Tight Fivers (5 String Bass Spacing)

Most Ibanez.

 

Ibanez Roadstar RB885 from 1986. Super tight action, great sound, fantastic construction, reasonable prices.
Peavey's too, from that era.
In fact, consider the early production 5 strings from the 80s as a general category, as that was the norm back then.

 

Only the Gerald Veasley sig afaik and that's a 6-string. Soundgears are 16.5 mm and BTBs even more.

 

Older Alembics (1976 'till early 90's, or newer ones with the "Classic fingerboard taper" )

 

aren't alembics more expensive than rickenbackers?
early yamaha bb5000 had tight spacing but those are rare and getting expensive too.

 

And adding to the list of older narrow-spaced 5-string basses that still cost more than a Ric: Modulus Graphite Quantum-5 (through-body, but before they started being called TBX) or Quantum-5 SP (before the introduction of the SPi or SPX).

But an older Ibanez was definitely my first thought.

 

I almost got this one: 5 string '91 Spoiler 91S6512 for 1600 Euro, it sold for 1700 one day before my planned pickup... :-(
So I guess that would be about the same as a Rickenbacker? ...indeed maybe a little high for the op

But I've also seen them sell around $1000 (even way south of $1000) With some luck you can get a great deal on one of those

 

I have 2 Yamaha RBX5’s, they measure 14mm at the Bridge. Absolutely love them. Funny thing, I use to play wide 5’s, high end stuff. I have to say, for me, the narrow spacing is so comfortable. And even though I don’t slap that much anymore, I have no problem at all with it. Look at my avatar.

 

I'm not sure what spacing the Schecters have but they have a very narrow spacing at the bridge and are a very good quality 5 string . I had an Elite 5 with EMG hz pickups and thought is sounded great and I'm not an EMG fan .

 

My Ibanez is 16mm.

IIRC there was a Modulus I think that was very narrow spacing.

 

Jackson

 

Ibanez RB 885 1980-1990 Black | Mike's Music Center
Not the greatest deal I've seen, but it's WAY cheaper than a Ric 5.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Ibanez/SR885-Electric-Bass-Guitar.gc
If this is MIJ, this would be the next evolution of that design, with a sweet preamp. Possibly wider spacing, but still very narrow.

 

Ibanez SR5's. Stingray 5's.

 

Yamaha bb 415 . Has super tight string spacing.think neck and suepr fast with modern style neck .even smaller than Ibanez 5 string (remember this not true for 4 string )

 

Tobias Toby Pro V & Gibson Thunder Series V both have 16mm spacing.







Either one can be had for < $1000...

 

My '90 Guild Pilot Pro V is adjustable in the 14-17mm range. I keep it at about 15.

 

How about the 5-string version of the G&L P Bass? I don't know what the model is called and they're kind of rare but I remember looking into them a couple years ago and they had very tight string spacing.