What do you guys think of this bass? Not many YouTube videos yet. From the few I have heard it sounds great, but I could imagine they made sure it was set up properly before the video was made. I know it’s made in Indonesia and not Korea. Seems to be at a very reasonable price point. Aguilar pickups in most models and bolt on. Replacement for the Pulse series maybe? Maybe a less hot preamp? Anyone on here have any experience with these yet as far as quality control issues, etc?
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New Spector NS Icon line
- Thread starter Cory rich40
- Start date
I haven't been able to play one but it more closely resembles the Spector Ethos I have than it does the Pulse II I got rid of. It has the same pickups and preamp as the Ethos. I am very happy with the Ethos and it does growl like a Spector should. More information can be found here: Spectors Owners Club
The big thing with it is the pickups are in the "right" locations, like the Euros and USA basses, rather than the Legend positions that are pushed further apart. This has an enormous impact on tone.
I have not played one yet but I like the look. The headstock and inlays are much nicer than other non-Euro/USA models and the pickup locations look good.
As much as I want to be a Spector guy, I've never gotten the ergonomics to work for me. I think they look and sound great, though.
As much as I want to be a Spector guy, I've never gotten the ergonomics to work for me. I think they look and sound great, though.
I played the Icon 5 string here at a dealer this week. I found it was set up really well from the factory, but I didn't like the preamp at all. I've played a number of basses with the OBP-2 and it's just not a preamp that I find works for me to deliver the proper Spector sound. I found it too dark set flat, and the frequencies of the EQ didn't bring it to life no matter what I did with it. Bass is too boomy and the treble is too glassy for my tastes.
I have a Euro 5 prototype with Aguilar DCB pickups and a DGTC that sounds absolutely amazing so I am going to say that the preamp is the weak link on this bass.
Just my $0.02 in any event.
I have a Euro 5 prototype with Aguilar DCB pickups and a DGTC that sounds absolutely amazing so I am going to say that the preamp is the weak link on this bass.
Just my $0.02 in any event.
I agree. I like Aguilar pickups usually and i love their cabinets, but their preamps have never done it for me. Not saying they're bad, but they don't work for what my ear likes.
I wonder... would these be good candidates for LHZ preamp upgrades? Another simple replacement process?
Also (not judging the Aguilar pickups without playing them... maybe they're great as-is) Would a new EMG system be a drop-in process?
Also (not judging the Aguilar pickups without playing them... maybe they're great as-is) Would a new EMG system be a drop-in process?
Received my new Icon 5 today. It’s better than expected. The Aguilar pickups and preamp are a little dark sounding (but I’ve had this experience with dual coil humbuckers before) and at some point, I may look to upgrade to the LHZ preamp and EMGs. The fit and finish are very nice. Quality seems good. The neck finish as a very thin satin so it feels almost like raw maple. I like this but some may not.
Mine is pretty lightweight for a 5er (8lbs, 10oz as listed by Sweetwater) and that’s great for a 5 string. Sounds great but in order to get closer to that true Spector sound I have to dine the treble and leave the bass control on the detent. The bass control is very overpowering and gets boomy quickly. Setup was good out of the box. I immediately swapped out the knobs for gold ones. Overall it’s on par with the older Rebops plus you get a brass nut.
Mine is pretty lightweight for a 5er (8lbs, 10oz as listed by Sweetwater) and that’s great for a 5 string. Sounds great but in order to get closer to that true Spector sound I have to dine the treble and leave the bass control on the detent. The bass control is very overpowering and gets boomy quickly. Setup was good out of the box. I immediately swapped out the knobs for gold ones. Overall it’s on par with the older Rebops plus you get a brass nut.
Haji
Supporting Member
Basically, yes. I gutted my interstellar Ethos and put in EMG X PJ pickups and an LHZ pre. Because I suck at soldering, I went ahead and ordered a pre-wired output jack from LHZ, along with a blend pot because the Aggies comes with dual volume knobs, and that is a suck ass configuration to play live with. Other than the pickup mounting screws and sticking the preamp to the he wall of the control cavity, it was all solderless, plug and play install.
Do you still have that bass? if possible, can you please tell me the size of the bridge? I'm thinking on getting one in gold for my Spector Ethos 5.
