i recently noticed a company (new to me) which make bass guitars, Spector. Upon researching some of the players of their instruments (the likes of Alexis Sklarevski and Doug Wimbish for instance) i wondered why it wasn't a much more renowned company up their with the likes of maybe not Fender but at least Ibanez and Peavey. Does anyone know why this might be?
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Spector basses?
- Thread starter scrunks11
- Start date
Spector is a pretty well-known and respected company.
And they are not small by any means.
Also Fender and Ibanez are probably the two biggest uber-mass-production Guitar manufacturers around, it is hard to compare a manufacturer of high-end US and European-made instruments to them. Secondly, I have never met anyone who truly respected Peavey as anything but an amp manufacturer.
And they are not small by any means.
Also Fender and Ibanez are probably the two biggest uber-mass-production Guitar manufacturers around, it is hard to compare a manufacturer of high-end US and European-made instruments to them. Secondly, I have never met anyone who truly respected Peavey as anything but an amp manufacturer.
I have been wanting a Spector just to try for a while. There is a lot of spector stuff on this site. Just search and you will come up many threads including the Spector Club
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=532581&highlight=spector
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=532581&highlight=spector
They specialize in upper-level Basses, but they do make some guitars as well.
Spector NS-series Basses were the Bass to have for metal in the 80's.
I absolutely love my Spector, they're pretty much the ultimate basses for Metal, at least the kind I play.
Can't speak to what's known in the UK.
I'm glad you've discovered Spector. They make great basses. They are more of a niche company, so that's probably why they're not as widely known as Ibanez or Peavey or Fender.
For one thing Spector only makes Basses. The other more well known companies you mention also make guitars, amps, some of them make PA gear, jet skis, and canned tomatoes. (nothing against those companies or canned tomatoes)
Spector just makes basses. We all know how much attention the bass player gets, so don't be surprised when a bass only company doesn't get all that much attention either.
I think Spector is still fairly well known over here in the U.S. though. I'm pretty sure they're readily available through Musicians Friend, etc. Not bad for a niche bass only sort of company.
I'm glad you've discovered Spector. They make great basses. They are more of a niche company, so that's probably why they're not as widely known as Ibanez or Peavey or Fender.
For one thing Spector only makes Basses. The other more well known companies you mention also make guitars, amps, some of them make PA gear, jet skis, and canned tomatoes. (nothing against those companies or canned tomatoes)
Spector just makes basses. We all know how much attention the bass player gets, so don't be surprised when a bass only company doesn't get all that much attention either.
I think Spector is still fairly well known over here in the U.S. though. I'm pretty sure they're readily available through Musicians Friend, etc. Not bad for a niche bass only sort of company.
Actually, they do make guitars.
They are called the ARC6 series and only come in the entry-level "Professional" line (sells for around $500) or a mid-level US-made line (ARC6USA sells for around $1500, while the ARC6RW sells for around $2000).
Actually Peavey make excellent guitars, and their basses are nice too. They should really get more credit than they do in this area. I don't own any of their instruments but certainly wouldn't refuse one.
They were on one of the if not the best selling album of the 90s. Jason used one to record Metallica's black album.
Spector just doesn't get the press that Fender and Ibanez do. Nor are they as easy to find in the stores, which is a shame. All of their basses are awesome.
And so are Peaveys. Especially their USA stuff.
And so are Peaveys. Especially their USA stuff.
I nearly fell off my chair laughing. Glad you "found" Spector...don't buy one...they are bass cocaine...I have been playing them for 20 yrs.
Poor Peavey. I think the reason this line is the Rodney Dangerfield of music gear, is because of the low prices they have charged compared with their competition. It is a common phenomenon that most people will perceive the higher priced of two similar/comparable items to be of higher quality. "If it costs more then it must be better, so they think", regardless of the facts.
This low pricing probably had something to do with the company originating in Mississippi, where wages, on average, are lower, and wealth is rarer....as it is and has been since the beginning. Down south, you will often see Peavey gear used as backlines in club, and as the preferred amp choice of many blues players. And a lot of their stuff is as good as the best out there. The Classic 300 all-tube bass amp that was made in the 80's and 90's compared well to older Ampeg SVT's, and was better than the SVT's produced by SLM Ampeg during the same period. Likewise the Peavey VMP2 is a fantastic mic/instrument stereo preamp, and command pretty high prices, used.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug99/articles/peaveyvmp2.htm
This low pricing probably had something to do with the company originating in Mississippi, where wages, on average, are lower, and wealth is rarer....as it is and has been since the beginning. Down south, you will often see Peavey gear used as backlines in club, and as the preferred amp choice of many blues players. And a lot of their stuff is as good as the best out there. The Classic 300 all-tube bass amp that was made in the 80's and 90's compared well to older Ampeg SVT's, and was better than the SVT's produced by SLM Ampeg during the same period. Likewise the Peavey VMP2 is a fantastic mic/instrument stereo preamp, and command pretty high prices, used.
http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug99/articles/peaveyvmp2.htm
I think you're right. Back when they started they wanted to make good gear for a decent price for the working musician. Now as time has passed and more people see how good their gear is, Peavey's name is getting more and more notice. People always tend to equate quality with high price, but that just isn't so, especially the stuff coming out today.
Nothing else compares to a Spector. They make very uniquely-toned basses. (No comment on the guitars since I've never tried one.) Even the Warwicks and Ibanez basses that are similarly set up (P/J reversed pups, contoured bodies, etc, etc) still don't have that feel. (I will admit that Warwicks do some of their own unique things, I just see them as apples and oranges...)
IMO, a company like Peavey and Ibanez make great products, but they don't make anything that I've seen as a signature. I know that's a gross generalization, but the products feel more like variations of other signature sounds.
IMO, a company like Peavey and Ibanez make great products, but they don't make anything that I've seen as a signature. I know that's a gross generalization, but the products feel more like variations of other signature sounds.
Spector are a very well known,renowned builder of both basses & guitars & have been since about 1980.They have factories in the USA,Europe & Asia.Not to sound harsh but just coz you havent lived long enough or have been playing that long,doesnt mean a company that's new to you isnt well known.It's just not well known to you.
Spector have a very long list of endorsers.Dont just rely on youtube as your source for information.
