SPECTOR® Owners Club

[PaulS]

Looking into Spectors and have a question on pickups. I've been told that the real classic Spector sound is with EMG pickups, but I have seen custom shops out there with Aguilar P/J sets. Does this make a huge difference in tone? Nowhere near me stocks higher end Spector so I can't go and try em out.

 

[fibz]

Looking into Spectors and have a question on pickups. I've been told that the real classic Spector sound is with EMG pickups, but I have seen custom shops out there with Aguilar P/J sets. Does this make a huge difference in tone? Nowhere near me stocks higher end Spector so I can't go and try em out.

Most would say yes to EMG.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

Looking into Spectors and have a question on pickups. I've been told that the real classic Spector sound is with EMG pickups, but I have seen custom shops out there with Aguilar P/J sets. Does this make a huge difference in tone? Nowhere near me stocks higher end Spector so I can't go and try em out.

Speaking from personal experience and my own opinion, I have never met an Aguilar pickup or preamp I liked. (Their bass cabs are another story.) That said, someone posted here just a few days ago a blind tone comparison between EMGs and other pickups and I was honestly hard pressed to tell the difference. I can just tell you what works in my hands.

 

[bste9]

Looking into Spectors and have a question on pickups. I've been told that the real classic Spector sound is with EMG pickups, but I have seen custom shops out there with Aguilar P/J sets. Does this make a huge difference in tone? Nowhere near me stocks higher end Spector so I can't go and try em out.

I would also say yes to EMG. I never had Aguilars in a Spector but I did in another bass and I absolutely hated them. You may want to watch this: What bass set the standard for Modern Metal tone?! (youtube.com)

 

[PaulS]

Thanks for the replies

 

[BaltBass5]

Looking into Spectors and have a question on pickups. I've been told that the real classic Spector sound is with EMG pickups, but I have seen custom shops out there with Aguilar P/J sets. Does this make a huge difference in tone? Nowhere near me stocks higher end Spector so I can't go and try em out.

Every Spector I have owned with Barts or Aggies I have replaced them with EMG's.

 

[AB Nate]

Looking into Spectors and have a question on pickups. I've been told that the real classic Spector sound is with EMG pickups, but I have seen custom shops out there with Aguilar P/J sets. Does this make a huge difference in tone? Nowhere near me stocks higher end Spector so I can't go and try em out.

Check this out

SPECTOR® Owners Club

 

[BaltBass5]

Here are the results and the answers to the Spector Tone Test I conducted!

I received over the maximum number of responses the free survey site allowed (20) so only the first 20 results were given to me.

First, the results:
View attachment 5288720 View attachment 5288721 View attachment 5288722 View attachment 5288723

And now the answer key:

Samples 1 and 5: Euro RST
Samples 2 and 6: Euro LX
Samples 3 and 7: Euro Classic
Samples 4 and 8: Dingwall Combustion

My takeaway from this experiment: The "Spector Sound" is real, but the secret sauce might not be EMGs alone! The RST and the LX had the exact same number of votes saying they were EMGs, and the Classic had fewer votes, which was unexpected. Otherwise, the votes were all generally so close together that it really was - as I said in an earlier post - a crapshoot! People were generally very easily able to establish the Dingwall, especially when played with a pick which makes a lot of sense as Dingwall and a pick is a very recognizable sound.

To me, I'd say that a Spector is a Spector regardless of the particular choice in electronics, and that the folks putting these together must be sprinkling some sort of magic powder on them to give them that sound we all know and love.

Thanks for participating!!

Interestingly I got them ALL right and even guessed the Dingwall was the Non-Spector. I was actually a little unsure of 1-2 samples but went with my gut. This makes me feel a LOT better because I own 7 Spectors and made every one of them EMG actives with the EMG BTS.

 

[geburgess2]

Interestingly I got them ALL right and even guessed the Dingwall was the Non-Spector. I was actually a little unsure of 1-2 samples but went with my gut. This makes me feel a LOT better because I own 7 Spectors and made every one of them EMG actives with the EMG BTS.

If you really did get all of them correct, you're officially the first! Nice job!

