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My first big buy! Fender vs Spector vs Warwick

#61
Ok so I've been doing a bit of research into Spectors and their electronics.
One big turn off for me on the Euro 4 LX was the Active only set-up i.e. if the battery goes, so does your volume! So how do you guys find the battery life on the Euros? Also is the battery easy to get to? Looks as if you've got to unscrew the back panel everytime.

This makes the Rebop and the Jazz more appealing. Either being passive or having the active/passive switch.

Guess I'm not used to the idea of relying on a battery for playing :/

Edit: I guess what I want is the Active sound and punch on a Passive Bass... hehe.
 
#62
I actually play a Thumb BO with my band. I wasnt sure how it was going to sound at a recent acoustic gig, but it was LOVELY. No booming bloomy lowend, nice focused midrange that was very good with an acousic guitars.

If you dont dig into the warwick so hard it can have some very pleasant tones
 
#63
Bassvirus01 said:
Ok so I've been doing a bit of research into Spectors and their electronics.
One big turn off for me on the Euro 4 LX was the Active only set-up i.e. if the battery goes, so does your volume! So how do you guys find the battery life on the Euros? Also is the battery easy to get to? Looks as if you've got to unscrew the back panel everytime.

This makes the Rebop and the Jazz more appealing. Either being passive or having the active/passive switch.

Guess I'm not used to the idea of relying on a battery for playing :/

Edit: I guess what I want is the Active sound and punch on a Passive Bass... hehe.
Click to expand...

The Euro is not a battery hog. I've had my Euro for about a year and have only replaced the battery once and it took less than a couple of minutes to do. Assume even with lots of daily practice and weekend gigging you'll probably get at least 3 months out of the battery, so plan on up to four 9 volt batteries a year. Anyone who plays out on a regular basis should always have a spare set of strings, a spare instrument cable, a few extra pics, a wrench to adjust the bridge, one to adjust the truss rods and a small screwdriver in their gig bag anyway. So the only extra item that you may not already have is the backup battery. Not a hassle at all.
On the Spector it's important to try before you buy. I love em, but they have a very distinctive tone that isn't for everyone. One more plug for the Spectorcore, the piezo pickup is a brilliant fit for an acoustic setting where the bass player is expected to have an amp but not walk all over the rest of the band. With the addition of the neck Humbucker you also have the flexibility to drive the bassline in a traditional full amped hard rock setting when needed.
Good luck on your purchase.
 
#64
GBassNorth said:
The Euro is not a battery hog. I've had my Euro for about a year and have only replaced the battery once and it took less than a couple of minutes to do. Assume even with lots of daily practice and weekend gigging you'll probably get at least 3 months out of the battery, so plan on up to four 9 volt batteries a year. Anyone who plays out on a regular basis should always have a spare set of strings, a spare instrument cable, a few extra pics, a wrench to adjust the bridge, one to adjust the truss rods and a small screwdriver in their gig bag anyway. So the only extra item that you may not already have is the backup battery. Not a hassle at all.
On the Spector it's important to try before you buy. I love em, but they have a very distinctive tone that isn't for everyone. One more plug for the Spectorcore, the piezo pickup is a brilliant fit for an acoustic setting where the bass player is expected to have an amp but not walk all over the rest of the band. With the addition of the neck Humbucker you also have the flexibility to drive the bassline in a traditional full amped hard rock setting when needed.
Good luck on your purchase.
Click to expand...

I do actually really like the sound of the Spectorcore. DirectBass do it at an amazing price at the moment too. I think I'm at the stage now where I just need to get playing these basses rather than looking at videos,recordings and stats.

It's comforting what you said about the Euro LX's battery life too, that was my only gripe.

Just to clear up too, I'm not looking to walk over the acoustics or drown them out. These guys just have a nice full rock sound with their playing and as I'm looking to retire or ease off with the Fender Precision I've started looking into basses that would fit the bill just as well, but in a different way. Improving the range of tones I can achieve with my collection.

Probably best to just link you to some of our work...
Jam With RoBina - Silhouettes -
 
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#66
Ok update, sorry for the long delay.

I'm planning on picking up the Spector Euro 4LX Classic tomorrow (in natural finish)

But I just had some quick trivial questions before I do!

