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Show me your Medium and Short Scale 5 Stringers!!!
- Thread starter Pacifus
- Start date
You may want to consider the MTD Kingston LK5. Designed by Michael Tobias, this 32” scale bass does it all. Easy to play, great sounding bass, thumpy B string, plus upgrades available from MTD. I’ve owned mine for about 2 years and it’s become one that
Got my s martyn little elite today.
I didnt expect it to be this awesome. It’s incredibly light, 6 pounds is just a feather.
The tone of it is so good. It’s a fusion style tone but has more bite than my Fodera. The slap sound is phenomenal if you like that modern sound. And this is with eq all set flat.
Bridge fusion tone - amazing. Warm and punchy.
The b string is good but it’s not a grinder for metal type of b string. Seems like a b you hit for those short low notes. It is very easy to get buzz on the b and I play with a light touch. That said, it’s a nice deep B. I originally planned to string it e-c but I’m going to hold tight for a while and keep it as is.
This bass has me considering selling the Fodera. I know that may sound crazy but it’s just my initial impression.
I’m super impressed right now with s martyn. I think they are about to make some noise at NAMM because the build quality has exceeded my expectations and I’m really picky.
Love the headless design too. This is my first headless and it’s so easy to tune. Truly feel like an advancement on traditional bass design (which I love as well).
I didnt expect it to be this awesome. It’s incredibly light, 6 pounds is just a feather.
The tone of it is so good. It’s a fusion style tone but has more bite than my Fodera. The slap sound is phenomenal if you like that modern sound. And this is with eq all set flat.
Bridge fusion tone - amazing. Warm and punchy.
The b string is good but it’s not a grinder for metal type of b string. Seems like a b you hit for those short low notes. It is very easy to get buzz on the b and I play with a light touch. That said, it’s a nice deep B. I originally planned to string it e-c but I’m going to hold tight for a while and keep it as is.
This bass has me considering selling the Fodera. I know that may sound crazy but it’s just my initial impression.
I’m super impressed right now with s martyn. I think they are about to make some noise at NAMM because the build quality has exceeded my expectations and I’m really picky.
Love the headless design too. This is my first headless and it’s so easy to tune. Truly feel like an advancement on traditional bass design (which I love as well).
Since I got the s martyn I ended up selling the fodera. I restring it E-C and it’s just incredible. The tone is a lot more open and sits in a mix better.
I also figured out how to restring headless rather quickly. It’s not that tricky and I love how easy it is to tune , plus the 6 pounds of weight is like a feather.
Anyway, if anyone is at NAMM go play the s martyns. I think they are incredible instruments.
Personally a low b on a 30 can work for me if it has to but I much prefer the high c. The bass just sings with it and it’s a joy to play. A multi scale headless 32-35 could be gold though. Something to consider. That could be the best of both worlds for modern bass. I will say that a
S martyn pickups and preamp really make a massive difference over the Ibanez and other more inexpensive headless options. I don’t know anything about them except that they are perfectly voiced and really sing.
Anyway that’s the update, I recommend anyone looking at a modern short scale to track one of these down.
I also figured out how to restring headless rather quickly. It’s not that tricky and I love how easy it is to tune , plus the 6 pounds of weight is like a feather.
Anyway, if anyone is at NAMM go play the s martyns. I think they are incredible instruments.
Personally a low b on a 30 can work for me if it has to but I much prefer the high c. The bass just sings with it and it’s a joy to play. A multi scale headless 32-35 could be gold though. Something to consider. That could be the best of both worlds for modern bass. I will say that a
S martyn pickups and preamp really make a massive difference over the Ibanez and other more inexpensive headless options. I don’t know anything about them except that they are perfectly voiced and really sing.
Anyway that’s the update, I recommend anyone looking at a modern short scale to track one of these down.
Thank you!
It’s 32-30” set up with a high C. Maple on Sapele top to bottom. The fretboard was made and glued to an uncarved neck by Crimson Guitars (UK) and the rest was cut, glued, carved and finished at home. It’s quite substantially chambered, which is just as well - it’s still not a lightweight, so would have been a bit of a boat anchor without the weight relief!
EMG 40P5 and 40J pickups wired VVT. Has a bit of that Spector Euro reverse-P+J character.
I originally had all of the hardware in the aged copper/bronze but the bridge pieces just didn’t work for me, so switched in the black ones from Guyker.
The fretboard is probably a bit narrower towards the heel than I’d have liked ideally, but I’m so accustomed to it now I don’t notice when playing. When my band mates have a go they do find themselves pushing the lowest string off the edge of the board once they’re up around the 12th fret or so!
P.S. Luminlay inlays and side dots were also installed by Crimson.
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Anyone have a medium scale woodcraft or McGrath 5’er they’re thinking about selling? If so, shoot me a DM.
