SPECTOR® Owners Club

[awilkie84]

Hi guys, update. I heard from the seller of the auction and, sadly, he was in a bad car accident over the weekend. The bass was in the car when it was totaled and he doesn't know where it is at this point in time as he just got out of hospital. So, best wishes for a speedy recovery and for a bass still in one piece. (I did cancel my paypal payment this morning so I have my funds back).

I hope he's ok. I also hope that's not just some cover story because the price wasn't what he wanted. Either way, looks like you're not out anything. Sincerely hope he's ok, though.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Thanks. I'm not just a bass geek now, but a Spector bass geek I'm still smiling how things worked out today.

Very lucky way to enter into the Spector family, both Stuart and PJ are great people....I'm looking forward to meeting PJ as well as some club members very soon!

 

[locisbrelm]

I've got a set of emg-twx and a EMG 2 band eq in my Legend 6. I love the pickups, they are amazing. Strong and clear. Very dynamic. I'm not happy about the eq tho. I'm getting a tonepump for it. I find they have more of a natural sound.

Speaking of tonepumps, I've recently turned the tonepump on my euro down to about 20-30%. Have any of you tried it? I find it has this old school almost passive feel. I'm digging it!

 

[wolfkeller]

Thought I'd share cuz its so awesome! I want an Ian Hill!!!

 

[Torn Bassist]

I hope he's ok. I also hope that's not just some cover story because the price wasn't what he wanted. Either way, looks like you're not out anything. Sincerely hope he's ok, though.

I think Tony has taken the right approach at wishing the fella good health, its a kind spirit and all he can do is believe that what he has been told is the truth....however, if he thinks that some foul play is involved then he always has the power to give a bad review and that's all he can do...but...I'm happy that he has his funds back in a safe position and hopefully another bass will come along.

 

[Clearwave]

Hi guys, update. I heard from the seller of the auction and, sadly, he was in a bad car accident over the weekend. The bass was in the car when it was totaled and he doesn't know where it is at this point in time as he just got out of hospital. So, best wishes for a speedy recovery and for a bass still in one piece. (I did cancel my paypal payment this morning so I have my funds back).

That's awful.

 

[MDBass]

NSBD
I'll start by stating I've never owned or played a Spector before. I've been reading this thread for a while and even looking in the classifieds for one. I figured a Euro 4 would do it and I almost pulled the trigger a couple of times, but didn't. I've had a bass for sale in the TB classifieds and I get a message from a TB member Carlton(Bassmanc) about a possible local deal. I travel from Albany to Catskill, NY to meet in a fast food parking lot. We make the deal and I'm happy. I sold my bass which I wouldn't have expected anything more. Carlton had actually implied a Forte 5 trade which I would have been all over, but really want a 4. Turns out Carlton is an endorsed artist and is heading to the Spector shop and says he may be able to do something for me. We head over to the shop and I met Stuart who is as nice as guy as one could be. He gives me a nice tour of the shop and we chat for a bit. It turns out he had a Forte 4 SS Helium (weighs 8.5) that didn't have a ship to destination yet. The bass plays and sounds awesome so of course I had to buy it. I would have been happy plucking a used Euro from the classifieds. Thanks to Carlton I walk away from the shop with my first Spector directly from the man himself. I actually missed my exit off the NYS Thruway thinking about what had just a happened.

Congrats brother!

You picked THE jem of the lineup in my opinion, mine should be delivered any day now

 

[MDBass]

the inbound bass is the SSD pickups and TP jr. so I've already tried that stock, and didn't care for it much.

I view anything as an improvement.

So it comes down to "something different". I understand the EMG 40s J or P suggestion, but its somewhat redundant with what I have already on other basses. That leads me to investigate some other pups. And yes, I'm investigating what sizes will fit, in particular. I don't want to invest in any routing on this bass, just electronics.

Aguilar unfortunately isn't making the SS pickups in EMG sized housing yet (Bart/Nordstrand sizes only) otherwise I'd highly recommend those.

I'd second the suggestion of those new coil-tap capable Seymour Duncan's, I believe they called them NYC's?

 

[Holdsg]

Yes, I checked our the NYC's, which appear virtually the same as the Nordstrand Dual Coils. I would lean toward the Nordstrands, only because I can go buy them from the man himself, and have Mo install them for me. This, of course, if I jell with the bass that is inbound. Thanks everyone for the advice.

 

[MDBass]

Yes, I checked our the NYC's, which appear virtually the same as the Nordstrand Dual Coils. I would lean toward the Nordstrands, only because I can go buy them from the man himself, and have Mo install them for me. This, of course, if I jell with the bass that is inbound. Thanks everyone for the advice.

Good call; Mo is the man, I love that dude.

