Question for Musicman Stingray 5 guys: String Spacing verse neck width

[JOME77]

Why does Musicman continue to make their 5 string Stingray necks too narrow for their bridge spacing?
Am I the only one that this bothers?
16 Years ago I purchased a new Musicman Stingray 5 (this one):

After it arrived, though I love the sound, I immediately struggled with the G sting riding so close to the edge of the fingerboard. It literally hoovered above the area on the end of the fret (where it was filed). If I didn't push up a little when I played I would eventually pull the string over the edge of the fingerboard.
I traded the bass after 2 weeks due to this reason.
Obviously not everyone struggles with this because there are so many players out there that own and play the Musicman SR 5's. Maybe I have bad technique in that area but I don't have this issue with any other basses.
This design issue on the MM 5 has kept me from owning a MM Stingray 5.
It could easily be solved by either slightly widening the neck at the body or at least providing a bridge design that allows tweaking the string spacing.
I recently stopped by a local music store and played one of the new Sterling by Musicman SUB Ray 5's and they solved this problem by reducing the string spacing to 16.5 mm at the bridge. This allows plenty of room from the edge of the fingerboard to the G string. I liked it so much that I ordered a Lake Blue Metallic Ray 5 from MF and love it. Here's a pic:

I measured the neck and it appears to be the exact measurements at the nut and body as the MM SR5. But with the narrower string spacing the strings are better centered on the neck. Oddly the narrower spacing on the Ray 5 doesn't bother me. It actually feels good. But I'm sure some players wouldn't like it.

I'd love to own a US MM SR 5 but I guess as long as this issue exists I'll never purchase another one (although I really have GAS for a US MM SR 4 HH model).

 

[Americanized]

It's unfortunate that there are no replies to this thread because I for one am curious about this. I'm finally breaking free of the 4 string world and would like a 5 stringer. It was a toss up between a Stingray Special 5 and a Jazz Bass V Ultra. Both are in the same price range but both also suffer from the G string riding wayyyyy to close to the edge of the fretboard. Some friends have given me the impression that most 5 strings are like this, but I have played several ones that did not have this problem. For example: Fender's Player Series Jazz Bass V, Classic Vibe V, Sire, Sterling Ray 5 etc. I am a sucker for Jazz Bass but Fender's current Ultra and Professional series suffer from this issue.

Any updates regarding your experience with Stingrays?

 

[JOME77]

Apparently MM Stingray 5 lovers don't like talking about the issue regarding the G string (being close to the edge of the finger board). I guess they're in denial!

 

[Goatrope]

Ex-MM StingRay 5 player/owner here.

I sold the bass a year or so ago, but yeah, I do recall occasionally slipping the G off the side of the neck. It was mildly annoying.

It wasn’t enough to make me sell it; I was using it so infrequently that the bass was just better off with someone else.

I prefer a wider string spacing, so the narrow-space solution would have probably bothered me more.

 

[Americanized]

Ex-MM StingRay 5 player/owner here.

I sold the bass a year or so ago, but yeah, I do recall occasionally slipping the G off the side of the neck. It was mildly annoying.

It wasn’t enough to make me sell it; I was using it so infrequently that the bass was just better off with someone else.

I prefer a wider string spacing, so the narrow-space solution would have probably bothered me more.

I love the Stingray sound so I guess I would have to get a 4 string version if I decided to buy one. Quite a bummer. The whole "adjust your technique" thing to accommodate for this issue is quite absurd. I really don't mind a slightly wider neck to remedy this.

 

[Lesfunk]

Honestly, after owning several USA stingray and USA sterling 5s, I have to say that, yes, some of them do suffer from that and some don’t.
I’ve owned three different sterling 5s and one of them was really bad in This regard.
Two of them were ok.
Same thing with the stingray. I’ve owned three as well. One was also really bad in the same way and the other two seemed ok.
I have a stingray classic 5 now and it’s fine.
Be aware that on every one, the G string is/was close to the edge of the fingerboard. even the bad ones were playable but you had to be really clean with your your technique to get away with it. If you’re a sloppy player you won’t be able to make it work.
So from my personal experience, 33% of them have this issue. That’s a pretty high percentage but There are enough of them being used at the highest level of recording and touring that they all cant be bad.
I think the problems inconsistencies comes from the fret dressing at the factory.
If the bass gets the frets rounded off at the fingerboard edge too much, the string is already too close to not slip off.

 

[Sid the Kid]

That is my #1 beef with Musicman 5 strings. Always would happen to me especially if I was trying to do a slide around the 9th fret. It seems to me that it is one part bridge spacing and one part the compensated nut.

 

[shwabilly]

I've got an 05' Sr5. I bought it new, and have never noticed an issue with the g string being too close to the edge of the fretboard. Im going to have to take a look at it at next rehearsal. I hope you haven't ruined it for me. Lol.

Mine doesn't have the compensated nut, so im not sure if that makes a difference.

 

[Americanized]

I've got an 05' Sr5. I bought it new, and have never noticed an issue with the g string being too close to the edge of the fretboard. Im going to have to take a look at it at next rehearsal. I hope you haven't ruined it for me. Lol.

