I agree. I sold a juiced up jazz bass for a Spector. I would def look into pre and possibly even pickup changes. Imo, it doesnt get much better than the feel of a Spector!
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Jaymi
Pink Bass Man
- Feb 11, 2008
- 6,813
- 490
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- Endorsing Artist: Ampeg , Jaydee, Kalium
What type of Jazz are you talking about? A passive one?
A Spector is not going to sound anything like a traditional Jazz unless it's made to sound like a traditional jazz...IMO.
If the bass sounds too artificial it could be the pickups as much as the preamp. You could try something like an Aguilar preamp. If your preamp is the pre-trim pot Tone Pump changing it out could help but in my experience EMG's sound like EMG's and EMG's sound nothing like a passive J bass. Great sound, just different.
Agreed. I love my Spectors, but there will always be room in my stable for a few different basses & their associated classic, passive, or just plain different tones.
In addition to my three Spectors, I have a Geddy Lee Jazz, an EBMM Stingray, Ric 4003 & 4004Cii models, A Hamer Chaparall 12-string, and some assorted cheapies. Most of these are only used for recording or noodling around the home, while my Spectors remain my go-to basses for playing live shows.
I've yet to find one bass that can do it all, and I wouldn't try - variety is the spice of life after all, and nothing can out-jazz a good Jazz Bass, nothing can out-sting a Stingray, and absolutely nothing sounds or works as well (for me) in a live hard rock/heavy metal situation as a Spector.
Tat2dHeart said:
+1!!!
I'm doing this to myself right now for an Alex Webster sig model! The wife in my head isn't convinced yet, tho.
I doubt a preamp swap is going is going to change the fundamental tone of the bass, therefore probably won't make you happy. You should try a few jazz basses and see what you think. I would also recommend trying some musicman basses. You might be looking for a more traditional bass tone. Report back to us, tell us what you find.
The Fender bass is what a bass is expected to sound like. They invented it and you will find it on more hit records than any other bass, They sound wide and milky to me. The Spector bass is not a traditional sounding bass. It cuts through the mix and is more "rude" sounding.
The Spector Coda is interesting. I've never played one but I imagine they have the comfort and easy playability of a Spector with a more traditional tone of a jazz bass.
or.....could be your amp.
gotly said:
If you like the look and feel I the Spector , but want the sound of a jazz , take out the pickups and preamp , get some of the Aguilar p&j pups and run it passive . There's no way it could sound bad .
I have one of each...in two similar spectors.
My opinion is yes, the US 9 volt has more "growl". I think its 30+ year old design is technically imperfect but musically pleasing. It seems to distort and compress a little when pushed which equals growl.
The tonepump is worthy of its Spector badge and is a great preamp.
If I had to choose one, I guess it would be the 9 volt but I don't think there should be such a dramatic difference in price. Either the Haz pre is to expensive or the tonepump is to cheap. I like having both.
The haz is expensive because of how it is made, I recall JPS mentioning that it uses a lot of different types of components, using certain transistors to make it sound so warm, that's why it is that huge circuit board, vs. the tiny little box that is the tonepump being much simpler and easier to produce, I know JPS gave us a lot of insight as to why but I don't recall the details.
- Jun 5, 2008
- 216
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- Endorsing Artist: Spector, Godlyke, Hartke, Hipshot, & AMT Electronics
gotly said:
Just thought I'd weigh in. If you like the way your Spector plays, I think you may want to try a preamp swap, or swap out the pickups and go passive.
I, personally, love my NS-2s for everything I do, but sometimes my Jazz or my modified Precision are more appropriate. The thing I like about passive basses is their aggressive sound.
I have 3 different preamps, all with EMG PJ pickups, in my Spectors the HAZlab 9 volt circuit, Aguilar OBP-2, and EMG BT. I'm constantly flip flopping between loving the HAZ and the Aggie. I also have Nordstrand passive pickups in my P-bass, an NP4 and NJ4SE. They're great sounding pickups.
Except...Spector NS-2JJ, NS-2JO or a Coda 4 JJ/Coda 5 JJ
But I know your talking of the traditional F*#+r jazz bass
NOW we're talking!!!What type of Jazz are you talking about? A passive one?
A Spector is not going to sound anything like a traditional Jazz unless it's made to sound like a traditional jazz...IMO.
If the bass sounds too artificial it could be the pickups as much as the preamp. You could try something like an Aguilar preamp. If your preamp is the pre-trim pot Tone Pump changing it out could help but in my experience EMG's sound like EMG's and EMG's sound nothing like a passive J bass. Great sound, just different.
Definitely get away from the active EMGs if you want a classic rock tone. I'm actually going the opposite direction and getting back into some more "active" tones again, which is why I started hanging around here recently. 
Questions about the Rex. After watching all of those Pantera vids last night, I'm thinking a Rex would be nice addition.
I have c spine issues, so I spend a lot of time sitting while playing. With the body shape of the rex, is it comfortable playing fingerstyle while sitting? Also, what would I be looking to pay for used one?
I have c spine issues, so I spend a lot of time sitting while playing. With the body shape of the rex, is it comfortable playing fingerstyle while sitting? Also, what would I be looking to pay for used one?
Not sure how it would be playing it while sitting.
But as a FYI, ubnomnar has one for sale now at a great price.
Could you post some sound clips? I can go try Jazz basses all day but it's kind of hard to see what a Spector sounds like with passive pickups.
Since we are king of on the topic of the whole active/passive thing, I have a question about my Rebop 5. It has the EMG HZ pickups in it with the non-trim tonepump and when I turn up the treble all the way, I notice I get a "hum" that is present and I have heard from people that is due to the passive pickups.
Here is a clip I recorded with the riff from "rain when I die" from Alice in Chains.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Will putting active EMG's in that bass cut down on the "hum" or do you think that could be from something else? Just curious.
On another topic, I have to say that I love the sustain on this bass which you can hear when I hold the last note. If anyone is curious if the Spector bolt-ons don't have much sustain, just give that a listen and that should answer your question. This is an older Rebop 5 from 2001 in case that makes any difference or not.
Here is a clip I recorded with the riff from "rain when I die" from Alice in Chains.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Will putting active EMG's in that bass cut down on the "hum" or do you think that could be from something else? Just curious.
On another topic, I have to say that I love the sustain on this bass which you can hear when I hold the last note. If anyone is curious if the Spector bolt-ons don't have much sustain, just give that a listen and that should answer your question. This is an older Rebop 5 from 2001 in case that makes any difference or not.
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worshiprocker
Tonepump Junkie
- Aug 12, 2011
- 4,683
- 1,782
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- Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses
I think its the preamp... My EuroLX does that too and I have the non trim tonepump, my performer with non trim tonepump and EMG HZs also had that hum. My CR4fm doesn't have the same problem.
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Thanks man, that is really interesting. Which pre does your CR4FM have in it by chance?
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