Hot-rodding a Spector Rebop

twistdpair · #1 06-23-2008, 09:51 AM

Hey everybody! I know this has been hashed a bunch of times, but I'd like some more info specific to my situation.

I have a Rebop w/ 2 EMG-HZ humbuckers/TonePump on its way to me to replace a USA bolt-on w/ Aggie OBP-2/40TW/40J that I really could not afford

I'd like this to sound as close to USA as possible (with maybe a little more aggressiveness), so I was going to swap electronics. I'd also like to do it in stages since dropping ~$350 on a perfectly good bass will bother me less that way.

I was thinking 40TW bridge/40DC neck, and either the EMG BQC (easy install) or the Aggie OBP-2/OBP-3 (my preference) and go 18v.

What are your recommendations? Can I use the BQC or the Aggies with the current passive EMGs? Should I do the pickups first? Will I have to add a knob or 2 for any of these configurations? I would like to have push/pull for coil selection on the 40TW as well as selectable mid freq.

Thanks everybody!!

-cork

Gearhead17 · #2 06-23-2008, 10:03 AM

I suggest putting everything you had in the USA bass into the Rebop. The EMG HZ's, although not bad, really don't compare to the active EMG series. I have had both and that's how I feel about it.

I myself never heard the sound difference with the 18 volt operation - maybe you did.... The Rebop and the USA version of the bolt-on models are using nearly the same wood on several models - you should get pretty close to the tone you like.

twistdpair · #3 06-23-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

I suggest putting everything you had in the USA bass into the Rebop. The EMG HZ's, although not bad, really don't compare to the active EMG series. I have had both and that's how I feel about it.

I myself never heard the sound difference with the 18 volt operation - maybe you did.... The Rebop and the USA version of the bolt-on models are using nearly the same wood on several models - you should get pretty close to the tone you like.

I'd like to put the same stuff in, but it's a logistics thing. Is this going to be a PITA? Should I do pickups or pre first? Is it worth the hassle to do the Aggie if the EMG BQC is basically plug-and-play? I have a Korean Legend with the HZs and tonepump jr., and I thought it was pretty good - until I owned the NS-JH5 for a while!

As far as the 18v vs. 9v - I found that on the 9v instruments I played, I sometimes got a little distortion when I boosted some of the frequencies. When everything was set flat - the tone (to me) seemed nearly identical.

Gearhead17 · #4 06-23-2008, 02:48 PM

I would take the Tone Pump out first then go to the pickups.

I have yet to make my 9 volt system to distort......go 18 volts. I think you will be happier!

What does PITA stand for?

twistdpair · #5 06-23-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead17

What does PITA stand for?

Pain In The A**

Gearhead17 · #6 06-23-2008, 02:56 PM

pain in the .....

Got it now! To be honest, I pulled out my EMG pickups in my Euro along with the Tone Pump and popped in a Glockenklang Pre-amp and Delano humbucker pickups. This combination lets the natural character of the instrument shine through. I paid a guy to install this. Last time I tried to do this myself, I ended up burning off some important contact pieces with the soldering iron. Ooooops! If you know what you are doing, it's not too bad.

twistdpair · #7 06-23-2008, 09:23 PM

Thanks for all the help!

Right now I am leaning towards the EMG BQC, due to the fact that the Aguilar pre only supports active pickups (would need to go all in w/ p'ups too), and the EMG also has sweepable mid that I like. I heard some clips today from a dude that put one in a Rebop - the tone was not quite as good as the Aggie, but the versatility was amazing.

So...until I change my mind again

Step 1 - EMG BCQ pre - about $125 - maybe my bday in Sept.
Step 2 - EMG active p'ups - about $200 - maybe the holidays

DGbass70 · #8 06-25-2008, 04:41 PM

Ok here's my little input...........
I recently bought a hot rodded Rebop5 and i really like the sound of it,i still have to play with it until i finally find the best sound for my taste.The one thing that i'm not too into is the fact that it has a lower output compared to my Euro5.
They both have the same pick ups......Emg 40dc neck and 40cs bridge,the Rebop has a emg bqc system and the Euro has a tone pump.
I think that i might upgrade the pre on the Euro to an Aguilar obp3 since i think it has a higher output than the emg pre.

twistdpair · #9 06-26-2008, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGbass70

Ok here's my little input...........
I recently bought a hot rodded Rebop5 and i really like the sound of it,i still have to play with it until i finally find the best sound for my taste.The one thing that i'm not too into is the fact that it has a lower output compared to my Euro5.
They both have the same pick ups......Emg 40dc neck and 40cs bridge,the Rebop has a emg bqc system and the Euro has a tone pump.
I think that i might upgrade the pre on the Euro to an Aguilar obp3 since i think it has a higher output than the emg pre.

I can live with lower output if the tone and tweakability are there. Plus I can do the BQC with the existing HZ p'ups and put off the $200 on new ones for a while since that's a lot of dough for me right now

.

Are you running the BQC at 18v? I am kind of surprised that the output is lower than the tonepump.

Rano Bass · #10 06-26-2008, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistdpair

Thanks for all the help!

Right now I am leaning towards the EMG BQC, due to the fact that the Aguilar pre only supports active pickups (would need to go all in w/ p'ups too), and the EMG also has sweepable mid that I like.

So...until I change my mind again

The Aguilar works with all pickups active or passive and IMO is a little better than the BQC, not much but better and will give you the sound you want since you liked the sound of the OBP that was in the USA Spector.

Get what you want in the first place.

The BQC is a lot easier to install if that's what you want.

DGbass70 · #11 06-26-2008, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twistdpair

I can live with lower output if the tone and tweakability are there.

.
good tones and plenty of tweaking with the BQC

Are you running the BQC at 18v? I am kind of surprised that the output is lower than the tonepump.

Yes is running at 18v,however i don't think it makes a big difference on the 9 or 18v deal.The BQC runs at about 13db while the tonepump runs about 16db so is higher output but crappy eq