Musicman SR5 sound - but with 19 mm string spacing

[Thomas P]

Believe title says it all. 

I just feel so much more comfortable playing a 5 string bass that has 19 mm string spacing, but would

love something with the punchy, slightly compressed tone you can get from a Musicman when the treble is rolled

of a bit.

I`m not after a Louis Johnson Stingray slap sound, think more Pino. It`ll be a back-up for my 5 string jazz bass

where the song allows the sound to be more pronounced or “in your face” to use that expression. 

Warwick and Spector are obvious choices but their design don`t work for me, I`m always left with a feeling of having

to stretch to reach first freet.

So what should I look for. Lakland, Ibanez ATK, others?

Thomas

 

[Russ]

I'd say Lakland? That's pretty much their value-prop - a more versatile Stingray. It doesn't quite nail the Stingray tone (the MM pickup is a bit further back than in a proper MM) but it gets you pretty close, and it's got the 19mm string spacing. 

 

Incidentally, over at "the other place", there was a lot of interest from various posters about MM producing a Stingray 5 with 19mm spacing. Sterling Ball got involved, and said if they could get 100 orders they'd do a run of them, but not enough people signed up.

 

Edited January 9, 2023 by Russ

[BassApprentice]

Looked at MTD, and the Kingston Range? The Super 5 will do that (and about everything else)

 

I've got this one and I'm sure with a bit of tweaking you could end up at Stingray tone with 19mm spacing 

[Muppet]

Fender Elite/Deluxe  Dimension V ? Good Stingray sound from the bridge pick up.  Lovely neck. 19mm spacing at the bridge 

[drTStingray]

1 hour ago, Russ said:

 

Incidentally, over at "the other place", there was a lot of interest from various posters about MM producing a Stingray 5 with 19mm spacing. Sterling Ball got involved, and said if they could get 100 orders they'd do a run of them, but not enough people signed up.

 

Yes there was a massive hoo haa over this with literally hundreds of posts demanding a 19 mm spacing SR5. IIRC one was offered, one colour available, providing 50 orders would be received within a month. I seem to recall less than five (maybe four) expressions of interest were received - which goes to prove the old adage that internet commentators generally disappear once they’re required to do anything but……. internet commentate!! 
 

Go on any specialist forum and you’ll find plenty of people with sage advice for established companies on how to run their businesses better, or improve their product one way or another, this one is no exception (eg Rickenbacker; BBC/Jools etc etc). 
 

The suggested alternatives (Lakland, Fender Dimension) are good but also I understand a 19 mm spaced G and L can be ordered, which would also get you in the ball park, sound wise. Sandberg California can get similarish sounds (not sure what the 5 string spacing is). 

 

However another suggestion is to get an SR5 and simply get used to it (it doesn’t take much quite frankly). I play 4 string Stingrays (19 mm spacing) and 5 strings (17.5 mm spacing), and have no trouble interchanging one to the other - in fact I find playing intricate pieces (eg Teen Town) less challenging on the SR5. As with any 5 string, managing the left hand muting is a key to success, rather than string spacing. 
 

A 19 mm spacing 5 string makes for a significantly wide neck, which would be pretty difficult to play for me. 

Edited January 9, 2023 by drTStingray

[pineweasel]

Sandberg California Central? Bridge spacing is adjustable from 18 to 19.5mm. 

[Lozz196]

There is/was a Fender Precision 5-er on here with added MM pickup.

[drTStingray]

6 minutes ago, Lozz196 said:

There is/was a Fender Precision 5-er on here with added MM pickup.

The original Precision Special 5 string had a humbucker at the bridge. I tried one once but IMO it didn’t sound like a Stingray 5 - It had been offered by a retailer who didn’t have an SR5 at the time!! 

[fretmeister]

 

 

Although Bassdirect ordered the two they have in stock with a 35 scale.

 

[Thomas P]

Thanks All.

Some very valuable inputs.