Where are all the medium scale 5-strings?

[BaileyMan]

I'm in the market for one and have been searching and searching and the pickings are super slim.

So much new stuff is on back order, although there's a handful out there on Reverb. The used market is practically non-existent. Have medium scales become that much more popular? Are they that unpopular?

What about the folks who bought a Warwick Rockbass Corvette in medium scale 5-string? Or those who bought a Spector Bantam 5 or the Ibanez Mezzo? Are people just hanging on to them?

I know i can custom order one, and I've got a fretless on the way, due in September, but I'd love to find a used fretted one without taking a $2300 risk buying something site unseen.

What gives?

 

[BTL]

New MTD Kingston 32s are in the pipeline. Ibanez Mezzo are the budget go-to.

Master List Of Medium 32" Scale Basses Only - Not For Short Scale 30"

SRMD205 | SR MEZZO | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

 

[Aidil]

How about getting a medium to long multi-scale bass?

Usually, the overall scale length of a bass guitar is determined by its G string. Thus, in the case of multi-scale basses, the Ibanez EHB1005MS, EHB1265MS & EHB1505MS which G strings are 33" scale, are comparable to medium scale basses.

 

[BaileyMan]

How about getting a medium to long multi-scale bass?

Usually, the overall scale length of a bass guitar is determined by its G string. Thus, in the case of multi-scale basses, the Ibanez EHB1005MS, EHB1265MS & EHB1505MS which G strings are 33" scale, are comparable to medium scale basses.

Yeah. I thought about it and tried one out. I liked it but decided I wasn't ready to deal with the back and forth of the muscle memory piece going between a fretless and multi-scale fretted bass.

The Ibanez EHB1005SMS (short scale one) is also hard to come by these days.

New MTD Kingston 32s are in the pipeline. Ibanez Mezzo are the budget go-to.

Master List Of Medium 32" Scale Basses Only - Not For Short Scale 30"

SRMD205 | SR MEZZO | ELECTRIC BASSES | PRODUCTS | Ibanez guitars

I've got my eyes out for the Mezzo, but they're on back order new and I haven't found a used one for sale in the US, that will ship to me.

I didn't know about the Kingston 32's. I'll keep my eyes out...

 

[akratzer]

Just converted two 32" scale basses from 4 to 5 strings. Squire CV Jag bass pictures. I've alsdo convere3d an Ibanez Mezzo. Its a bit of a project, but doable.

 

[BaileyMan]

Just converted two 32" scale basses from 4 to 5 strings. Squire CV Jag bass pictures. I've alsdo convere3d an Ibanez Mezzo. Its a bit of a project, but doable. View attachment 4756191

Nice. That looks pretty good, and totally doable for me. I've even got nut slot files and could absolutely drop a new nut in there.

Any issues with the strings being too close to the edge of the fretboard?

 

[akratzer]

Nice. That looks pretty good, and totally doable for me. I've even got nut slot files and could absolutely drop a new nut in there.

Any issues with the strings being too close to the edge of the fretboard?

You can see there is plenty of space on this one -- but I used an old Ibanez RB885 5 string bridge -- those axes were basically 5 stings built on PBass width necks. A standard 5 string bridge will be too wide though. I did used rail bridges on the second and third ones I made. ( Another Jag bass and an Ibanez Mezzo) They rails span about 1.5 mm wider and still no issues with strings too close to edges.

I used the existing nut, kept the E and G slots and filled in the middle two with baking soda and a drop or two of super glue. (Tape everything around the nut with masking tape to keep glue off finger board.) Measure center point and file that slot first, do the other two halfway between ends and center.

I had a friend with a drill press do the hole for the tuner on the head stock.

Link to rail bridge I used -- you need two sets:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S3ZFY44?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

 

[BaileyMan]

You can see there is plenty of space on this one -- but I used an old Ibanez RB885 5 string bridge -- those axes were basically 5 stings built on PBass width necks. A standard 5 string bridge will be too wide though. I did used rail bridges on the second and third ones I made. ( Another Jag bass and an Ibanez Mezzo) They rails span about 1.5 mm wider and still no issues with strings too close to edges.

I used the existing nut, kept the E and G slots and filled in the middle two with baking soda and a drop or two of super glue. (Tape everything around the nut with masking tape to keep glue off finger board.) Measure center point and file that slot first, do the other two halfway between ends and center.

I had a friend with a drill press do the hole for the tuner on the head stock.

Link to rail bridge I used -- you need two sets:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08S3ZFY44?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

Thanks for tips and that link! I might take on this project...

 

[MMiller28]

What gives?

I'm guessing that roughly 0.12% of bassists play 32"