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My first big buy! Fender vs Spector vs Warwick

#21
The Reggie Hamilton Jazz is maybe the most powerful three band equalizer (active/passive on/off switch) MIM Jazz bass

You can count on American Series split pickup with a bridge Ceramic Custom Noiseless pickup while retainin' third of your budget for somethin' else, even quality/power combo, like, say, an Ampeg Ba115Hp.

Otherwise a Spector ReBop is enough to submerge two folk guitar strummers, a Warwick with bubinga body is more than enough and an American Deluxe Jazz bass is, economically, just too much.

Sorry: can't talk for Spector Euros

Cheers,
Wallace
 
#23
It really depends on the sound you're going for, but my money would be on the Spector. Excellent quality, killer tone & great playability.

I use a ReBop5 in my cover band. We have an over-exuberant electric player and an acoustic player. I can sit in the mix, while still being heard, without drowning out the acoustic. They're VERY versatile instruments.
 
#25
If you're playing in a folk band, I would go Warwick.

Nothing beats that grunt. Check out the Thumb bass if it falls in your price range. Only problem is it's a drag to play them sometimes because of the INSANE neck dive, but we have some at the studio I apprentice at and against acoustic guitars? Whew. It'll blow your hair back, but not like a bomb. Like a nice wave of ocean water haha.
 
#26
I think your starting point should simply be active preamp basses. There are a lot out there so just go play a bunch and narrow it down from there. You might find something that is really 'you' that you haven't thought of before.
 
#29
I might be alone on this, but if I were to go Fender, it would be for that passive sound, I'd look elsewhere for actives.

From your list, between Warwick and Spector, I prefer the Spector. Part of that's also due to my preference for PJ pickups vs Jazz. But I think it's no secret that a lot of people end up swapping out the stock electronics on Spectors.
 
#30
I understand the Precision is a damn good guitar, don't get me wrong. That thing is part of the family now and not going anywhere! I just want to preserve it, taken it gigging allot now and given it a few dings, each one physically hurts! haha.

What I am looking for is something that ticks different boxes to the P-Bass. Gives me a new sound to play with and given that I'm in a folk band, something that sounds nice on it's own would be a big plus. Hence why I've gone for the Warwick and the Spectors. Guitars with character and distinctiveness.

The Jazz Bass was more of a safe bet and good investment. As it's pretty versatile and similar to the P-Bass in terms of feel.

Ideally I would like to get them all in a room and play them one by one, no doubt then I'll be able to say "That's the one!". But as I said the guitar shops near me are lacking in the bass department.
Can't seem to find many Spectors second hand right now, but I found a good Warwick Thumb for £690!

The Spector Euro 4LX, at the ~£1500 price tag, to me feels like a risk. Whereas the USA Jazz for the same money comes with tonnes of features and extras including a hard case worth £100 that sways me more.

The Warwick Corvette in Bubinga is a little over £1000, the ReBop 4 is cheaper again I believe. These two feel like a risk but worth the dive? Or is the Euro 4LX really that good??
 
#31
I have a Spector Forte and a Fender MIA Jazz Deluxe. They are both great playing basses, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Spector is a step up in feel and playability. I struggled a little to get a sound that wasn't so much "in your face", but its a Forte. Not quite the same sound as a Euro LX. Spectors definitely have that signature tone that stands out.
My Jazz is just the opposite, the urethane coated neck can slow you down, its a little heavier, and their is a buzz from the electronics in active mode that everyone around here has tried to cure with different levels of success. But it sounds great. You can go ultra mellow in passive, or crank it up and get a grittier tone in active mode. The neck width is only 1.5" on the Jazz, something else to consider.
I agree that a ReBop may be worth looking at. Sort of a best of both worlds scenario, but I dont think you could wrong with a Spector.
 
#32
I have two warwicks and one jazz bass, all with jazz pickups. I can't stand to part with any of them, and I play them all quite frequently. A fender jazz with the right pickups and electronics will do what you want. So will a Warwick but it'll have a tone all on its own that doesn't even come close to what a fender can do. I like spectors a lot too but I've never owned one so I don't think I should comment on those.
 
