning a finger per fret is easier or do your fingers bunch up too much?

Larger necks with 19mm can help slap players while others who dont have large hands may feel the stretch on a 5 string neck with larger spacing makes you get more tired and fatigued
Click to expand...
I certainly don't PREFER wider (larger) 5-string neck sizes. I prefer tighter string spacing. I'd say my hands are at best average finger length, if not a bit less than average. But... as long as they're not 35-inch scale instruments, I haven't played a 5-string bass I didn't enjoy. I have two 5-string Fenders and they have different neck widths/string spacing, and I used to have an Ibanez 6-string. I got along fine with them, physically. I slapped fine on all the basses. No string spacing was too tight to do whatever it was that I wanted to do.

The only bass I have played where I thought the fingerboard was too wide was the Yamaha TRB-6. I can't remember whether it was the John Pattitucci version or not. It's been 20 years or so since that experience. Yes, it was a 6-string neck, but it was fairly wider than any 6-string neck I'd played or demoed at that point, or really now all these years later... since that point.

Rather than a poll, if you're looking for a 5-string, I'd simply encourage you to get out and try some things and see what grabs you. When you get home (or on a forum) you could probably look up the specs of have someone measure for you, and you'd be able to better codify (at least with fingerboard width) kind of a ballpark of specs that should feel like you'd want them to feel. It is good to poll people I guess, but ultimately they're YOUR hands, and a search should prioritize that.
 
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#45
Went from 4 string to 5 string. Played mainly fenders. I tried a few basses, but only found the fender 5 strings comfortable, probably because of the string spacing, body shape, position of the pick-up as a thumb rest etc.

I've tried out some stingray5s and others but they make me fumble a lot!

So really, it's whatever you are or will get used to.
 
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#46
As others have said, it really boils down to what you like to play and how adaptable you are. Back when I started playing (the 90's) almost every 5 string had 16mm spacing. My hands are huge by normal standards but I've almost always played a bass with 16mm spacing so it is no issue whatsoever for me, even slapping. I have owned a few basses with wider, 18/19mm spacing, and I find they make it hard to play chords and it slows down my speed.
 
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#48
ardgedee said:
Neck size and string spacing at the bridge are two separate things. Ordinarily when the spacing is wider at the bridge it's also wider at the nut, but there's a great deal of variance possible. Nothing keeps a builder from making a 5-string with a 45mm nut and 20mm string spacing at the bridge.
Click to expand...

Came here to say this. @Green Lantern There are several things to consider - Scale length, nut width, neck width at the last fret, and string spacing at the bridge. The only two 5 string basses I have that are equal in numbers are from the same builder. All the others vary quite a bit.

No 5 string that I own cracks over 18mm-ish string spacing at the bridge and that's generally the limit for me. I can probably do 19mm if I work at it, but I'm always more comfortable on narrower. On the neck side I generally prefer those that do not widen out as much between the nut and the last fret. It's not a must, but I play a little better on Spector and Warwick necks which don't get too crazy. 34 vs 35" scale is going to be more personal than anything. I have great basses in both, but I probably prefer 34" the most since it requires a little less stretching. Good luck!
 
#49
My recent NYC sadowsky modern 5 is my favorite 5 I've ever had. Second would be a fender neck I think. But I like a flatter fretboard and wider spacing. I loved the stingray special but didn't like the spacing even after a couple years.
 
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#50
I'm not a fan of narrow string spacing at the bridge or at the nut. That's true of four strings as well as five.

Years ago I sold off a Stingray 5 and a Tobias Growler - both excellent instruments - because I just didn't care for the spacing.

My ideal is 19mm spacing at the bridge and a nut width of 1 7/8" or 2".
I also prefer a flat neck, front-to-back but that's not as critical as width for me. Asymmetrical is nice, too, but not a requirement.

In the four-string world, I tolerate the narrow nuts of Jazz Basses and the narrow bridges of Rickenbackers because I like everything else about those basses but I'd rather they were wider.

