FretBuzz Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I am a long-term 4-string player, but I am curious about the 5-string world. My only 5-string experience was with a Yamaha TRBII 5 and I found the neck way too wide for me. I guess I am asking which 5-string has the narrowest neck? Ideally, no wider that a 4-string neck - I don't mind the string spacing being very close. What should I be looking at? Does it exist? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassaussie Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 I think the Stingray's a nice 5 string for people who prefer 4 strings (such as myself). I owned one for a while, and got along pretty well with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 Yamaha RBX basses are well worth a look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted September 12, 2007 Share Posted September 12, 2007 5 string Jazz? Dont know really cos i've not run out of notes on a 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopthebass Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I think some of the Ibanez basses have a narrow 16.5mm spacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machines Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 Yeah Ibanez always seem quite close to me.. great for finger style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkysimon Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 The Warwick Fortress 1 I've just bought has a great finger spacing - it fits 5 strings in the space that my yahama BBG5 fits 4. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faithless Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I use Ibanez Soundgear 5 string, and i enjoy it very much. String spacing is ok for fingers, as i play them, though, it's just a matter of time, you'll become familiar with 1-more stringer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 You might like to try an OLP stingray - the spacing is tighter than a standard ray 5, and they are extremely good basses. I beleive we are talking 17mm or less, so pretty tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 The new Ibanez ATK305 has 16.5mm spacing. It just goes to show. I'm a 4 string player and am on the lookout for a good 5er (I'm actually considering saving for a year or 2 for an MTD535 and getting this GAS sorted out once and for all - or maybe I'm kidding myself!), but want full 4 string spacing i.e. 19mm. I suppose it would really be boring if we were all the same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussiephoenix Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 (edited) [quote name='FretBuzz' post='59522' date='Sep 12 2007, 08:37 PM']I am a long-term 4-string player, but I am curious about the 5-string world. My only 5-string experience was with a Yamaha TRBII 5 and I found the neck way too wide for me. I guess I am asking which 5-string has the narrowest neck? Ideally, no wider that a 4-string neck - I don't mind the string spacing being very close. What should I be looking at? Does it exist?[/quote] Curious... usually the biggest problem 4players have when jumping to 5's is that the string spacing is too close... to me, the wider the string spacing the easier it is to get all my techniques flowing without hindrance. my MTD Kingston 5 (that I'm selling) was great for me to get around it with its 19mm at the bridge. Edited September 13, 2007 by Aussiephoenix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilmour Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 (edited) Yeah, I think that Aussiephoenix is right about the spacing. Interestingly I'd been playing 4 for about 8 years before switching to a 5 - I play a TRB 5 at first the switch was tricky but quite quickly you get used to it. In terms of string spacing I'm surprised to have seen stingray 5 suggested as the ones I've played feel very similar (in terms of string spacing) to the TRB Warwicks have quite close string spacing (except for the wide neck ones obviously) also Ibanez Soundgear. EDIT: THinking about it, it may well have as much to do with the profile of the neck as much as the Sting Spacing If I were you I'd look for something very different from your current 4 - I used to play a Spector 4 and switched to the 5 string version (same model etc) and it was just to similar, couldn't get on with it, so then I made the switch to the TRB which feels completeley different, and I think that because I was so conscious of the difference I found the switch easier. Edited September 13, 2007 by gilmour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumple Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I recently took up 5 string after many years only playing 4's and find the string spacing fine on my Stingray 5, it's the extra weight I struggle with during long rehearsals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 I have a late 80s /early 90s Washburn B105 5-string with really narrow spacing - 7.75mm at the nut and only 15mm at the bridge. Overall the neck is only a couple of mm wider thhan a standard 4 (42.5 at the nut - 57mm at the 12th fret). I'm thinking about selling this as I only play more conventionally sized 5-strings these days. PM me if you want more details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theosd Posted September 13, 2007 Share Posted September 13, 2007 (edited) If you want budget, check out Harley Benton's 5 stringers from thomann, I've used mine for gigging now for over 2 years, and has neevr EVER let me down. Just make sure you keep the battery in check! (£110 for new, mine was £80). Neck is perfect, every string is perfect taughtness. I will never need to buy another 5 string fretted bass imho, cos this one does the trick. Update the electronics and pickups at your leisure, but what comes standard is AMAZING for the price. Oh, and it looks pretty swish too (price taken into consideration, naturally!) Edited September 13, 2007 by theosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 If you have the money and don't mind waiting a few months, Alembic will custom build any neck dimensions and string spacings you ask for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 [quote name='charic' post='59574' date='Sep 12 2007, 10:51 PM']Yamaha RBX basses are well worth a look[/quote]RBXs are standard spacing at the bridge, same as the TRBs. Well mine is, anyway. The [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=4473&st=0&p=47083&#entry47083"]Yamaha BB5000 [/url]has a narrower spacing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-T-P Posted September 17, 2007 Share Posted September 17, 2007 Which end of the bass is posing the problem? It's been a while since I first made the switch from 4 to 5, but at the time the problem was at both ends. Strings too close together at the bridge and neck to wide at the nut. I still have that issue with a lot of 5 strings but for my money, the Lakland 5 strings are the best fives for a four string player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_bass5 Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 (edited) Agree with Pete, I went from playing a 4 string Jazz to a Lakland 55-01 5 string without much trouble. The Lakland neck is wonderful IMO. I first tried 5 strings a few years ago on a Fender Squire P-bass special thingy and it was a nightmare. the neck was much too wide for my long fingers and this put me off 5 stringers for ages. The moment i tried the Lakland i fell in love with the neck. Oh and its lighter than my Jazz as well. Edited September 21, 2007 by dave_bass5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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