#33
My vote is for the Spector, I just have a boring Performer, but it feels so much better than other basses. It has a nice smooth neck that I haven't found on MIA basses, and a nicely shaped body that fits on me well, unlike Warwicks.

The Rebop is a great functional bass, tonnes of volume and tone, really playable, nice and light with good balance.

People are talking about resale value, don't worry about that, a good Spector is a Bass for life.
 
#34
What a good deal of people forget to mention is that the Spector ReBop is also a "Euro"... aka "Euro Bolt-On", the import version of the US Bolt-On, whereas the EuroLX Classic/TW is the Czech-built version of the US NS-2/4. I've very much been a proponent of the "Euro Bolt-On" since I bought my first one in '07, and 3 more in "The Toolbox" since plus a few trades I still feel they're some of the best value-for-money Basses... not just of Spectors, but of Basses being produced in that price range *period*!

Because of the bolt-on construction, Alder back & Flame Maple (a bit more "organic" highs & lows - my Fretless 5 and P/DC-equipped "Spector American Deluxe Precision V" are FMs) or Zebrawood (Pure punch! - what my Fretted 4 & Main 5-String have tons of) top they're much more of a cross between the traditional Spector neck-thru tone and the punch and fast note attack of a Jazz Bass. I've certainly pushed mine more into that direction, ToneDumping the standard EMG-HZ pickups & Spector TonePump Jr. 2-band preamp for custom Nordstrand Big Singles & Aguilar OBP-3 preamps, but I wouldn't have purchased 4 if I didn't like the original HZ/TonePump electronics. I'd consider the Euro Bolt-On/"ReBop" a great way to bridge the gap between purchasing a Jazz Bass and a Spector Neck-Thru, and as a terrific value on the Used Market.
 
#35
I have a Euro 4 LX and a Rebop as well as an American Jazz Deluxe and an American Standard Precision. If you get an active Spector make sure it has a trim pot in the cavity. I had one that did not have a trim pot and it sounded like it was "farting" through the speakers. I like the weight and feel of my Spectors buy like sound of the Jazz Deluxe better.
 
#36
As an owner of a Fender USA Jazz Deluxe 5, a Spector Euro 4LX and a Warwick Thumb BO5 - I'd offer the following advice.
First - buy used it will cost you less and if your tastes change you can probably sell for about what you paid for it.
Second - if possible try before you buy to confirm the sound and feel are to your liking. This isn't always possible at stores so don't hesitate to reach out to fellow TB'ers in your area that might have a bass you can noodle on for a few minutes.
Third - mail order purchases obviously have the "sight unseen purchase" downside but that shouldn't be a concern with the Spector or the Warwick. The quality control on those two basses is exceptionally high and there's lots of consistency from bass to bass in those brands. Fender quality control has improved a lot in the last 10 years but still isn't consistantly on par with the other two brands. So a Spector or Warwick private mail order purchase should be ok as long as the seller is honest. The Fender should be purchased in person or from a vendor that has a return policy.
Lastly - of the three my personal preference is the Spector Euro but only if it has a trim pot tone pump or Haz Lab or Aguilar preamp in it. The Rebop is ok but I like the look and feel of the neck thru Euro more. The Corvette or Thumb bass runs a close second with the biggest hesitation being ergonomics on the thumb bass and tone on the Corvette. The Thumb really cuts thru a mix, I haven't found that to be as true on the Corvettes. The Fender Jazz is one of those hit and miss wonders. Some of them will be the perfect bass and others just so so. If you find a good one grab it.
Good luck on the bass hunt.
 
#38
jamestown94west said:
I have an active corvette, and a thumb BO 5, and the corvette sounds amazing to me, but it is definitely more mellow. The thumb has a "hey look at me!!!" Kind of tonal personality, where as the corvette wants to find the pocket and sit there.
Click to expand...

+1
Exactly what I was trying to say. The Thumb is an in your face tone and the Corvette is more laid back. Both sound great.
 

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