 

[worshiprocker]

NSBD
I'll start by stating I've never owned or played a Spector before. I've been reading this thread for a while and even looking in the classifieds for one. I figured a Euro 4 would do it and I almost pulled the trigger a couple of times, but didn't. I've had a bass for sale in the TB classifieds and I get a message from a TB member Carlton(Bassmanc) about a possible local deal. I travel from Albany to Catskill, NY to meet in a fast food parking lot. We make the deal and I'm happy. I sold my bass which I wouldn't have expected anything more. Carlton had actually implied a Forte 5 trade which I would have been all over, but really want a 4. Turns out Carlton is an endorsed artist and is heading to the Spector shop and says he may be able to do something for me. We head over to the shop and I met Stuart who is as nice as guy as one could be. He gives me a nice tour of the shop and we chat for a bit. It turns out he had a Forte 4 SS Helium (weighs 8.5) that didn't have a ship to destination yet. The bass plays and sounds awesome so of course I had to buy it. I would have been happy plucking a used Euro from the classifieds. Thanks to Carlton I walk away from the shop with my first Spector directly from the man himself. I actually missed my exit off the NYS Thruway thinking about what had just a happened.

Congrats!!! and welcome to the family.

Hi guys, update. I heard from the seller of the auction and, sadly, he was in a bad car accident over the weekend. The bass was in the car when it was totaled and he doesn't know where it is at this point in time as he just got out of hospital. So, best wishes for a speedy recovery and for a bass still in one piece. (I did cancel my paypal payment this morning so I have my funds back).

wow... hope he is ok

 

[dukeisdog]

Heads up on a great deal on a 73' SVT in the classifieds. He's located in Boston and again I'm not affiliated at all, but I'm so happy with my '75 so I thought I'd spread the word.

 

[Basstovsky]

Hey guys, first time poster and i was told that the spector club would be the right people to ask about this. I
Picked up a spector legend classic 6 and i love it. Plays very nice,
looks wonderful and i loe the neck. Problem is, i recently bought a
used yamaha rbx6jm and it sounds amazing! While not really a problem
in itself, the yamaha makes the spector sound muffled with virtually
no clarity or pop in comparison. I wanted to upgrade the spector to
bring it up to the same level as i love everything but the sound but
im not so good with electronics. Through research, ive seen
suggestions to upgrade the preamp or pickups but i dont know where to
begin. It has stock electronics in it. Ssd pickups etc. Does 2-band vs
3-band eq matter? What im really after is a little more clarity to be
able to cut through and be heard during other drumming, guitar etc.
Any good brands or parts that you guys think would be appropriate? Any
help would be appreciated.

Here's an idea of how an upgraded Legend can sound. This is Mark Mitchell from Scale The Summit. I believe our own Basstovsky owns this very bass now. Maybe he could chime in.

what specific upgrades were made? Does anyone know? Basstovsky?
I ask because I have a Legend 5er inbound, which I want to upgrade.

I was thinking Aggie DCBs, Super Singles or Nordstrand dual coils, with either OBP-2 or Tonepump.
I want something to sound quite different from my other 2 (EMG PJ/Haz, and EMG-JJ/BTC)

Ok so the exact stuff in this bass is EMG JX pickups, the single coils are VERY good at cutting through a guitar-heavy mix (which is why Mark chose them) and since they are the X series they are more aggressive than the standard EMG J pickups (not sure the exact model, but it is the JX pickup in a 6-string soapbar housing so I believe it would be EMG 45JX pickups) Mark also uses these pickups in his new signature W*****k bass for the same reason, the punch and cut through.

These pickups are coupled to an EMG BQC preamp which is very flexible (bass, treble, stacked mid and mid frequency sweep), as well as enhancing how articulate the pickups already are, EMG works well with EMG. Mark also boosts his high mids significantly (I'd say about halfway) because that's the sweet spot for articulate cleanish growl with these pickups, keeping the treble flat and sometimes adding a little bass or low mids. He plays through a GK amp which also adds to the growl, not sure how much of his EQing is on the bass and how much on the amp, but I'd say its a mix of both. He seems to blend just a hair towards the bridge pickup.


The long and short of it for stilla: The SSD pickups in general are weakish and middy, but kind of muffly from what I've heard. The first step would be to upgrade those to active EMG pickups. Some EMG pickups and preamps have "quick connects" which don't require soldering, but some do require soldering, I prefer passive pickups mostly myself so I don't have a lot of EMG experience, this Legend is my only one. My advice would be to try pickups first to get the most of the bass, you can always run the onboard preamp flat, and EQ the bass through your amp, then upgrade the preamp on the bass later.

 

[Torn Bassist]

Ok so the exact stuff in this bass is EMG JX pickups, the single coils are VERY good at cutting through a guitar-heavy mix (which is why Mark chose them) and since they are the X series they are more aggressive than the standard EMG J pickups (not sure the exact model, but it is the JX pickup in a 6-string soapbar housing so I believe it would be EMG 45JX pickups) Mark also uses these pickups in his new signature W*****k bass for the same reason, the punch and cut through.

