String Spacing: Where does it really matter?

[fauxtoe]

Both matter, but the bridge significantly more-so to me. For 5 strings I have a max of 18mm before I start fumbling over myself, and 17.5mm is the sweet spot. On 4's it doesn't matter quite as much, but the standard 19mm works well. As already mentioned by others, the neck profile is far and above the most important thing to me and the nut width and string spacing all play a part in that as well.

 

[morrisonhendrix]

Both matter, but the bridge significantly more-so to me. For 5 strings I have a max of 18mm before I start fumbling over myself, and 17.5mm is the sweet spot. On 4's it doesn't matter quite as much, but the standard 19mm works well. As already mentioned by others, the neck profile is far and above the most important thing to me and the nut width and string spacing all play a part in that as well.

This is something I don't understand. If you like the 19mm of the 4s, why wouldn't you like it for the 5s?

 

[Rip Van Dan]

At the bridge center to center of string.

Thanks!

 

[superheavyfunk]

This is something I don't understand. If you like the 19mm of the 4s, why wouldn't you like it for the 5s?

It could make the neck significantly wider, depending on the builders choices

 

[Rip Van Dan]

At the bridge center to center of string.

Interesting. My '82 Jazz measures 18mm at the bridge, center to center of each string. My Rogue 405 LX Pro measures 16mm string to string. Both of them are comfortable for me to play and I thought the 5-string might have wider spacing than my 4 string, but not so. Neck is wider to accommodate the extra string, but both necks are comfortable for me to play.

 

[Cleezmo]

It could make the neck significantly wider, depending on the builders choices

^ This exactly.

 

[fauxtoe]

This is something I don't understand. If you like the 19mm of the 4s, why wouldn't you like it for the 5s?

Have you ever played on a 19mm 5 string? The stretch from the B to G becomes noticeably wider because the space for the B has to come from somewhere. It also creates a wider overall neck. It’s extremely common for a manufacturer to do 19mm on a 4 and 17-18mm on the 5 string model to keep it from being too unwieldy. Some people like it wider, but not me.

 

[morrisonhendrix]

Have you ever played on a 19mm 5 string? The stretch from the B to G becomes noticeably wider because the space for the B has to come from somewhere. It also creates a wider overall neck. It’s extremely common for a manufacturer to do 19mm on a 4 and 17-18mm on the 5 string model to keep it from being too unwieldy. Some people like it wider, but not me.

I'm very familiar with a 5 string with 18.5mm and 19mm spacing, as both are my main players, and have been for years. I personally don't like being cramped with 16.5, 17, or 17.5mm spacing. I know what is common for manufacturers' string spacing on 4s and 5s. My question referred to the space in between the strings, not the stretch from B to G, or the fact that the neck is wider. If you are comfortable on the 4 with 19mm, it makes sense that most would be comfortable with 19mm on a five, regardless of the dimension from B to G or neck width. My thumb anchor moves from string to string, so the B to G spacing and neck width don't bother me.

 

[superheavyfunk]

My question referred to the space in between the strings, not the stretch from B to G, or the fact that the neck is wider. If you are comfortable on the 4 with 19mm, it makes sense that most would be comfortable with 19mm on a five, regardless of the dimension from B to G or neck width. My thumb anchor moves from string to string, so the B to G spacing and neck width don't bother me.

So in essence, you don’t understand the answers that other ppl gave to your question because you like things a certain way and can’t fathom that others may have a different preference?

Maybe I can make this simpler for you: Wider string spacing could contribute to a wider neck overall, which makes for a bigger stretch and that is uncomfortable for many ppl. It’s nice for you that you don’t care about it but that’s not the case for everyone. 19mm is too big for me on any bass, regardless of the number of strings.

 

[morrisonhendrix]

So in essence, you don’t understand the answers that other ppl gave to your question because you like things a certain way and can’t fathom that others may have a different preference?

