Yeah, I’ve got no issue with the M5 headstock. Like you say, it isn’t the same style that everyone else uses and all of my other basses are the 4 across the top Fender style headstock.
I don’t put much thought into headstocks in general though unless the design is so egregiously bad that it forces me to. It does have a really nice feeling fretboard, but more than that, I love the thinner and flatter radius. I do wish the nut width was a lil closer to 1.65” though. With a 12” or 14” radius and a wider nut, this would be a perfect fit for my hands.
The M5 has a 12” fretboard radius, which is a tad flatter than the 9.5” radius I have and prefer on the rest of my basses. Its neck thickness is definitely thinner, too, which makes it fast to play, and I dig that a lot. Lastly, the 1.5” nut width is perfecto in my book and hand, but that’s a totally personal preference.
I’m really glad you’re enjoying your M5. It’s a unique little beast.
I don’t understand the headstock debate. I couldn’t give a rat’s ass about head stock looks. It’s about the entire package for me. Me thinks sometimes folks over analyze things.
I was in GC today to return an amp and try some new ones. First bass I grabbed to play was a white Ray24CA. The neck was incredible. Fast, smooth. Really nice tone. It was really light too (which I’m surprised about because looking at Sweetwater they mostly seem to be 9.5-10 lbs). I put it back and grabbed a Fender American Ultra J. It felt heavy, neck felt slow, it sounded dull, frets were pokey. I couldn’t believe it.
I tried a Ray4 that felt really bad, sounded bad and there was a Ray 4HH that was unplayable with its setup.
The 24 really felt special. I didn’t take it home but maybe I should have.
Always amazing how this works, when you go in and try some instruments and something completely unexpected and affordable ends up beating out instruments that are supposedly “better” and definitely much more expensive.
Dingwall solved the neck dive issue with the D-Roc - they hang beautifully on a strap, no neck dive at all. It also has the benefit of a nice headstock too
