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Spector Club - Part 14

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#121
chrisloe said:
Okay guys, in your opinions, what are the amps I have to hear my Spector through before I decide to get one?

I know what I have in mind, what I would like, but I am interested to hear what kind of amps you guys think our Spector's sound the best through....

And Discuss...
Click to expand...

Oooh. This might be all over the place with suggestions, LOL!

Try some 'old school' - like Ampeg
Something 'rockier' like GK
Something modern like Genz Benz, EBS or Carvin
Something modern with a nod to old school tube, like TC Electronic.

Despite all the flak about TC Electronics wattage fiasco - personally, it brings out the 'beast' in my Spectors better than my Carvin or my friend's Ampeg. I really, really like Genz Benz - you can get a 'pure' Spector sound - the amp can really be transparent.
 
#123
You know, I've never played through a Mesa... I'm wondering if it's too late to try one out, since I'm all about portability with my TC RH450.

Next month I'll be playing at a casino and the backline is an Ampeg (not sure what) with an 8x10. WOOOOO!
 
#125
stjohn1299 said:
I look at the brass wearing as a badge of honor, and that that bass is spending some times in your hands, where it belongs. I preface that to say an instrument should be played, not displayed. That holds true even if I had a USA NS2. That said, I prefer the look of the brass-it just looks classier.
Click to expand...

+1000!!

If you "relic" your bridge by playing on it, that is very cool.

I wish I had the money to be a collector of fine basses, but I don't, I am a player, and want to be a player. Nothing against collectors at all, Like I said, wish I could be one.

I love going online and drooling over people' s collections, but there is something about a bass that has been played that is really cool. There is something about wearing down part of a bass yourself that is cool. I HATE those reliced guitars and basses that come pre-worn in.

I mean Patrick, just think, you loved and played your bass so much you wore down BRASS! I think that is cool for what it's worth and look forward to a day when I wear down parts of my bass because think of the hours I put into doing it!

It's like when my Dad goes to car shows with his 1950 Mercury (Pic) he believes cars are meant to be driven, so after he usually wins every award there is, he gets in his car and drives past all the people putting their cars into trailers to be hauled back home to be put into storage until the next car show and drives his car home. Cool IMO.
 

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#126
grendle said:
Ampeg.

A match made in heaven. Its almost like the mid selector was designed around a Spector imo. Sounds crazy good.
Click to expand...

I had an Ampeg with my Spectors back in "The Day". SVT with 2 8-10's, and yes, unbelievable sound. Probably on the top of my list, but being older with a worse back....

I know that is a little girl reason for not going Ampeg, I am still going to check them out, just want to see if there is anyway to get something close to that sound, just lighter and more convenient.
 
#127
chrisloe said:
Okay guys, in your opinions, what are the amps I have to hear my Spector through before I decide to get one?

I know what I have in mind, what I would like, but I am interested to hear what kind of amps you guys think our Spector's sound the best through....

And Discuss...
Click to expand...

I've played my Euro 5 LX with TonePump and EMG 40DCs through:
1) SWR Redhead 2x10 combo
2) Eden WT550 head + Eden D410XLT cab
3) Genz Benz Streamliner 6 + Eden D410XLT cab
4) Dual amped with the SWR sittin' on top of the Eden rig.

The Spector sounds amazing through a tube masterpiece like the Eden.
I don't think you could go wrong with any of the top-notch tube heads nowadays.
Eden, Mesa-Boogie, Trace Elliot, Ampeg,...

The Streamliner is not bad, but not great. For me it makes a good 6 pound backup amp in case my Eden blows up (it's one of the newer Chinese ones, and has already fried once). It may be that the lightweight class-D power amps just don't sound right to my ear. I don't know, I never played enough of them to say for sure.

SWR Redhead does a good job with mids and highs and makes a good pair with the Eden rig but with only the 2x10s in the combo it can't really put out any kind of sound pressure in the low frequencies without risking the speakers.
It makes a good stack with the Eden handling the lows.

