SPECTOR® Owners Club

[Relayer71]

Greetings! Well after a long hiatus from this awesome club I'm back. The other day I read a post by our good friend Omer on FB and someone made a comment about how they love and still to this day own and play a Spector Legend. It made me think of my very first Spector that gave me the Spector G.A.S. In 2007, a Spector Legend 4 Classic, Black Cherry. A few days later I received in my email an ad from ZZounds and on that add was a Spector Legend 5 Standard, Black Cherry, ash body W/Flame Maple top, 35" scale which is what I was looking for with my new band's music. So I pulled the trigger on it. It's arriving today. I have that "New Bass Day" excitement vibe going on this morning, lol. When I receive it I'll post the customary pics. I'm super stoked! I'm hoping and I'm sure it will, fit the niche that I need it for. I go on national tour with my new band "Rusty Drake & The Watchmen" starting in Detroit, Mi. January 28th, our Debut.

Welcome back! And good luck on the tour!

 

[iceboxbass]

Welcome back! And good luck on the tour!

Thank you so much Relayer71!

 

[iceboxbass]

Well as promised, I've included NSD photos. I received the Legend 5 about an hour ago via FedEx. I let the box warmup to room temp. Now waiting a little more for the electronics to warm up before plugging in and running it through it's paces. So far, I'm very pleased and happy with the physical build and appearance. I'm very pleased to see that the Legend still has the NS fully curved body front & back! The finish is impeccable! Nothing lost there since my 2007 Legend 4 Classic. Perhaps even a little bit better on the finish. I'm looking forward to strapping it on and get that wonderful Spector fully curved body feel against my body and hear that epic tone! Cheers everyone!

Link Removed Link Removed Link Removed Link Removed Link Removed Link Removed

 

[micahwc]

Can I get honest opinions about the tone pump jr?

I look at other places online and I see people saying it's awful and needs to be replaced ASAP, and other people saying it's great.

Does anyone here love it or absolutely hate it? I'm sure it's been discussed in this thread but there are a lot of pages to go through.

Thanks.

 

[Reedt2000]

Can I get honest opinions about the tone pump jr?

I look at other places online and I see people saying it's awful and needs to be replaced ASAP, and other people saying it's great.

Does anyone here love it or absolutely hate it? I'm sure it's been discussed in this thread but there are a lot of pages to go through.

Thanks.

I bought a NS Pulse recently with the TP Jr in it. It didn't sound bad but it had one good tone, both boosts mostly up. It was grindy, punchy, and aggressive. If I played heavy stuff exclusively I'd have left it in. I ended up going with an EMG BQC for versatility's sake.

 

[Reedt2000]

I still have the TP Jr if anyone is interested.

 

[micahwc]

I bought a NS Pulse recently with the TP Jr in it. It didn't sound bad but it had one good tone, both boosts mostly up. It was grindy, punchy, and aggressive. If I played heavy stuff exclusively I'd have left it in. I ended up going with an EMG BQC for versatility's sake.

Thank you.

I've got a almost new Nordstrand preamp that I bought for the bass I'm replacing; it was connected for about 10 minutes before I discovered that the pickups were the problem and not the preamp.

so if the TP jr doesn't work out I'll probably use the Nordstrand.

I'll give the TP jr a chance first. I've got a full 8 days of playing right after the Pulse arrives so I'll get a good opportunity to try it out in live settings.

 

[Reedt2000]

Thank you.

I've got a almost new Nordstrand preamp that I bought for the bass I'm replacing; it was connected for about 10 minutes before I discovered that the pickups were the problem and not the preamp.

so if the TP jr doesn't work out I'll probably use the Nordstrand.

I'll give the TP jr a chance first. I've got a full 8 days of playing right after the Pulse arrives so I'll get a good opportunity to try it out in live settings.

I did, also for added versatility, replace the DC at the neck with a 40PX5. That really opened up the bass, more brightness and clarity, more warmth in the low mids, the ability to solo the P pickup for a more traditional tone. I'm happy with the swap.

 

[Low Commotion]

Can I get honest opinions about the tone pump jr?

I look at other places online and I see people saying it's awful and needs to be replaced ASAP, and other people saying it's great.

Does anyone here love it or absolutely hate it? I'm sure it's been discussed in this thread but there are a lot of pages to go through.

Thanks.

I bought the NS Pulse 2 this summer and I really liked how it sounded, but wasn't too sure about the Tonepump Jr. I looked into changing it, but after a couple gigs, I really like it. I've gigged with the new bass about ten times now and I wouldn't change a thing on it.

As mentioned before, try it out for awhile and then decide if you like it or not. You might be pleasantly surprised. I know you'll get compliments on how it sounds.

 

[MasterBrianD]

Folks this is probably a stupid question.... but can you use any regular potentiometer on a Spector Euro LX DW or does it have to be some specific type or shaft to be compatible with the TonePump preamp?

I noticed the pots are smaller than a standard Fender USA pot from a Jazz bass I used to own.

I'm REALLY liking this new Euro Doug Wombish model I got so I don't want to return it over something so minor if it can just be fixed easily, I may contact the store I bought it from and ask them to post me out a replacement pot or two if so.

