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The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

#1,685
garciawork said:
Analysis paralysis y'all... 5 string Jake, which bridge and tuners? 19mm spacing allows for the "standard big" or any of the allowed hipshot variants, of whic I only like the B and Vintage. 18mm spacing changes the standard option to "F style" or a small upcharge for "monorail", again with the other hipshot options. I honestly don't know which spacing, but bridge style could be a factor.

Tuners... Donovan at Fretspot says the standard ones are just fine, but heavier, and a LOT cheaper, and he sees no reason to upgrade, whereas others in the thread say they squeak and are poor quality...

Anyone want to throw out some advice?
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regarding string spacing... which bass that you currently own do you play the most and are most comfortable with? whatever spacing at the bridge that is I'd go with that string spacing.

I've owned a Hellwood 5A for over a year now, it's the 17mm version and it's comfortable to me as my main bass is a Warwick with 16.5mm spacing (my preference vs 19mm). I purchased an amazing boutique bass last year and I'm selling it due to the 19mm spacing just doesn't work for me. I'm replacing the stock bridge with a hipshot A with 17mm spacing. I feel the stock bridge sucks because of the lack of intonation setup without having to unwind a string to loosen the tension to then move the saddle within another notch machined into the bridge.

I'm still waiting on the delivery of the bridge and will comment on my opinion of the Hipshot A once I install it.

Overall, I really dig the Hellwood... it's light, plays and sounds great and for the price, you cannot beat it.

IMG_6923.JPG IMG_6922.JPG
 
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#1,690
Amajew said:
regarding string spacing... which bass that you currently own do you play the most and are most comfortable with? whatever spacing at the bridge that is I'd go with that string spacing.

I've owned a Hellwood 5A for over a year now, it's the 17mm version and it's comfortable to me as my main bass is a Warwick with 16.5mm spacing (my preference vs 19mm). I purchased an amazing boutique bass last year and I'm selling it due to the 19mm spacing just doesn't work for me. I'm replacing the stock bridge with a hipshot A with 17mm spacing. I feel the stock bridge sucks because of the lack of intonation setup without having to unwind a string to loosen the tension to then move the saddle within another notch machined into the bridge.

I'm still waiting on the delivery of the bridge and will comment on my opinion of the Hipshot A once I install it.

Overall, I really dig the Hellwood... it's light, plays and sounds great and for the price, you cannot beat it.

View attachment 2885360 View attachment 2885361
Click to expand...

My only experience with ANY 5 string is the custom one I found on eBay and play currently (also my only bass). It is 18 from what my caliper tells me. I went 18 when I ordered, and figured I can get the threaded saddles on the bridge if I want to mess with it. I probably won't notice anything either way though.
 
#1,692
 
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#1,694
 
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#1,695
Amajew said:
regarding string spacing... which bass that you currently own do you play the most and are most comfortable with? whatever spacing at the bridge that is I'd go with that string spacing.

I've owned a Hellwood 5A for over a year now, it's the 17mm version and it's comfortable to me as my main bass is a Warwick with 16.5mm spacing (my preference vs 19mm). I purchased an amazing boutique bass last year and I'm selling it due to the 19mm spacing just doesn't work for me. I'm replacing the stock bridge with a hipshot A with 17mm spacing. I feel the stock bridge sucks because of the lack of intonation setup without having to unwind a string to loosen the tension to then move the saddle within another notch machined into the bridge.

I'm still waiting on the delivery of the bridge and will comment on my opinion of the Hipshot A once I install it.

Overall, I really dig the Hellwood... it's light, plays and sounds great and for the price, you cannot beat it.