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

[QUOTE="dcbassist5, post: 28062321, ……..I own 7 Spectors and made every one of them EMG actives with the EMG BTS.[/QUOTE]

I LOVE the EMG BTS!!!

I wasn't totally sold on it, until a fellow member here recommended that I experiment with its internal dip switches. Once I did, and found my favorite setting, I'm very happy with it.

Also, I typically favor a 3-band eq, but using the BTS, I don't feel I'm missing anything.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

I LOVE the EMG BTS!!!

I wasn't totally sold on it, until a fellow member here recommended that I experiment with its internal dip switches. Once I did, and found my favorite setting, I'm very happy with it.

Also, I typically favor a 3-band eq, but using the BTS, I don't feel I'm missing anything.

I have the BTC in my Coda. Along with the passive tone control, I have so many options with that thing! But I have a soft spot for NS's and Haz style preamps that I just can't shake lol.

 

[genesound]

Too bad there wasn't a Dimension HP in that test. The EMG/Darkglass has a whole different bite to go with the growl. My brand new one sure needs a setup though. I'm taking it to Eric Chaz this week. He's been a professional guitar/bass tech in Los Angeles for 40 years now. I'm also having the Gotoh GB350 tuners i bought from Philadelphia Luthier Tools and Supplies (hard to find so Philly's the best source I found) put on to help with the neck dive. May as well have him put them on because he'll be working on the nut anyhow (it sticks), and he can string it up with my new Peyson Black Daggers and do the intonation (it's awful and Ish didn't send the right allen wrenches for intonation on the custom bridges) and everything else setup-wise. They couldn't have possibly checked the intonation that's checked off on the checklist, it's a mile off. Should be stellar when Erik get's done with it. Other than one pup screw that got cammed out somewhere, this bass came immaculate, but the setup ain't right, and I think I want the daggers anyhow. I like coated strings because they last longer, and I think they'll sound great on this bass if the B string is any indication.

 

[geburgess2]

Too bad there wasn't a Dimension HP in that test. The EMG/Darkglass has a whole different bite to go with the growl. My brand new one sure needs a setup though. I'm taking it to Eric Chaz this week. He's been a professional guitar/bass tech in Los Angeles for 40 years now. I'm also having the Gotoh GB350 tuners i bought from Philadelphia Luthier Tools and Supplies (hard to find so Philly's the best source I found) put on to help with the neck dive. May as well have him put them on because he'll be working on the nut anyhow (it sticks), and he can string it up with my new Peyson Black Daggers and do the intonation (it's awful and Ish didn't send the right allen wrenches for intonation on the custom bridges) and everything else setup-wise. They couldn't have possibly checked the intonation that's checked off on the checklist, it's a mile off. Should be stellar when Erik get's done with it. Other than one pup screw that got cammed out somewhere, this bass came immaculate, but the setup ain't right, and I think I want the daggers anyhow. I like coated strings because they last longer, and I think they'll sound great on this bass if the B string is any indication.

Yeah, I used to have a regular Dimension, but I just couldn't jive with the Fishman system, so I pitched it. Ended up buying two Dingwalls between the time I sold that and the HP came out, so getting an HP would probably be redundant lol. I have played one, though, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

 

[AB Nate]

Too bad there wasn't a Dimension HP in that test. The EMG/Darkglass has a whole different bite to go with the growl. My brand new one sure needs a setup though. I'm taking it to Eric Chaz this week. He's been a professional guitar/bass tech in Los Angeles for 40 years now. I'm also having the Gotoh GB350 tuners i bought from Philadelphia Luthier Tools and Supplies (hard to find so Philly's the best source I found) put on to help with the neck dive. May as well have him put them on because he'll be working on the nut anyhow (it sticks), and he can string it up with my new Peyson Black Daggers and do the intonation (it's awful and Ish didn't send the right allen wrenches for intonation on the custom bridges) and everything else setup-wise. They couldn't have possibly checked the intonation that's checked off on the checklist, it's a mile off. Should be stellar when Erik get's done with it. Other than one pup screw that got cammed out somewhere, this bass came immaculate, but the setup ain't right, and I think I want the daggers anyhow. I like coated strings because they last longer, and I think they'll sound great on this bass if the B string is any indication.

