Baxlin Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 (edited) I’ve just picked up an 80s Korean Marlin Sidewinder from a charity shop, to use as a 'to hand' practice bass, and am pleasantly surprised. OK, it needed a good clean, and a bit of setting up, but I like it! One thing though, I was amazed at the difference 2mm extra string spacing makes. I'm used to having a 17mm string spacing bridge, this one has a 19mm. No problem, just different. Edited June 21, 2019 by Baxlin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilebodgers Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 I had an old Aria SB for many years but I was never happy with it and it wasn't until I started trying other basses that I worked out it was the narrow bridge spacing that was putting me off. When I tried a bass with a 19mm spaced bridge it was immediately comfortable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 (edited) I've brought a few 5 strings over the year's, and partly for the narrower (18mm) sting spacing. ive never played anything less than 18mm but i hate 20mm. Edited June 21, 2019 by dave_bass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 Of course you can get used to anything, but I don't have to. 18mm - 19mm is my preference and all the basses I like seem to fall into this area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 1 hour ago, chris_b said: Of course you can get used to anything, but I don't have to. 18mm - 19mm is my preference and all the basses I like seem to fall into this area. This, I really struggle with anything below 18mm whereas 19mm requires no adjustments from me - I just play without thinking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 I dislike 19mm! 17-18 are fine but 19mm feel disconnected from eachother. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 (edited) 18mm for me. Bought my first 6 stringer few yrs back an ESP Ltd and it was 16mm and found it difficult to get used to. I now make sure my basses all have 18mm. Edited June 22, 2019 by dmccombe7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 It always amazes me when I read comments about 1mm different string spacing making all the difference. Whilst I can appreciate that we all have different physiology, 1mm? Having moved from a Streamer Stage 1 (20mm) to an Ibanez (16.5mm) I can just about tell there is a difference, and that’s only because they were both 6-strings, so combined gaps strings B-C end up with a total of 1.75cm, resulting in a visible difference. Two 4-strings with 1mm different spacing only adds up to a 3mm difference... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 1 hour ago, FDC484950 said: It always amazes me when I read comments about 1mm different string spacing making all the difference. Whilst I can appreciate that we all have different physiology, 1mm? I can feel the difference, very much so. Perhaps some folks can adapt more easily... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 1 hour ago, FDC484950 said: It always amazes me when I read comments about 1mm different string spacing making all the difference. Whilst I can appreciate that we all have different physiology, 1mm? Having moved from a Streamer Stage 1 (20mm) to an Ibanez (16.5mm) I can just about tell there is a difference, and that’s only because they were both 6-strings, so combined gaps strings B-C end up with a total of 1.75cm, resulting in a visible difference. Two 4-strings with 1mm different spacing only adds up to a 3mm difference... I play with a pick, and tend to rest my hand on the bridge. I can feel if the spacing if different. Its not that i cant play 20mm, i just chose not to. All my 4 sting basses have 19mm and thats how i like it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 It is somewhat strange, that a 4 has 19 mm as a "standard" and fivers have mostly everything else. Why on earth? Wide neck five is a bit too rare, although it is not impossible to convert a six to a wide five. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 I have found that I prefer a wider string spacing for my rather agricultural finger style playing, which I seem to be employing with increasing frequency. With a pick I am happiest with 16mm but prefer 18 or 19mm when fitting my fat fingers in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 2 hours ago, FDC484950 said: It always amazes me when I read comments about 1mm different string spacing making all the difference. Whilst I can appreciate that we all have different physiology, 1mm? Plucking strings is a precision exercise. Some people become better players when they tie stuff like this down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Like others have said i can play other spacing but i find i'm missing strings and don't play as accurately with my right hand finger style. I do get used to it reasonably quick but when going back to 18mm i have same issue so its easier keeping same 18mm spacing that i like. Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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