I took the plastic knobs off and there is still a resistance difference on the shaft themselves, mainly just the one master volume that is really stiff.

 

[_Some Dude]

I'm REALLY liking this new Euro Doug Wombish model I got so I don't want to return it over something so minor if it can just be fixed easily, I may contact the store I bought it from and ask them to post me out a replacement pot or two if so.

I took the plastic knobs off and there is still a resistance different in them, mainly just the one that is really stiff.

How much do you actually move the master volume? If you never move it, and the pot doesn't like moving, then this may be a non-issue.

 

[MasterBrianD]

How much do you actually move the master volume? If you never move it, and the pot doesn't like moving, then this may be a non-issue.

I would use the volume quite often to be fair and I suppose I just expect it to work normally on a brand new instrument in this price range.

Something may have happened during shipping to cause it, it wasn't packed up very well, just the smaller Spector box, no outer boxing with padding from the retailer.... it also travelled from the Czech Republic all the way to Ireland during a particularly cold week in the winter.

On a side note, I really like how this is wired with a master volume and blend as opposed to a volume for each pickup.

 

[Holdsg]

Deoxit spray? I'd try that first.

 

[iceboxbass]

I played my new Legend 5 Standard for a bit yesterday. First impression…I'm going to send it back…the fret ends are all sticking out the fretboard edges. About lost skin and blood playing it. Even after adjusting the truss rod a few times looking down the top of the fretboard its all wavy down the edges. As much as I tried adjusting the bridge saddles I can't get the string buzz to stop unless the string action is way too high. It's too bad as it's a beautiful looking bass. Oh well, I'll look for another, maybe an older Legend Classic 5. Or an Euro ReBop 5.

 

[beatdatthang]

Folks this is probably a stupid question.... but can you use any regular potentiometer on a Spector Euro LX DW or does it have to be some specific type or shaft to be compatible with the TonePump preamp?

I noticed the pots are smaller than a standard Fender USA pot from a Jazz bass I used to own.

I'm REALLY liking this new Euro Doug Wombish model I got so I don't want to return it over something so minor if it can just be fixed easily, I may contact the store I bought it from and ask them to post me out a replacement pot or two if so.

I took the plastic knobs off and there is still a resistance difference on the shaft themselves, mainly just the one master volume that is really stiff.

Yea you can easily and inexpensively (if you can solder) just replace the volume pot. Here's the wiring diagram:

As you can see, for the tone pump and EMGs (active pickups) you need a 25K pot. They typically cost under 10 bucks on Amazon. Just make sure you get the correct size and particularly, shaft length. I don't know if they are long shaft or short in the Spectors (I'd suspect long shaft). Granted, the picture shows 2 volumes instead of a blend but just resolder the wires in the exact way you removed them on the new pot.

 

[Thundar]

I played my new Legend 5 Standard for a bit yesterday. First impression…I'm going to send it back…the fret ends are all sticking out the fretboard edges. About lost skin and blood playing it. Even after adjusting the truss rod a few times looking down the top of the fretboard its all wavy down the edges. As much as I tried adjusting the bridge saddles I can't get the string buzz to stop unless the string action is way too high. It's too bad as it's a beautiful looking bass. Oh well, I'll look for another, maybe an older Legend Classic 5. Or an Euro ReBop 5.

Just an FYI, there is a KILLER ReBop 5 for sale here in the TB classifieds ...no affiliation, but someone is gonna get a sweet, tricked-out FM DLX with all new EMGs/Pre....
Don't sleep on this one fellas!

Edit... Nevermind, its no longer for sale
No longer available - Spector Rebop 5 DLX FM

 

[MasterBrianD]

Yea you can easily and inexpensively (if you can solder) just replace the volume pot. Here's the wiring diagram:


View attachment 4940975

As you can see, for the tone pump and EMGs (active pickups) you need a 25K pot. They typically cost under 10 bucks on Amazon. Just make sure you get the correct size and particularly, shaft length. I don't know if they are long shaft or short in the Spectors (I'd suspect long shaft). Granted, the picture shows 2 volumes instead of a blend but just resolder the wires in the exact way you removed them on the new pot.

Thank you very much I appreciate that, I'm an absolute noob when it comes to the electronics on instruments!

 

[Relayer71]

Just an FYI, there is a KILLER ReBop 5 for sale here in the TB classifieds ...no affiliation, but someone is gonna get a sweet, tricked-out FM DLX with all new EMGs/Pre....
Don't sleep on this one fellas!

Edit... Nevermind, its no longer for sale
No longer available - Spector Rebop 5 DLX FM

That one went fast! Definitely killer deal.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

Thank you very much I appreciate that, I'm an absolute noob when it comes to the electronics on instruments!

You're definitely not alone. I've learned to make my own trussrod and bridge saddle adjustments, but electronics aren't my cup of tea. Are there any reputable guitarist repair techs in your area? Having a potentiometer replaced isn't very costly. And if you bought your Doug Wimbish new, you probably have a warranty, so it may not cost you anything out of pocket.

 

[rashrader]

This is another reason why I love EMG… Plug and Play!!