Compare Ibanez vs Spector

[Hendrics87]

Hey all,

I'm looking to spend about $1500 on a new bass for the new year. I'm torn between a Ibanez and a Spector.

I'm currently torn between the Ibanez premium sr1305sb and the Spector me pulse 5 bass.
Any help deciding on these two or if there is another one that I should be considering please let me know.

Lastly one of the bases that I was considering that I have recently ruled out but having second thoughts on is a Warwick Corvette double buck.

i'm not sure if this is all controversial and purely down to aesthetics or if there's something that I missing but any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[cb56]

I briefly owned a Warwick thumb 5 and a spector 5 string.
The smaller body and neck dive on both basses caused me wrist pain. Went to an ibanez SR bass and the balance of those basses made my wrist pain go away. Try everything standing with a strap before you buy.

 

[Hendrics87]

I briefly owned a Warwick thumb 5 and a spector 5 string.
The smaller body and neck dive on both basses caused me wrist pain. Went to an ibanez SR bass and the balance of those basses made my wrist pain go away. Try everything standing with a strap before you buy.

This is great advice I really like the suggestion you gave of trying everything standing before I buy. I have played a Warwick Corvette briefly at a store and ended up not buying it and got a Schechter diamond series instead. But That was over 15 years ago, so I think it's high time for a new bass. I appreciate your insight on the wrist pain that moving to an Ivanas relieved that pain for you.

 

[scott67]

I second CB56 opinion. I play 4 strings only and I own a few Ibanez SR series. I own a SR1800, 650,& 500. I was in love with the Spector tone and decided to buy a Euro 4LX. Although it is a beautifully handcrafted instrument, the ergonomics were just not right for me. My best advice is play one standing with a strap before you buy..

 

[Klangfarbe]

You can't go wrong with any of them. Over the Years I owned several Ibanez (SR-Series) and Warwicks and a friend of mine has some Spectors which he lends me from time to time. (But none of the exact Models you mentioned).

From what I have experienced, they all fall into the same category of "Modern-Activ" Basses and to an unexperienced ear the probably sound very similar.

The main difference (soundwise) in my opinion comes from how the active electronic/pickups are voiced and which frequencies they affect. But that really is a matter of personal taste.

However in regards to handling, Ibanez is the winner. There Necks are super smooth and easy to play, since they are so slim. They are well balanced and usually on the lighter side. That being said, I never experienced Warwicks and Spectors as uncomfortable. (Well except of the notorious neck heavy Thumb, which I love nonetheless).

As for which Bass to buy, the first advice (as always) is to try to check out as many of your options as possible. If there is no chance to play any of these instruments, go with what majority of your heroes play.

One thought to the Spector in question: One of TB's Members @LowEndLobster recently made a review of the Spector pulse. Turned out that it's preamp was quite noisy, so maybe you you like to take a look at one of the other models Spector has to offer.

 

[cb56]

btw the Schecters are nicely balanced instruments too.
Similar to Ibanez but I seem to remember the Schecters are 35 inch scale.
The EMGs in Schecters are more agressive sounding to my ears than the Bartolinis in the Ibanez.

 

[Klangfarbe]

The EMGs in Schecters are more agressive sounding to my ears than the Bartolinis in the Ibanez.

Are we talking about this Bass?

Comes with Nordstrand Pickups.

 

[EagleMoon]

The Ibanez is a very nice bass if you like their modern tone.

 

[cb56]

Are we talking about this Bass?

View attachment 4526983

Comes with Nordstrand Pickups.

That's true. Mine is an older one that came with the Barts. I think the SR505 still comes with the Barts.
I'd love to have the SR605 with the Nordstrands.

 

[scott67]

I have the Nords in two of my basses and I prefer them over the Barts that are in my SR500.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Another vote for Ibanez just ergonomics alone. The Nordstrand pickups are amazing too.

 

[A9X]

Ibanez premium sr1305sb

Are we talking about this Bass?

View attachment 4526983

Comes with Nordstrand Pickups.

That is a very attractive bass. If only I actually needed, and could afford one...

My best advice is play one standing with a strap before you buy..

Agreed, I really like the Spectors, until I have to play them standing for more than a few minutes. Warwicks are the same, the ergos are just wrong for me.

 

[KJMO]

You can't go wrong with any of them. Over the Years I owned several Ibanez (SR-Series) and Warwicks and a friend of mine has some Spectors which he lends me from time to time. (But none of the exact Models you mentioned).

From what I have experienced, they all fall into the same category of "Modern-Activ" Basses and to an unexperienced ear the probably sound very similar.

The main difference (soundwise) in my opinion comes from how the active electronic/pickups are voiced and which frequencies they affect. But that really is a matter of personal taste.

However in regards to handling, Ibanez is the winner. There Necks are super smooth and easy to play, since they are so slim. They are well balanced and usually on the lighter side. That being said, I never experienced Warwicks and Spectors as uncomfortable. (Well except of the notorious neck heavy Thumb, which I love nonetheless).

As for which Bass to buy, the first advice (as always) is to try to check out as many of your options as possible. If there is no chance to play any of these instruments, go with what majority of your heroes play.