Mine doesn't have the compensated nut, so im not sure if that makes a difference.

Oh god don't check it if you haven't noticed it at all!

 

[Americanized]

Honestly, after owning several USA stingray and USA sterling 5s, I have to say that, yes, some of them do suffer from that and some don’t.
I’ve owned three different sterling 5s and one of them was really bad in This regard.
Two of them were ok.
Same thing with the stingray. I’ve owned three as well. One was also really bad in the same way and the other two seemed ok.
I have a stingray classic 5 now and it’s fine.
Be aware that on every one, the G string is/was close to the edge of the fingerboard. even the bad ones were playable but you had to be really clean with your your technique to get away with it. If you’re a sloppy player you won’t be able to make it work.
So from my personal experience, 33% of them have this issue. That’s a pretty high percentage but There are enough of them being used at the highest level of recording and touring that they all cant be bad.
I think the problems inconsistencies comes from the fret dressing at the factory.
If the bass gets the frets rounded off at the fingerboard edge too much, the string is already too close to not slip off.

Yeah that's what I was thinking as well. There's no way they're all like that because Stingrays are practically industry standard.

My personal issue would be ordering online blindly instead of playing it first in a store, which is impossible these days because nobody has anything in store anymore, especially Guitar Center and Sam Ash.

I'm still looking forward to owning a Special 5H at some point.

 

[shwabilly]

So, i just got home from my local shop, where they have 3 U.S. SR5's and 2 Sterling ray 5's, and they all looked pretty good to me. Upon inspection of the bridges, the saddles looked to be narrower than mine, but I could be/likely be wrong. The SR5's at the store were all the newer specials.

 

[IronLung1986]

This issue does put me off buying another EBMM 5 string. I had a Bongo 5 and it was annoying. Messed up a few moments on stage too as I recall. I feel it should have been addressed in the Stingray Special 5. I think they keep it the way it is because that narrow neck pulls in a lot of new converts to 5 string. It's noticeably comfortable and easy to get used to. But, it really wouldn't take much to correct it. I'm betting like an extra 64th on either side would solve 90% of it.

 

[Mastermold]

Spacing on my 2013 SR5 is fine for me, it’s a narrow neck and not a lot of margin sure but thankfully I’ve never had a problem with that. I like this neck much better than the wider 5 string necks I’ve had.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I have owned several Stingray and USA SUB 5’s and never ran into the problem last night on this bass:


Currently, my five string Stingray is an SBMM, and the strings the G is perfectly situated on the fingerboard.



I think the solution should be to reduce the thickness of the neck front to back, widen the fingerboard, and increase string spacing to 18mm.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

This is one reason that I sold my Stingray5 Special.

 

[Giffro]

I agree that the spacing, especially up close to the compensated nut on the SR5, is right on the edge of the fretboard. It probably would bother slap players more. I'm not a slap bassist and as such the G string proximity near the fretboard edge has never bothered me and I don't have any issues with it, but it is a definate manufacturing problem I would say that EB needs to have a look at it.
In comparison to my 2017 EBMMSR5 I added a pic of my '91 Peavey Dyna Bass 5 with far better G string spacing.

 

[drTSTingray]

I’ve got a 2003 SR5 (had it since new), an SR5HH Special, a Bongo 5 and a US Sub 5. I’ve never really had this problem but after reading about it on forums once or twice it made me more aware of it. I can make it happen on my SR5 if I really try, and it can also happen pulling off notes to a lower one (say two frets on that string). Maybe my technique is less ropey - I can’t see how people would be pulling the string towards the edge of the board on the G string unless they hold the bass neck in a way that causes it.

I have relatively small hands so not only do I have to be careful with technique to ensure I can play relatively complex lines, I find the balance between the neck width, shape and string spacing on the SR5 pretty well ideal for me - the Special has that even more playable and exquisite feeling roasted maple/oil and wax finished neck with ebony board so is even better.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I’ve got a 2003 SR5 (had it since new), an SR5HH Special, a Bongo 5 and a US Sub 5. I’ve never really had this problem but after reading about it on forums once or twice it made me more aware of it. I can make it happen on my SR5 if I really try, and it can also happen pulling off notes to a lower one (say two frets on that string). Maybe my technique is less ropey - I can’t see how people would be pulling the string towards the edge of the board on the G string unless they hold the bass neck in a way that causes it.

I have relatively small hands so not only do I have to be careful with technique to ensure I can play relatively complex lines, I find the balance between the neck width, shape and string spacing on the SR5 pretty well ideal for me - the Special has that even more playable and exquisite feeling roasted maple/oil and wax finished neck with ebony board so is even better.

Have you ordered your basses or picked them out in person? I bet that makes a big difference.

 

[GreyBeard]

I've been play SR5's since 1995. My hands are so use to the nut, neck, and string spacing that the only other 5 string basses I keep are those with the same specs as the SR5. G&L's and Ibanez ATK 5's have a very similar neck/string spacing.

 

[drTSTingray]

Have you ordered your basses or picked them out in person? I bet that makes a big difference.

Two were ordered new and therefore bought unseen, two were bought used so played before buying. I’ve played others in shops - they all feel similar to me. This is the 2003 SR5 (bought new, unseen).