Can you completely turn down the volume on this Bass? Say if you turn down both P+J pickup dials to minimum? Also if so does this mean you can completely isolate one pickup, say if you just wanted the Neck (Precision) or Bridge (Jazz) pickup?
I'll probably use a balance of the 2 but it would be good to know.

Also what are the chances of a New purchased model coming with a trim pot on the tone pump?
 
#68
Bassvirus01 said:
Ok update, sorry for the long delay.

I'm planning on picking up the Spector Euro 4LX Classic tomorrow (in natural finish)

But I just had some quick trivial questions before I do!

Can you completely turn down the volume on this Bass? Say if you turn down both P+J pickup dials to minimum? Also if so does this mean you can completely isolate one pickup, say if you just wanted the Neck (Precision) or Bridge (Jazz) pickup?
I'll probably use a balance of the 2 but it would be good to know.

Also what are the chances of a New purchased model coming with a trim pot on the tone pump?
Click to expand...

Yes. Yes. Yes.

New ones ALL come with Trim pots. Ever since 2008 standard.
 
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#70
Bassvirus01 said:
The Fender is home turf really, but from what I've heard it doesn't quite match up to the bottom end tones of the Spectors and Warwicks or does it??
Click to expand...
I can see where you would say that with a 79 Precision. Not that I recommending yanking the pickup out of a vintage bass, but as the owner of a 76 and the former owner of a 79, the pickup of that era is definitely a little lighter in the lows than most other Fenders. But it can come back with EQ, and it's not the rule for Fenders to have reduced low end compared to other basses.
 
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#71
JimmyM said:
I can see where you would say that with a 79 Precision. Not that I recommending yanking the pickup out of a vintage bass, but as the owner of a 76 and the former owner of a 79, the pickup of that era is definitely a little lighter in the lows than most other Fenders. But it can come back with EQ, and it's not the rule for Fenders to have reduced low end compared to other basses.
Click to expand...

In retrospect I think I was referring to the "growl" that the Spectors and Warwicks have. Not necessarily the bottom end.

That said I do feel my '79 Precision has a higher end bite compared to other models. With the style of music that I play I find myself cutting back the Mids and pushing the Bass on the amp EQ.
 
#72
OP, if you haven't picked up the spector yet may I suggest you take your money to the official warwick forum(not the one on talkbass). Got a great deal on a 92' Streamer Stage 2 there. That definitely is the place to go shopping for a WW bass.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Good Luck :bassist:
 
#73
I have both a Euro and a ReBop, they're both active and I've only had to change the battery once, when I got the bass! They are a solid platform to base your tone around, they're capable of practically any tone with some fiddling (also the settings on your head come into it) and I'm sure you'll find something you love in thre The Euro is a little heavier than the ReBop and a little more growly (I play metal so I like it) but that's not to say the 'Bop isn't bad! I used it for ages in practice and it was badass. :D

I also own a passive Corvette, it's also growly and punchy, some nice crisp highs in there, not so much as the Spectors but it's there. But the real deal with the Wick is that it's light as hell. 9 pounds or something, I love playing it at long shows!

They have different string spacing and neck widths, of course. but the Wick has an adjustable bridge that means you can change it if you want (just mive the saddles closer together) whereas the Spector bridge is one solid lump with other little lumps for intonation change.

Hope some of that helps.

I'd go for the Spector though :D
 
#74
I've got a Warwick Corvette passive. It's light, easy to play, sounds great, and is passive so no battery worries. However, I've heard some of the active Spectors and just my subjective opinion, but to me they sound a bit better than my wick. Good luck with your selection. They all look like good options to me.
 
#78
Bassvirus01 said:
I just ordered the Euro 4LX Classic for a try out. Should be here within a week! :hyper:

Cheers for the suggestions though guys, I'll see how we get along first.
Click to expand...

Great choice! You'll love how it sounds and feels and looks. Spector quality is top notch so you'll have a keeper for life I suspect. Once you get your bass be sure to jump over to the Talkbass Spector forum there's lots of tips and tricks for how to get the most out of your bass as well as general support for the Spector clan on that forum.
I predict you will eventually end up buying more Spectors. I bought my first one a little over a year ago and have purchased two additional ones is since then and am eying a forth one. It's called SAS (Spector Aquisition Syndrome) and is hard to fight. :D
 

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