Maybe I can make this simpler for you: Wider string spacing could contribute to a wider neck overall, which makes for a bigger stretch and that is uncomfortable for many ppl. It’s nice for you that you don’t care about it but that’s not the case for everyone. 19mm is too big for me on any bass, regardless of the number of strings.

Why the snarky attitude? I didn't say I didn't like any previous responses. I know it's not the case for everyone. I said I thought "most" folks would like the similar spacing of 19mm, not "all". It's a logical conclusion. Whether it's the conclusion for you or anyone else, so be it. I didn't say my way was the only way, I was only trying to explain where I was coming from. Hopefully that was made "simple" for you to understand. Good day to you.

 

[swarfrat]

My P is 19.5 and will soon be remedied when my new body gets here. Hipshot is already set up to 18 and waiting on a host.

 

[fauxtoe]

I'm very familiar with a 5 string with 18.5mm and 19mm spacing, as both are my main players, and have been for years. I personally don't like being cramped with 16.5, 17, or 17.5mm spacing. I know what is common for manufacturers' string spacing on 4s and 5s. My question referred to the space in between the strings, not the stretch from B to G, or the fact that the neck is wider. If you are comfortable on the 4 with 19mm, it makes sense that most would be comfortable with 19mm on a five, regardless of the dimension from B to G or neck width. My thumb anchor moves from string to string, so the B to G spacing and neck width don't bother me.

The only answer is personal preference. We can do the math and try to make sense of it, but in the end if it doesn’t fit my (or your) hand and playing style then it doesn’t matter. I just know that every time I’ve tried to play on a 19mm 5 string it makes me play worse. I just took the calipers to my two main 5’s and they are both 17.5mm string spacing at the bridge with a 1.9” nut and 3” at the 24th fret. It definitely does not feel cramped. I anchor either on the pickup or the B string and it’s as comfortable as playing one of my 4’s with 19mm.

 

[morrisonhendrix]

The only answer is personal preference. We can do the math and try to make sense of it, but in the end if it doesn’t fit my (or your) hand and playing style then it doesn’t matter. I just know that every time I’ve tried to play on a 19mm 5 string it makes me play worse. I just took the calipers to my two main 5’s and they are both 17.5mm string spacing at the bridge with a 1.9” nut and 3” at the 24th fret. It definitely does not feel cramped. I anchor either on the pickup or the B string and it’s as comfortable as playing one of my 4’s with 19mm.

I agree, it's personal preference, whatever works. Nothing wrong with being inquisitive on why some preferences are different.

 

[chris_b]

I just wanted my 5 string to have the same 19mm spacing as my 4 string, as my fretting hand was used to that. 18mm is a compromise I can live with, but that's as narrow as I get.

Neck width at nut, scale, string tension and radius seem to bother a lot of guys here, but none of these have never been an issue for me.

 

[Old Fart]

I don't care too much about the nut width and spacing, though 1.5" feels a bit crowded. Regarding bridge spacing, my deal-breaker is uneven spacing. Some idiots do not LOOK at the strings when they set up a bass, and the three string gaps (on a 4-string bass) are all different widths. For me, they at least need to be the same. And I do prefer the vintage saddle barrels that are threaded, maximizing adjustability.

 

[Geogio]

i'm with those for whom it doesn't matter much, and i don't envy those who have to have a dead-certain spacing. i.e., i can get used to anything.
... i make sure the E and G strings don't roll off the edge of the fingerboard and then space them all to 'look right'.
i feel like i'm making a case for being a "nut man" even though i much prefer being seen as a "rogue" or even a "heretic."

I hear you, I'm continue PT longterm ( i.e. every livelong day) from a hand injury. I had to go to short scale exclusily at first when I able.

I noticed when I got back to a long scale that the stretch feels pretty darn good and then I remember the story I heard years ago about the Japanese and that many still sleep on futons on the floor. As they age they remain flexible because they're getting up and down off of the floor their entire life.

I think we need to keep stretching it just a bit as we go through life in order to maintain good flexibility.