I use black daggers on my fretless dingwall. I prefer Payson Stainless strings on most of my fanned "fretted" instruments. His nickels suite one bass in particular better though.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I LOVE the EMG BTS!!!

I wasn't totally sold on it, until a fellow member here recommended that I experiment with its internal dip switches. Once I did, and found my favorite setting, I'm very happy with it.

Also, I typically favor a 3-band eq, but using the BTS, I don't feel I'm missing anything.

I have the BTC in my Coda. Along with the passive tone control, I have so many options with that thing! But I have a soft spot for NS's and Haz style preamps that I just can't shake lol.[/QUOTE]

I'm still getting accustomed to the Haz. But I have no doubts that I'll get it dialed in over time.

Also, I've been experimenting with nickel plated roundwounds on my NS6.

I started out with a set of Ernie Ball Slinkys. They kept their fidelity for well over thee months. A lot longer than I ever expected.

But IMHO they have too much top end on my NS6 for my needs.

A few days ago, I restrung it with D'Addario XLs. These are a step in the right direction for me. Their top end is there, but it's not as dominant as the Slinkys.

I'll put them through their paces for a few months and see how they sound with a bit of playing time.

Then, I'll try a set of GHS Bass Boomers. They're my go-to strings. I love how they sound on my Euro 6LT.

Decades I've used GHS on my brightest sounding basses. Their warm, thick tone "tames" my more aggressive sounding basses.


Sorry for my rambling!

Best wishes!!!

 

[VeryTallBassist]

I'm still getting accustomed to the Haz. But I have no doubts that I'll get it dialed in over time.

Also, I've been experimenting with nickel plated roundwounds on my NS6.

I started out with a set of Ernie Ball Slinkys. They kept their fidelity for well over thee months. A lot longer than I ever expected.

But IMHO they have too much top end on my NS6 for my needs.

A few days ago, I restrung it with D'Addario XLs. These are a step in the right direction for me. Their top end is there, but it's not as dominant as the Slinkys.

I'll put them through their paces for a few months and see how they sound with a bit of playing time.

Then, I'll try a set of GHS Bass Boomers. They're my go-to strings. I love how they sound on my Euro 6LT.

Decades I've used GHS on my brightest sounding basses. Their warm, thick tone "tames" my more aggressive sounding basses.


Sorry for my rambling!

Best wishes!!!

For the most part I have switched over to D'Addario NYXL nickels. They're nice and balanced, and not too zingy out of the pack.

I have EB Cobalt Flats on my Ray25CA and they are really good, so for giggles I just put a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Roundwounds on one of my NS5CR's. Man, those things are bright!! I'm fighting the urge to lather them with Eucerin because I HATE the sound of brand new strings, but I'll dutifully play that bass until it's broken in. Hope these stay in that broken in period for a while.

 

[BaltBass5]

If you really did get all of them correct, you're officially the first! Nice job!

It was tough…I almost missed #7. Honestly surprised myself!

 

[avi]

I have the BTC in my Coda. Along with the passive tone control, I have so many options with that thing! But I have a soft spot for NS's and Haz style preamps that I just can't shake lol.

I had the BTS with the passive tone control but didn't think it did much so I swapped it for a VMC and then it did too much and I got into the weeds. It's redundant bc my amp has dual parametrics. So I'm going to swap it out for the seperate B and T pots.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

For the most part I have switched over to D'Addario NYXL nickels. They're nice and balanced, and not too zingy out of the pack.



I have EB Cobalt Flats on my Ray25CA and they are really good, so for giggles I just put a set of Ernie Ball Cobalt Roundwounds on one of my NS5CR's. Man, those things are bright!! I'm fighting the urge to lather them with Eucerin because I HATE the sound of brand new strings, but I'll dutifully play that bass until it's broken in. Hope these stay in that broken in period for a while.

How is the string tension on the D'Addario NYXLs?

 

[VeryTallBassist]

On the tighter side of average but not overly so.