Show me your Medium and Short Scale 5 Stringers!!!

[MultiScaleMale]

How is this bass im looking at one on reverb right now but there is minimal info on it.

It is fantastic. Great tone and feel and the preamp is pure magic. I have flats on mine and it’s really good for any music that might have an acoustic guitar. It just compliments that well. Probably wouldn’t take it to a metal gig, but I don’t do that anyways.

 

[nonohmic]

I hope to be posting pics and videos in the next couple of months!

Did you ever do a NBD?

 

[learning_towalk]

Here is my Woodcraft Ampmaster 5 medium scale.

I love this bass dearly. The feel, build, and tone are perfect for my wants in a bass nowadays. Sings with Dunlop flats on it.

Really want to get a second one to keep rounds on. If anyone is looking for trades toward one, let me know.

 

[blazekwi]

Work in progress but heres mine

 

[PotsdamBass8]

I’ve owned my Woodcraft Ampmaster 5 30” for almost exactly one year now. Before that I had a Spector Bantam 5 and still have a Maruszczyk Elwood 5 30”. It’s a great bass, definitely has a unique vibe to it. It’s super light and really easy to play with the tight string spacing and thin neck. It’s my #1 over the Maruszczyk right now, partly because of how easy it is to play and partly because of the sound. The sound is great and very colorful. I recently installed an Audere 2 band pre so I had a little more control from the bass. The finish on this one is really thin nitro, and since I wear a brace on my wrist when I play, the arm rest has worn away. I dig the look honestly. There’s also a spot of wear where I rest my thumb.

I wouldn’t hesitate to get a Maruszczyk or Woodcraft, they’re both excellent basses and the price is a bonus.

 

[TomB]

I’ve owned my Woodcraft Ampmaster 5 30” for almost exactly one year now. Before that I had a Spector Bantam 5 and still have a Maruszczyk Elwood 5 30”. It’s a great bass, definitely has a unique vibe to it. It’s super light and really easy to play with the tight string spacing and thin neck. It’s my #1 over the Maruszczyk right now, partly because of how easy it is to play and partly because of the sound. The sound is great and very colorful. I recently installed an Audere 2 band pre so I had a little more control from the bass. The finish on this one is really thin nitro, and since I wear a brace on my wrist when I play, the arm rest has worn away. I dig the look honestly. There’s also a spot of wear where I rest my thumb.

I wouldn’t hesitate to get a Maruszczyk or Woodcraft, they’re both excellent basses and the price is a bonus.

…as long as you like 16.5 mm spacing. It sounds like you do . For me it would be pretty much unplayable. I wish they’d consider an 18 mm version. Thanks for sharing as there seems to be little firsthand info on Woodcraft.

 

[77stingray]

Hey all, I have a single pickup Ampmaster 4 bass that I am thinking of putting up for sale. I thought I would gauge interest here first and then decide where to post it (TB, FB,or Reverb). It has the thin nitro finish, and there was a scratch that I repaired with touch up paint so that it can’t be seen from a distance but it can still be seen up close. I am located in ATL and would be willing to drive to meet up if not too far. I might consider a swap for an Ampmaster 5.

 

[Calebmundy]

Did you ever do a NBD?

I'm still waiting on it. Lol.

 

[nonohmic]

Hey all, I have a single pickup Ampmaster 4 bass that I am thinking of putting up for sale. I thought I would gauge interest here first and then decide where to post it (TB, FB,or Reverb). It has the thin nitro finish, and there was a scratch that I repaired with touch up paint so that it can’t be seen from a distance but it can still be seen up close. I am located in ATL and would be willing to drive to meet up if not too far. I might consider a swap for an Ampmaster 5.

Scale?

 

[77stingray]

@nonohmic 30” scale. I am impressed with how low this one will set up without buzz.

 

[Dylan Goode]

Hello bass friends. I forgot to do a NBD for my two medium-scale 5ers that were acquired this year so here it goes.

