Budget 5 string bass with 19mm spacing AND satin neck finish?

Guinness20

Guinness20

Jan 24, 2013
1,820
1,052
4,571
32
Liverpool, UK
#1
Looks like I might be joining a new band soon and I'll need a 5 string bass. I went to Dawson's to see what my budget options were. I tried a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - looked and sounded great, but can't stand gloss-finished necks. I also tried a Sterling SUB Ray5, which was a great sounding and feeling instrument and seemed like a lot of bass for the money, but the strings felt a little too close together. That was all I got to try as I was on my lunch break.

Is there a budget bass out there that has 19mm string spacing and a satin neck finish? I've yet to play a 5 string bass with that spacing, the neck might be a bit wide in which case I'd just have to get used to a bass with tighter spacing. The closest match to my requirements seems to be the Yamaha TRBX basses, though they're only 18mm spaced.

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks :thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: madbass6
#4
If you are fine with the Squier I would suggest finding a used one and scuffing the neck, it's extremely easy. You will have to scuff it every so often as your hand polishes the neck but it is a simple procedure. I prefer oiled and waxed necks but one has to oil and wax them every so often as well.
 
#5
I'll echo just scuffing whatever glossy neck you do wind up with with 0000 steel wool. Cover the pickups with painters tape thoroughly before you start and try to vaccuum any remaining particles afterward. It's not so much a permanent mod, as it will wear back to gloss after extensive playing but that's a good thing, IMO. I highly recommend the Squier VMJV as well. I've owned a couple and while they can tend to be on the heavy side, they are fantastic basses for the money...one of my favorite 5 string necks.
 
#6
Guinness20 said:
Looks like I might be joining a new band soon and I'll need a 5 string bass. I went to Dawson's to see what my budget options were. I tried a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz V - looked and sounded great, but can't stand gloss-finished necks. I also tried a Sterling SUB Ray5, which was a great sounding and feeling instrument and seemed like a lot of bass for the money, but the strings felt a little too close together. That was all I got to try as I was on my lunch break.

Is there a budget bass out there that has 19mm string spacing and a satin neck finish? I've yet to play a 5 string bass with that spacing, the neck might be a bit wide in which case I'd just have to get used to a bass with tighter spacing. The closest match to my requirements seems to be the Yamaha TRBX basses, though they're only 18mm spaced.

Any help would be much appreciated, thanks :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

If you can find oil free 0000 steel wool it's very effective. I have used 1000 grit first then finished up with the oil free steel wool. I also recommend you remove the strings and take the neck off. Well worth the effort. Keep the body far away from the neck during this process. The Fender clones are 18.3 mm not 19mm unless otherwise stated. It's a good route based on your stated needs.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Guinness20
#12
petrus61 said:
I'll echo just scuffing whatever glossy neck you do wind up with with 0000 steel wool. Cover the pickups with painters tape thoroughly before you start and try to vaccuum any remaining particles afterward. It's not so much a permanent mod, as it will wear back to gloss after extensive playing but that's a good thing, IMO. I highly recommend the Squier VMJV as well. I've owned a couple and while they can tend to be on the heavy side, they are fantastic basses for the money...one of my favorite 5 string necks.
Click to expand...

Doug Parent said:
If you can find oil free 0000 steel wool it's very effective. I have used 1000 grit first then finished up with the oil free steel wool. I also recommend you remove the strings and take the neck off. Well worth the effort. Keep the body far away from the neck during this process. The Fender clones are 18.3 mm not 19mm unless otherwise stated. It's a good route based on your stated needs.
Click to expand...

I recommend using a grey 3M pad for scuffing. Metal flakes from the wool cannot easily be removed once stuck to the pickups.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EXCAV8, gln1955, SirMjac28 and 3 others
#15
This is not too bad of a deal and maybe you could negotiate it a little.
Am pretty sure it' got your 19mm sting spacing. I think the neck looks satin, but hard to tell in these pics. If you do need to go the steel wool route, you might pull the electronics instead of the neck, but the neck is the better deal if you are comfortable you can get it back on good.

MTD Kingston 5 String (used) Red
 
  • Like
Reactions: NigelD
#18
MTD Kingston Saratoga. The necks are pretty smooth anyway, but you could always do a couple wipes with the green Scotch Brite pad and have instant satin. Great platform for modding too. I'm not the biggest fan of basswood in passive instruments, but these sound great with a preamp.
 
#20
Ibanez BTB1605E

Has 19mm spacing. Absolutely killer bass and looks great too.

image.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: pedroims, bajo_scl, SirMjac28 and 2 others
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back