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P-up upgrade - Stuart Spector ReBop 5 - Any suggestions

lamonica78

lamonica78

Feb 9, 2008
524
18
48
Philadelphia
www.youtube.com
#1
Hey everyone,

I've never upgraded the electronics in any of my basses and I'm looking to start with my Spector ReBop 5. I bought it used at a Guitar Center a few years ago and it seems to have all the factory electronics (active, EMG-Hz soap bars). Any suggestions on upgrades? I don't even know where to begin in terms of pricing, so let me know some options from mid-range to high end electronics and approximate prices. I know Seymour Duncan and Bartolini are considered top of the line, but I have no idea how much they would cost to purchase and install.

Feel free to email me directly at [email protected]

Thank you!
 
#3
I have your bass with EMG upgrades. 40DC in the neck, 40CS at the bridge, BQC pre amp. It can scream, slap, pluck, or play the blues. The BQC is quite versatile versus the stock Tone pump.
Plus you get the KILLER Spector B string even better than what you currently have.
If you watch this board and be patient you can pick them up used.
Really makes a nice lightweight little tone monster. I think Spector should offer this for sale to the public.
Have fun.
 
#4
mophead said:
I have your bass with EMG upgrades. 40DC in the neck, 40CS at the bridge, BQC pre amp. It can scream, slap, pluck, or play the blues. The BQC is quite versatile versus the stock Tone pump.
Plus you get the KILLER Spector B string even better than what you currently have.
If you watch this board and be patient you can pick them up used.
Really makes a nice lightweight little tone monster. I think Spector should offer this for sale to the public.
Have fun.
Click to expand...

Cool, great suggestions! How much does a set up like that run if you don't me asking?
 
#7
BigLoopDuke said:
Active preamp. Yeah, I was confused on that from the beginning too. The preamp in the TonePump is just gain control and is typically really hot, which I liked.
Click to expand...


Ah, that makes sense. Thanks!

By the way, I just saw your signature at the bottom....looks like we both rock the Spector/Eden set up. I have a GK Mark IV combo w/an Eden 2x10 as my extension cab. Definitely get some earth rumbling lows out of that set up.
 
#8
I'm having the same dilemma as original poster. I'm using my Spector Rebop 5 dlx fm on emg hz's (with tonepump) as my main and only bass in extreme metal genres (black metal atm), fingerstyle.

1. There are some option that I take into consideration whe it comes to upgrading pickups:
- 2x EMG 40DC-X
- EMG 40DC-X bridge / EMG 40PX-5 neck
- EMG 40DC-X bridge / EMG 40JX neck
- EMG 40JX / EMG 40PX-5

from what I've read so far I should make them runnin on 18v, though I don't really know much about that issue

I know it's probably not easy, but could you ppl help predicting what kind of tone I would get with those configurations? Any recommendations? Any experience and knowledge on what those pu's do would be great.

2. I was wondering what to do with preamp, and two options come to my mind. Either getting rid of tonepump entirely, or making an option with cutting of preamp by push/pull potentiometer. AFAIK second option leaves with 1 knob for using the preamp (have 4 knobs ATM on my spector, 2 for pickups vol, and 2x for preamp - hi an lo's).

3. Any general advice what kind of operation all this would require, any faults one might easily make during the operations, would be great. I will not be making this myself, for I have no experience, but my bandmate already made electronics in his custom made bass, so he'll manage.

Sorry for asking so much, though I'm sure that's the best place for such questions on the whole net ;)

ps. and sorry for the dig up
 
#9
I run emg 35p/j 's in mine with a trimpot tone pump to control the output. It sounds a lot like my other spectors but a bit snappier. You can run a euro bridge on there but honestly I didn't think the difference was worth the $ on the bridge. Not many fans of the stock non trimpot tone pump as its too hot especially at full boost. The p/dc combo sounded good in there as well as the J/ dc combo too.
 
#10
grendle said:
I run emg 35p/j 's in mine with a trimpot tone pump to control the output. It sounds a lot like my other spectors but a bit snappier. You can run a euro bridge on there but honestly I didn't think the difference was worth the $ on the bridge. Not many fans of the stock non trimpot tone pump as its too hot especially at full boost. The p/dc combo sounded good in there as well as the J/ dc combo too.
Click to expand...

What was the difference in tone between p/dc and j/dc? Which one had more mids for example?
 
#11
depravator said:
What was the difference in tone between p/dc and j/dc? Which one had more mids for example?
Click to expand...

The j/dc was more middy, had good bite n growl. It sounded a bit more like what I expected the p/ dc to. The P/dc sounded good too. The p is thicker and more aggressive than the DC. The issue for me was the DC. The DC has a different high end. It picks up a Wierd click in the attack ( pick wise) that I didn't care for. It's there in the p/j but its very pronounced with the DC. If you play mainly fingers it probably won't matter too much. Dc's are great for a more hi fi type of tone imo. Think gospel r&b type. They'll work anywhere ,but their cleaner and don't growl like a j or a p/j combo. The P/ P was mean too ,full n wooly but lacking the grind of the P/J. I did keep the P/DC for a few practices but the low end kind of over powered the mids for me. I went back to the p/j because it just worked best for me. Punchy, growly, snarls when you hit it. Like a big grand piano with teeth. Ymmv
 
#13
Thanks a lot grendle, your posts were very helpful. From what you have written, the PJX and DCX will be most to my taste (like that growl, especially with my heavy attack), however I'm still thinking about p/j. Anyhow, looking forward for more info.

therhodeo - a little description of the tone it produced perhaps? ;)
 
#14
depravator said:
Thanks a lot grendle, your posts were very helpful. From what you have written, the PJX and DCX will be most to my taste (like that growl, especially with my heavy attack), however I'm still thinking about p/j. Anyhow, looking forward for more info.

therhodeo - a little description of the tone it produced perhaps? ;)
Click to expand...

There's a post on here where a guy did sound clips of all the combos. Happened to be in a Spector too I believe.
 
#19
Thanks again, from what I hear the DC's really aren't what I'm aiming for. So, I guess I'm setting on P/J of the X series. It's gonna be a while till I'll get my hands on them (not so easy to buy in EU, especially in Poland where I live), but I'll be back to leave a small info how they perform in my Rebop.

Cheers.
 

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