Woodcraft Ampmaster
Made in the EU, assembled and inspected in the USA
Maple Neck 5 string (32” scale)
Flamed Maple Fretboard
16.5mm String spacing at bridge
Dark Green Satin Nitro Finish
Cream/Off White Shell Pickguard
All cavities shielded with copper foil
2 Nordstrand Zen Blades (EMG40 Shaped) and
Nordstrand 2Band Preamp
3 Knob holes
-Volume Push/Pull for Active/Passive
-Blend
-Stacked Treble/Bass (concentric knobs) ~ Top controls Treble
Bottom controls bass
-Strung with Dunlop Medium Scale Nickel Superbrights 40-120

Maruszczyk Jake5A
Made in Poland
Medium Scale (32") 5 String
Zero Fret
Aguilar OBP-1TK 2 band preamp
Aguilar 5P-60 Precision Bass Pickup Aguilar
AG-5M Music Man Pickup
Roasted maple neck
(Really really dark) Roasted flame maple fretboard
Hipshot tuners
High Mass Bridge
Volume Push/Pull for Active/Passive
Blend
Bass Boost & Treble Boost
Thomastik Infeld Medium Scale Flatwound Strings (E-G) & D'Addario Medium Scale Roundwound on the B String
Throwing a set of Dunlop Medium Scale Nickel Superbrights 40-120 soon, but might eventually switch to Labella low tension flats

Both basses are incredible; I can achieve almost any bass tone I can think of between these two monsters. They're both so comfortable to play and are built really well. I'd like to eventually buy another Ampmaster with identical specs (maybe a different color) to throw a set of flatwounds on it.

I'd like to include an honorable mention for my modified Ibanez BTB845V. It is not exactly medium scale, but is not exactly full scale either; it's 33" scale. I bought it in 2024 as a mod project. It was originally strung E-C from the factory, but now I have it strung B-G. I stripped the finish down to the wood, stained it with Danish oil, sanded away all sharp edges, and reshaped the tummy cut to be much smoother and fit my body a lil better. I love this bass as well, and is extremely flexible in terms of tone. Here are the specs:

Ibanez BTB845V
Made in Indonesia
33" Scale 17mm bridge spacing
Zero Fret
Ash wings w/ poplar burl top & mahogany back
5-piece maple/ walnut w/ graphite reinforcement rods
Neck thru
Jatoba Fingerboard
24 frets
Nordrtand Zen Blade pickups
Nordstrand 3band preamp
Volume Push/Pull for Active/Passive
Treble Push/Pull Neck humbucker Series/Parallel
Mids Push/Pull Mid Frequency Select
Bass Push/Pull Bridge humbucker Series/Parallel
Pickup Blend
Locking jack replaced with regular jack
Shielded Cavities
Strung with GHS Brite flats in the photos, but currently strung with Dunlop Full Scale Nickel Superbrights 40-120

 

[frosty4d]

I have one!
MTD Lynn Keller model. 32" scale, 16.5mm spacing. Alder body, maple top, maple neck and board. It came with MTD stainless strings, which I quickly changed to TI Jazz Flats. That B really didn't want to intonate, so I'm trying the MTD nickel strings now. Likely trying the Dunlop flats next. I do wish we had more medium-scale options for 5 strings.

 

[learning_towalk]

Hello bass friends. I forgot to do a NBD for my two medium-scale 5ers that were acquired this year so here it goes.

Woodcraft Ampmaster
Made in the EU, assembled and inspected in the USA
Maple Neck 5 string (32” scale)
Flamed Maple Fretboard
16.5mm String spacing at bridge
Dark Green Satin Nitro Finish
Cream/Off White Shell Pickguard
All cavities shielded with copper foil
2 Nordstrand Zen Blades (EMG40 Shaped) and
Nordstrand 2Band Preamp
3 Knob holes
-Volume Push/Pull for Active/Passive
-Blend
-Stacked Treble/Bass (concentric knobs) ~ Top controls Treble
Bottom controls bass
-Strung with Dunlop Medium Scale Nickel Superbrights 40-120
View attachment 7367900


Maruszczyk Jake5A
Made in Poland
Medium Scale (32") 5 String
Zero Fret
Aguilar OBP-1TK 2 band preamp
Aguilar 5P-60 Precision Bass Pickup Aguilar
AG-5M Music Man Pickup
Roasted maple neck
(Really really dark) Roasted flame maple fretboard
Hipshot tuners
High Mass Bridge
Volume Push/Pull for Active/Passive
Blend
Bass Boost & Treble Boost
Thomastik Infeld Medium Scale Flatwound Strings (E-G) & D'Addario Medium Scale Roundwound on the B String
Throwing a set of Dunlop Medium Scale Nickel Superbrights 40-120 soon, but might eventually switch to Labella low tension flats
View attachment 7367902

Both basses are incredible; I can achieve almost any bass tone I can think of between these two monsters. They're both so comfortable to play and are built really well. I'd like to eventually buy another Ampmaster with identical specs (maybe a different color) to throw a set of flatwounds on it.

