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String Spacing: Where does it really matter?

#22
I play 5s, so the bridge. Having said that I have basses from 16.5 to 19mm at the bridge and it only takes a few mins to get used to when changing. My favourite is probably MM 17.5 for a 5er. Nut width I'm not overly concerned about 'cos I don't seem to play there much.
 
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#23
If it's a bass I really like, No.

I owned a first and second generation Yamaha BB5000, where Yamaha took a Precision based four string neck and sub-divided it for five strings (they weren't alone, several companies did this in the early days).

String spacing? I think they used a kitchen match stick for a gage, they're tight! But a real favorite of mine, so there you go.
 
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#24
J Wilson said:
I owned a first and second generation Yamaha BB5000, where Yamaha took a Precision based four string neck and sub-divided it for five strings (they weren't alone, several companies did this in the early days).
Click to expand...

BB5000... they are a glorious bass, but probably the only 5string that I've had where I had a problem with the spacing being just a bit too tight. My main is currently a BBP35 at 18mm. I really wanted to go back in time and get a BB5000, but I knew I'd have issues.
 
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#25
I'll be the odd guy out and go with neither.
I'm more interested in how it feels/plays overall.
If string spacing is the last consideration then fine.
The closer you are to the front of the line with string spacing as a consideration, the more instruments you rule out before even trying them.
 
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#26
Bridge for me.

I play mostly 5's, and I've found that my sweet spot is 18mm. I can do 19mm as well without much issue.

My Christmas 2021 bass ('Ray Special 5HH) comes in at 17.5mm (I think?) and I can definitely tell a difference between it and my Alien Audio Lunar 5 (18mm). Although the 'Ray is a KILLER bass in every way, I find it somewhat difficult to play slap. Luckily I do very little slap! :laugh:
 
#27
I can get used to 18mm spacing at the bridge, but I really prefer 19mm. Anything less than 18mm is a deal breaker. Spacing at the nut is maybe lightly less important, but in a 5-string anything less than 1.8" is definitely uncomfortable. I've passed on 5's with 1.75" at the nut because the spacing felt too crowded.
 
#28
I have 7 basses (all four-string) and I couldn’t tell you the string spacing on any of them. It’s just never been an issue for me. And 2 are are long scale and the rest are shorties. That doesn’t bother me either.
 
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#29
Both, definitely. I need narrow spacing at the bridge. And I need wider spacing at the nut. Jazz basses are the devil.
 
#34
@NikkiVibes
I totally agree on bridge spacing aspect. Been a lifelong 4 stringer, my few forays into the 5 world always got balled up with being too tight for my plucking hand. The one time I really felt comfortable on one was when I borrowed my friend’s Pedulla Rapture. The worst was a Birdsong short scale I temporarily had. It’s spacing was around 16mm.
 
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#36
I play 6, 7 and 8 string guitar and 4 and 5 string bass, plus a little 5 string banjo. I can adapt to whatever you hand me.

As far as bass goes, unless I'm expected to do some crazy slapping, double thumbing, etc, I don't think the spacing matters all that much.

I think some people really do feel more comfortable on specific instruments with measurements that they could discover empirically. I fall in the other camp. I'll play whatever you hand me and be happy with it. Now if I were going to commission a custom instrument, I would want to research this further.
 
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