View attachment 2885360 View attachment 2885361
Click to expand...
All I know is, string spacing is intensely personal and pretty much non-transferrable from player to player, having more to do (in my experience) with the micro-mechanics of your fingering/picking style than with some abstract "rule." I've been gradually moving toward narrower spacing, so I'm in the 16.5 to 17 mm range. I can't say whether this is necessarily a product of my technique, or that the basses I ended up owning at crucial points in my development (such as it is) shaped that technique. My first six-string, for example, was an Ibanez, and they pretty much use 16.5 mm spacing. At the time, I wasn't even aware of what spacing I liked or needed given whatever technique I had. I just knew I wanted a six-string bass, so I bought the one I could afford, and it happened to be an Ibanez with said spacing. Then, years later, I had a chance to score a used Modulus, and I did so because I loved so much about Modulus basses, while still being largely unaware of string spacing. So that bass turned out to have 17 mm spacing. After years and years of playing these instruments, my technique evolved to "fit" those spacings. So much so, that I flounder and flub when I'm playing 18 mm or 19 mm spacings. There's no rhyme or reason to it. I have big hands and long fingers, and I still feel that the larger spacings hamper my playing. The neck feels too wide with those spacings. But then consider the Mighty John Patittucci, whose hands aren't exactly huge, and whose six-strings have wider spacing and broad necks. I saw him at a clinic once, and I was astonished at how, with those hands, he got around the neck, which seemed dauntingly wide in relation. All I'm saying is: Respect the string spacing you're accustomed to! Don't buy an instrument that otherwise suits your needs if the spacing is significantly different than what you've spent years becoming used to! When I was looking to buy a bass recently, I was sorely tempted by beautiful-looking instruments that checked every box, but then I would get to the string spacing and think, "Wow, I know this will totally ruin it for me." Ultimately, if it doesn't feel right on that simple mechanical level, it could be the best bass in the world, but not for you.
 
#1,696
Five Six Seven said:
All I know is, string spacing is intensely personal and pretty much non-transferrable from player to player, having more to do (in my experience) with the micro-mechanics of your fingering/picking style than with some abstract "rule." I've been gradually moving toward narrower spacing, so I'm in the 16.5 to 17 mm range. I can't say whether this is necessarily a product of my technique, or that the basses I ended up owning at crucial points in my development (such as it is) shaped that technique. My first six-string, for example, was an Ibanez, and they pretty much use 16.5 mm spacing. At the time, I wasn't even aware of what spacing I liked or needed given whatever technique I had. I just knew I wanted a six-string bass, so I bought the one I could afford, and it happened to be an Ibanez with said spacing. Then, years later, I had a chance to score a used Modulus, and I did so because I loved so much about Modulus basses, while still being largely unaware of string spacing. So that bass turned out to have 17 mm spacing. After years and years of playing these instruments, my technique evolved to "fit" those spacings. So much so, that I flounder and flub when I'm playing 18 mm or 19 mm spacings. There's no rhyme or reason to it. I have big hands and long fingers, and I still feel that the larger spacings hamper my playing. The neck feels too wide with those spacings. But then consider the Mighty John Patittucci, whose hands aren't exactly huge, and whose six-strings have wider spacing and broad necks. I saw him at a clinic once, and I was astonished at how, with those hands, he got around the neck, which seemed dauntingly wide in relation. All I'm saying is: Respect the string spacing you're accustomed to! Don't buy an instrument that otherwise suits your needs if the spacing is significantly different than what you've spent years becoming used to! When I was looking to buy a bass recently, I was sorely tempted by beautiful-looking instruments that checked every box, but then I would get to the string spacing and think, "Wow, I know this will totally ruin it for me." Ultimately, if it doesn't feel right on that simple mechanical level, it could be the best bass in the world, but not for you.
Click to expand...

This is great info. I grabbed a super sweet Elrick from this site over the summer and no matter how much I play it, it's just not working out at 19mm spacing. I always wanted one after playing a buddy's Elrick a number of years ago and I bit the bullet reluctantly saying to myself, "I can get used to the spacing".

Some people can get used to different spacing between different basses, others can't.
 
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#1,698
ValeriusCrow said:
Yo, guys. I'd like to hear some more response from Frog users - a lil more about playability and other impressions. I'm interested if Frogs are capable of reproducing vintage tones when it's necessary.

Reason for my courage is simple - there's a light enough Frog on Bass Freaks website that fuels my GAS af :D
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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I have the first African Frog... Active, mine is pretty modern sounding. I don't usually play it passively.

I will play it and compare it to my passive 1960 AVRI Jazz after work.
 
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#1,699
BK bassist said:
"Blen dem" .... Everton Blender reference? .... if so, love it! :thumbsup:
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Ha ha ha I was definitely listening to Everton Blender when I signed up here MANY moons ago....I play primarily reggae on eclectic (jazz on upright ) ! Turns out my bass shipped so I'll be receiving it sooner than later...mi cyan't wait to lay down dem "roots riddims" wid dis ting !
 
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