I'd like to include an honorable mention for my modified Ibanez BTB845V. It is not exactly medium scale, but is not exactly full scale either; it's 33" scale. I bought it in 2024 as a mod project. It was originally strung E-C from the factory, but now I have it strung B-G. I stripped the finish down to the wood, stained it with Danish oil, sanded away all sharp edges, and reshaped the tummy cut to be much smoother and fit my body a lil better. I love this bass as well, and is extremely flexible in terms of tone. Here are the specs:

Ibanez BTB845V
Made in Indonesia
33" Scale 17mm bridge spacing
Zero Fret
Ash wings w/ poplar burl top & mahogany back
5-piece maple/ walnut w/ graphite reinforcement rods
Neck thru
Jatoba Fingerboard
24 frets
Nordrtand Zen Blade pickups
Nordstrand 3band preamp
Volume Push/Pull for Active/Passive
Treble Push/Pull Neck humbucker Series/Parallel
Mids Push/Pull Mid Frequency Select
Bass Push/Pull Bridge humbucker Series/Parallel
Pickup Blend
Locking jack replaced with regular jack
Shielded Cavities
Strung with GHS Brite flats in the photos, but currently strung with Dunlop Full Scale Nickel Superbrights 40-120
View attachment 7367903
View attachment 7367904

Mercy that Woodcraft is a beaut. It seems like they’ve been churning out mostly 30” scales as of late. Really hoping to see more 32” soon.

 

[learning_towalk]

I've built a few ~32" scale to get what I want. Here are a couple:
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Do you have a website with specs/prices on your medium scale 5 builds?

 

[Dylan Goode]

Mercy that Woodcraft is a beaut. It seems like they’ve been churning out mostly 30” scales as of late. Really hoping to see more 32” soon.

Thank you, my friend! That Woodcraft is my number 1 bass, plays like a dream, and those zen blades sound wonderful in this bass. I'm not sure if Woodcraft is still doing this, but if you call the Woodcraft shop, you can custom order a medium scale bass. I think the next bass I'd like to get is a multicale 5er, something like 31"-34" or 32"-35". I know the Dingwall Super Series checks that box but I'd like to find more options. I love playing shorter scale basses but it would be a joy to have some more tension and low end clarity on the B string.

 

[AngelCrusher]

I will have one headed my way next week. 30 inch headless made by S. Martyn. Weighs like 6 pounds. Single cut, dual humbuckers, brazilian rosewood fretboard. Basically a mini Fodera style bass. I am probably going to string it E-C. I am not sure why people can't play 16.5mm. You just adjust by practicing. It's not that bad at all. People are slapping the hell out of them too.

The advantages of these 5 string shorties are pretty huge - much lighter weight, easy on the hands. I still love my 34s, and always will play those too, but so many cool modern basses are coming out with great variety to them. I don't see the shortscale going anywhere.

 

[nonohmic]

I will have one headed my way next week. 30 inch headless made by S. Martyn. Weighs like 6 pounds. Single cut, dual humbuckers, brazilian rosewood fretboard. Basically a mini Fodera style bass. I am probably going to string it E-C. I am not sure why people can't play 16.5mm. You just adjust by practicing. It's not that bad at all. People are slapping the hell out of them too.

The advantages of these 5 string shorties are pretty huge - much lighter weight, easy on the hands. I still love my 34s, and always will play those too, but so many cool modern basses are coming out with great variety to them. I don't see the shortscale going anywhere.

Got any pics or reverb link? Single cut sounds interesting! His basses are cool looking

 

[AngelCrusher]

Got any pics or reverb link? Single cut sounds interesting! His basses are cool looking

Yeah and ill take some when it shows up too.

 

[nonohmic]

Yeah and ill take some when it shows up too.

On dang that’s wild! Congrats

 

[blazekwi]

Work in progress but heres mine