As far as my physical attributes go, my hands aren't giant. They're maybe medium-large? I'm certainly no Stanley Clarke! I just like wide string spacing. It's what I'm used to.

What you say about stretching in the OP I find is really more a product of scale length than string spacing but maybe someone with smaller hands would feel otherwise.
 
#52
I play a bunch of different basses with different spacings - 19mm on the MTDs and Reverend, 18ish on Yamaha and Fender, 17.5 on G&L. I don't have any problems switching between them.

I think everyone has different tolerances - some people notice minor differences, others don't. I'm in the latter category and can get comfortable on most any neck size (although my MTD Kingstons have the best necks for me).
 
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#53
Green Lantern said:
Those who play a 5 string, we all want a neck that is comfortable to play. Do most find larger 5 string neck sizes with 19 mm spacing like Fender, Sadowsky, etc. manageable or do you prefer smaller neck sizes like Yamaha Nathan East bass, some Ibanez and others which assigning a finger per fret is easier or do your fingers bunch up too much?

Larger necks with 19mm can help slap players while others who dont have large hands may feel the stretch on a 5 string neck with larger spacing makes you get more tired and fatigued
Click to expand...
Both sterling Ray5/35 and most ibanez SR5 neck profile and nut width just fine and comfortable for me who always use P, PJ and J as main bass.
 
#54
When I joined this site a dozen years or so back, there was flurry of activity with guys converting 4 string basses to 5 string by changing the bridge and the nut so the feel was largely maintained as wide necks were inhibiting many from changing over.

In subsequent years came the stringe measurers quoting preferences for string spacings but the market expanded a lot over the same period so you don't hear of conversions anymore.

I've had about a half dozen 5's over that period from Squier to Alembic and gave it a good shot, but I spent 40+ years before that on 4 stringers and learned that is where I am best suited. I kept the Squier as it was modded some and traded or sold off the rest. Happily a 4 string player, but I do notice that my Gibsons, Warwick and Alembic have a tighter string spread than the various Fenders in the racks which are definitely not as easy to play. The Jazz basses are obviously easier than the P basses.
 
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#56
prndltech said:
My recent NYC sadowsky modern 5 is my favorite 5 I've ever had. Second would be a fender neck I think. But I like a flatter fretboard and wider spacing. I loved the stingray special but didn't like the spacing even after a couple years.
Click to expand...
I have a Fender American Standard 5 string Jazz bass with a Sadowsky preamp. I also recently purchased a Sadowsky MetroLine P/J 5 string bass which I love and it has wonderful tones. But the neck makes me stretch a little more than my Fender. I wish it had the same neck profile. I can still play on it but when you want to play more advanced things, the wider neck takes a little more effort than my Jazz bass which is a little disappointing. I am hopeful the more I play it, the more comfortable I will get with it. Anytime you go to a slightly larger neck than what you had for over 8 years I understand it will take some time to get used to. Some internet info said the NYC neck is slightly slimmer than the Metroline.
 
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#58
My daily-driver (Fbass) is a 6 with 16mm spacing, and a long upper horn that shifts the instrument to my right and brings the first position closer. It's by far the most comfortable 6er I've ever owned.

16mm works well with my long-term goal of reducing playing effort and increasing speed/efficiency. Also I'm in my 50s, and other basses with a long reach to the first fret seem to grow more uncomfortable every year.
 
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#60
My first 5 string was a Squier P5. It had great tone but my hands ached after playing it. Either string spacing was too wide or neck was too thick for me. Based on the popularity of Ibanez I tried one of the popular model 5 strings at my local music store and found the spacing too close for my comfort. Note that both of these basses are highly regarded by many players who find them comfortable to play.

I then bought a G&L M-2500 which has 17.5mm spacing and it is my Goldilocks 5 string neck, just right FOR ME.

Recently I purchased a Fender American Pro II P5. It has grooved string saddles allowing adjustable string spacing. I set the strings so they are as close to each other as possible which works out fine for me. The neck also has radius edges along with not being too large. I find it very comfortable to play.

That said try different 5 strings and find the one that fits you best. And once you have it, play it well.
 

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