Spector Bass Question

[ptg]

Hi all,

I'm currently considering getting a Spector and I have a question for anyone knowledgeable about the different models:

Since it's hard to hear when you're playing while other people are testing equipment in a music store and the amps are different from store to store, are there any tonal differences between the ReBop 4DLX-FM and the 4DLX-EX Zebrano?

Does the Zebra wood make the bass warmer or brighter or is there no appreciable difference?

Thanks, everyone, for your help!

 

[Worm meat]

I only played them in passing, but I couldn't tell an appreciable difference. Sure someone else will chime in if I'm mistaken.

The zebrano one looks way cooler though.

 

[PRUNEFACE]

Zebrano looks cool but I don't think the top makes a difference because it is so thin relative to the body.
I have a Euro LX and also tried a Rebop. Both great basses.

 

[Thundar]

No, I have owned a Zebrawood ReBop and a couple of other ReBops, and I didnt notice the Zebrawood making any difference in the tone...now, changing pickups and preamps though did change the sound of those basses considerably

 

[dnarock]

I belive that on a active bass its harder to tell a deference in wood tone but zebrawood is kindo mild for tone I have a mix of swamp ash and zebra on a jazz style body and it has a kinda dark overtone

 

[EagleMoon]

If there's a difference in tone it's probably due more to the age of the strings or the amp settings.

 

[ptg]

Thanks, guys! I'll be buying one tomorrow! (Zebra , it is!)

 

[Ian Perge]

I have to dissent and say that I can hear an increase in the "attack"/"punch" of my ReBop 4 DLX EX Zebrawood Top at the expense of a touch of "warmth" compared to my 5 DLX Flame Maple fretted and fretless. It's not a huge difference, I'm not running to replace my 5-strings with "ZeBops", but I do wonder what a fretless Zebrawood-topped ReBop would sound like as I think the Zebrawood/Alder combination and bolt-on neck construction would suit it quite nicely.

Also, I'm not sure if mine is a outlier (judging from the amount of photos I've seen, I doubt it) but I wouldn't say at all that the Zebrawood top is thin by *any* means - quite the opposite, it makes up easily 1/2+ of the total Spector body, and I've heard from a few people that the Maple tops are just as thick. Either way, you'll be getting a great bass: I think the ReBop line is the unsung line from Spector, with the ability to get both the traditional aggressive "Spector Growl" while also being able to dial it back and have a smoother, more Jazz Bass-type tone

 

[Molan]

Until very recently I had a pair of NS5XL's both of which were all maple wings & near identical in every respect other than one was a natural flamed finish and the other had a walnut stain.

Howeve there was quite a difference in tone between the two of them with one sounding far brighter than the other whilst the second one had more mids in the core tone.

Both bases had identical brand new strings on them & I played through the same amp set up.

So - although the essential woods were the same on each the actual piece of wood they were carved from was definitely imparting it's own sonic effects to the final sound.

I sold the newer of the two (newer to me but actually an older bass) as it was too bright for me really & replaced it with one of the 'water cured' redwood ones and that sounds significantly different to the maple bodied one & much more what I was looking for

Anyway, my point is that you should really try and play each bass back to back & see if you can hear something. Tough to do this I know unless you have a shop that has both in stock & they both have the same strings etc. etc.

Whichever you go with I hope you really like it - after trying a lot of high end basses in the last couple of years I'm now a confirmed Spector fan!

 

[Steveaux]

Zebrano looks cool but I don't think the top makes a difference because it is so thin relative to the body.
I have a Euro LX and also tried a Rebop. Both great basses.

Umm, the top is basically half the thickness of the body.