I'm torn between these two basses and not sure which one to get. They're both priced at $499 on TPB.

I play in an alternative band and a cover band so this bass will need to do it all from punk, jazz standards, R&B, 80's.

I've played a Fender Jazz and have no doubt that it can do the job. But I thought I look into a new flavor and I'm intrigued by the Spector's specs, looks, and history. Any Spector players out there?

Any feedback would help me make my Christmas even funner! Thanks!

My belief is that you can play anything you want on any bass you've got. Part of finding your sound is playing the bass that's comfortable for you, even if you're the only one playing that bass in a certain style of music.

That said, the Spector sound is a bit of a far cry from the Fender sound. I'm not sure if the Spector is a P/J or 2 humbuckers, but either way the preamp gives it a lot of high-end sizzle. In my experience, Spectors have a lot of treble and a hollow, growly kind of tone. The preamp, of course, let's you dial in any tone you want, but the natural characteristics of the basses tend to be very different from the classic Fender sound. Spector's quality is above-average, in my opinion, but it's also a question of how the Spector neck feels, etc. Fender is more of a gamble, but if you can find a good one it'll be very solid. It's usually not too hard to pick the best one of the pack.

My suggestion? Try before you buy. Try em out with the band, if possible. Get a feel for the basses, listen to their tones through your amp (or something similar) and decide which is better for you. You can't go wrong with a Fender, but the Spector might be your sound.

The one caveat I've got about the Spector would be using it for the cover band - I'd definitely pick a more traditional bass/sound for covers, though you might find the Spector can dial in a good sound as well.

I agree with jenderfazz, your selection of instrument is very much a subjective choice based on what you are looking for. I tend to try and boil it down to 4 factors: Look, Feel, Tone, Quality.

How an instrument looks is important as it has to be aesthetically appealing for me to be intially attracted to it. If I think it's just ugly, then I'm not likely to really like the instrument regardless of how good it sounds or the features it has. It's kind of like choosing a mate...you have to have "chemistry". It's not the most important factor, but it is indeed part of the process.

Feel is next for me because if it just doesn't feel right in my hands, then I'm not going to be as comfortable playing it. That being said, I've learned to love certain neck shapes that I used to not be able to tolerate. Warwick for instance builds a pretty fat neck! I used to not like that at all... Since I now understand the tonal and structural benefits of their neck designs, I have essentially learned to like them...and quite a bit! How an instrument feels is important though and you should feel "at home" in a playing position!

Tone is probably my most important factor. A certain sound may fit a certain gig or song or may just inspire me! Personally I really like active basses that have an immediacy to the notes when you strike the strings. I'm not a super "touch" player and more of a straight ahead rocker type. I play more rock and blues based music that doesn't require a lot of finesse. That may be a product of my own laziness, but it's the style that I'm most familiar with and where my playing gravitates when I'm practicing or noodling around. It also tends to be the kinds of bands I play in as well. So the tone I look for not only includes the general shape of the sound, but also how the instrument reacts to my playing style.

Quality is obviously important as well. I want my instruments to stand the test of time and I want them to have a certain fit and finish that makes me confident in their ability to perform every time I pick it up.

There's also kind of an "X-Factor" in choosing an instrument... Sometimes a certain one will just speak to you and you know that it's "the one"! You'll see, hear or play it and immediately know that it's what you're looking for.

So that's kind of a synopsis of what I look for when making purchasing decisions on instruments...

That being said, I have to vouch for Fender about their consistency. Just 5 or 6 years ago, I would have agreed with jenderfazz about "finding a good one". Today, even in their imported entry level instruments, Fender product is now VERY consistent! It's obvious to me that they have paid much more attention to producing a consistenly great product over the last few years, and it's paid off big for them!

Spector also has a very consistent product, and the tone is indeed fundamentally different than a Fender. ALthough I wouldn't call it hollow. They are a bit more mid-rangey in tone, but the fundamental notes are there and in some cases, moreso than some other brands. It's kind of unfair categorize their tone as hollow. They sound great, but they do have a distinct tonal quality that is what makes a Spector a Spector, just like the tone that makes a Fender a Fender!

Both are well respected, quality brands that make great looking and playing instruments, with a unique voice to each. The question is, which fits your requirements better?

I'd recommend giving us a call toll free at 866.751.3220 and talking to one of our reps! Our entire staff is made up of players and we train our staff on all of our products. And if we don't know an answer, we can find the answers for you. I think it would help to to talk it over with another player that has access to all of the basses we carry...you never know, there may be another option that you haven't considered that may suit your needs. At a minimum, we can help you determine which of the Spector or Fender instruments might fit you best.

Our goal is to make sure you get the RIGHT bass! Give us a call!

Peace!