One thought to the Spector in question: One of TB's Members @LowEndLobster recently made a review of the Spector pulse. Turned out that it's preamp was quite noisy, so maybe you you like to take a look at one of the other models Spector has to offer.

I disagree with his review. I just played one in a shop last week, although the five string, and it was a very nice bass. Great neck, great B string (35" scale) and the finish looked nice. Yes, you could tell it was not a one piece body, but at a grand who offers single, double, or even triple piece bodies?
I did not notice any noise from the pre, but its 80 bones to throw an emg in there if needed. He mentioned one of his top 3 basses could benefit from a bridge and a pre swap. Huh? I wouldn't let that review influence my decision, at all, if you play it and like it. I'd do my best to play them all and see which felt better though, as I think all three are "worthy".

 

[21DaHoagie12]

I would never spend that money on a pulse when you could find used euro Spector within your budget if you're patient and look hard enough. In fact there's 3 or 4 euro spectors on reverb right now from 1200-1500, any of which would blow one of those cheapo pulses out of the water. A euro Spector would be of higher build quality than both a Korean made Spector or an Indonesian made Ibanez.

 

[Thundar]

I would never spend that money on a pulse when you could find used euro Spector within your budget if you're patient and look hard enough. In fact there's 3 or 4 euro spectors on reverb right now from 1200-1500, any of which would blow one of those cheapo pulses out of the water. A euro Spector would be of higher build quality than both a Korean made Spector or an Indonesian made Ibanez.

My thoughts exactly! The Pulse is a cool looking bass, but honestly a used Spector Euro would be a much better bass if you can find one in that price range. I dig Ibbys and Wicks as well...in fact there is a killer red Warwick Streamer here in the TB classifieds right now that is a STEAL! But its a 4 string.

 

[Lowendchamp]

I like the Ibanez BTB series

 

[Reedt2000]

I just got a NS Pulse 5-string, it's awesome. So light, the neck feels fantastic, the EMG DCs sound really good (if you like modern, clean, deep, and just slightly growly on the top end). I have zero noise from the pre, though the lack of middle detents is a little weird and I don't love the 2 volumes, I'll probably put an EMG BQC pre in it at some point. Mine has ridiculous sustain, you can feel it even when it's not plugged in. The fretwork and finishing is flawless and it took a setup better than just about any bass I've ever had (and I've got a Warwick, a Ken Smith, a SBMM, a G&L, and Ive had a large number of others in the past including SRs, Carvin, etc.).

NBD! Spector NS Pulse 5 string

 

[GTHintz]

I voted Warwick because I own a 5 string Corvette. Freaking adore this instrument. I've played everything from fender to Yamaha, music man, steinberger, Ibanez, schecter, esp, hofner, carvin, Rickenbacker and probably a couple I forget about and some of those were really cool and I'd love to own certain models but the Warwick is my favorite. Best tone and fastest neck for me I've ever had. My advice is to try as many different basses as possible and see what you connect with. Everyone will be a little different and you'll find out what tone you're after and what feel you want. Warwick and Ibanez are both narrow string spacing necks and fender or Spector is a bit wider in spacing 16.5mm vs 17 or 18mm. Also neck profile will factor in. Tone is subjective so all I'm going to say is if you get a Warwick they have a growly tone that's distinct when you turn up the tone control and dig. It's the pickups and the neck that really makes it all happen. Amazing instruments. Spector is another special bass. They are awesome too in the right hands. Hopefully you get to try each of them and something will grab your attention. Best of luck!!!

 

[BAG]

The Ibanez is a very nice bass if you like their modern tone.

I hear this all the time and yet my Ibanez SR1200 Premium (with flats on it) can be made to sound very, very similar to my passive old-school Pbass. The Pbass on the other hand most definitely cannot be made to sound modern and hi-fi.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I would never spend that money on a pulse when you could find used euro Spector within your budget if you're patient and look hard enough. In fact there's 3 or 4 euro spectors on reverb right now from 1200-1500, any of which would blow one of those cheapo pulses out of the water. A euro Spector would be of higher build quality than both a Korean made Spector or an Indonesian made Ibanez.

I'll second this. I own two Spector Euros, and IMHO, they're in a league by themselves, and they have zero neck dive problems in my experience.

These days, there's several different lines of Spector Euros. The LX series come stock with EMG pickups and a Spector Tonepump preamp. (My advice is to try to buy a newer version where the Tonepump has an internal trim pot.)

The Euro LT features custom wound Bartolini's and a Darkglass preamp.

And the Euro RST which features Aguilar pickups and an Aguilar OBP-2 preamp.

BTW, both of my Euros came stock with active EMGs and EMG BTS eq systems, in place of the Tonepump preamp. I'm a fan of both the trim pot version of the Tonepump and the EMG BTS.

I haven't tried the Bartolini/DG LT model, nor have I tried the RST model, but my guess is both are excellent. It just depends on which pickups and preamp combo provides the sounds that fit your needs the best.

I'm a big fan of the Bartolini's that I have in 4 of my other basses, and two of those basses also have Aguilar preamps, which I'm also very happy with.