These pickups are coupled to an EMG BQC preamp which is very flexible (bass, treble, stacked mid and mid frequency sweep), as well as enhancing how articulate the pickups already are, EMG works well with EMG. Mark also boosts his high mids significantly (I'd say about halfway) because that's the sweet spot for articulate cleanish growl with these pickups, keeping the treble flat and sometimes adding a little bass or low mids. He plays through a GK amp which also adds to the growl, not sure how much of his EQing is on the bass and how much on the amp, but I'd say its a mix of both. He seems to blend just a hair towards the bridge pickup.

The long and short of it for stilla: The SSD pickups in general are weakish and middy, but kind of muffly from what I've heard. The first step would be to upgrade those to active EMG pickups. Some EMG pickups and preamps have "quick connects" which don't require soldering, but some do require soldering, I prefer passive pickups mostly myself so I don't have a lot of EMG experience, this Legend is my only one. My advice would be to try pickups first to get the most of the bass, you can always run the onboard preamp flat, and EQ the bass through your amp, then upgrade the preamp on the bass later.

Sounds similar to how I like to set up the EMG B30 preamp, very cool information....thanks for the write up!

 

[Torn Bassist]

Nine days left on the countdown with a July 31 blast off date for some of us guys....I can not believe that it has finally gotten this close to the Spector Hang!

 

[jtarmino]

NSBD
I'll start by stating I've never owned or played a Spector before. I've been reading this thread for a while and even looking in the classifieds for one. I figured a Euro 4 would do it and I almost pulled the trigger a couple of times, but didn't. I've had a bass for sale in the TB classifieds and I get a message from a TB member Carlton(Bassmanc) about a possible local deal. I travel from Albany to Catskill, NY to meet in a fast food parking lot. We make the deal and I'm happy. I sold my bass which I wouldn't have expected anything more. Carlton had actually implied a Forte 5 trade which I would have been all over, but really want a 4. Turns out Carlton is an endorsed artist and is heading to the Spector shop and says he may be able to do something for me. We head over to the shop and I met Stuart who is as nice as guy as one could be. He gives me a nice tour of the shop and we chat for a bit. It turns out he had a Forte 4 SS Helium (weighs 8.5) that didn't have a ship to destination yet. The bass plays and sounds awesome so of course I had to buy it. I would have been happy plucking a used Euro from the classifieds. Thanks to Carlton I walk away from the shop with my first Spector directly from the man himself. I actually missed my exit off the NYS Thruway thinking about what had just a happened.

What a great story! Enjoy and welcome to the Spector family!

 

[CM63]

Have a great time fishing & your gig! Sounds like a blast! I love playing outdoors!

Bummer! Just missed the time cutoff. Yeah you'd think Sat. but like LimaGuy said only FedEx home delivery gets it to you on Sat. I received my new Squire VM P bass 5 string on a surprised Sat. delivery thanks to FedEx Home delivery Too bad you won't have it for Sunday morning...I know how that feels.

Sounded solid to me!
If I had do over...I'd started playing bass when I was 5!

Ha! It came Monday! I would swear it was brand new! I got it used for $399, and not a single scratch or ding! Plastic still on the electronics cover and tuners, the original (crappy) factory strings, and set up perfectly! It is stunning to behold (I know! I know! No pics- no bass! pics soon!).
Put some old Thomastic Jazz flats so far= Bliss!

 

[CM63]

I love the enthusiasm on this thread! Soon as I can post pics I will be joining you!

Question for piezo equipped Spectorcore owners:
There is a significant volume drop (with new battery) When I cut the EMG pick to use piezo only.
Is this common?
The simple answer would be to lower the EMG till they match up, it seems like I will have to lower it asa far as I can go. Is this typical?
Also and FYI: I am using Thomastic Jazz Flats

I am loving the combined pups' sound BTW

 

[evermelon]

Man wish I could make the Hang, really would like to see all the different models especially the US ones and get a real appreciation for the hard work that goes into those beauties!

And a heads up, I have relisted my Rex 4 as well as a pair of Aguilar DCBs (EMG 35 size). PM me if you have any interest and club discount applies

...Also, if anyone has an EMG 40J, I would be very interest in it! let me know, thx -Nick-

 

[awilkie84]

Man wish I could make the Hang, really would like to see all the different models especially the US ones and get a real appreciation for the hard work that goes into those beauties!

And a heads up, I have relisted my Rex 4 as well as a pair of Aguilar DCBs (EMG 35 size). PM me if you have any interest and club discount applies

...Also, if anyone has an EMG 40J, I would be very interest in it! let me know, thx -Nick-

Oh, man! If my Jag sells any time soon, I'll take that Rex off your hands!