I'd try a Thunderfunk if I had the chance.

Bottom line is, it's a Spector. It will make any amp sound better than any other bass can :)
 
#128
chrisloe said:
Okay guys, in your opinions, what are the amps I have to hear my Spector through before I decide to get one?

I know what I have in mind, what I would like, but I am interested to hear what kind of amps you guys think our Spector's sound the best through....

And Discuss...
Click to expand...

I say go for the Alex Webster rig and try an SWR Megoliath with a SM1500 head :) A local shop by me, Russo's Music Center has both of these out on display so I need to bring my Euro and try them out and see how they sound. Hell, maybe they will even make me sound good :D I do hear good things about the Goliath series though and I was thinking about picking up a used Goliath 4x10 for use at home.
 
#129
chrisloe said:
Okay guys, in your opinions, what are the amps I have to hear my Spector through before I decide to get one?

I know what I have in mind, what I would like, but I am interested to hear what kind of amps you guys think our Spector's sound the best through....

And Discuss...
Click to expand...
Right now, my main setup is a Euro 4 thru a Mesa Bass 400+ into a Mesa Powerhouse 1000 (410 and 15 in one cab). It's a huge sound, but it's not hi fi. It's an old school hard rock sound. The amp can sound incredibly hi fi though. This is not the most portable rig on the planet, but I've done that route, and believe my tone rests in the older style equipment. Another note is the 400+ ONLY has 12 power tubes, lol.

I've also played the same Euro 4 thru an Ampeg SVT 4 Pro with an Eden 410 XLT. This was a great tone, albeit a higher fidelity one. The 4 was great, but doesn't quite have that Ampeg tone that you hear talked about. It is close though. The Eden cab was great, but I think the saying here is they don't build them like they used to.

Lastly, I've also played the Euro 4 thru a Genz Benz Shuttle 9, and a mix of different Avatar cabs (212 + 210, 410 +210, and lastly 410 +212). If you want clear, hi fi tone, something along this route is a good way to go. What this rig won't do is give you enough volume to sit where you want in a mix with a bashing drummer and two loud guitar amps. It will distort on you, and not in a good way. If you want lower volume, warm, but chrstalline type tone, it's a good setup. The 410 and the Shuttle 9 are now my practice setup.

That all being said, I guess, in my own tone travels, I found the light-weight, portable rig just did not deliver what I wanted to hear. It sounds good, don't get me wrong, but it just didn't wow me. As much as I am a drink-the-kool-aid Spector fanboy, I am equally a Mesa Bass amp and cab fanboy. Their cabs are build great and sound phenomenal...I have also heard a 410 and 610 live. I've only played or heard the Bass 400+, but, if I can keep it running, it is the sound in my head. Their other amps have great reputations as well.
 
#130
peledog said:
You know, I've never played through a Mesa... I'm wondering if it's too late to try one out, since I'm all about portability with my TC RH450.

Next month I'll be playing at a casino and the backline is an Ampeg (not sure what) with an 8x10. WOOOOO!
Click to expand...

Be careful...you may not go back! If I had the cash, I'd splurge on Mesa or Aguilar! :)

chrisloe said:
+1000!!
If you "relic" your bridge by playing on it, that is very cool.
Click to expand...

I love this video. It's not of a Spector much less a bass but it's about Steve Morse' primary guitar and hot it looks after playing it over the years.

In the video he says: "I gotta be able to play the gig, or else my guitar is useless to me." Couldn't agree more Steve.

SMMM.gif
 
#131
chrisloe said:
+1000!!

If you "relic" your bridge by playing on it, that is very cool.

I wish I had the money to be a collector of fine basses, but I don't, I am a player, and want to be a player. Nothing against collectors at all, Like I said, wish I could be one.

I love going online and drooling over people' s collections, but there is something about a bass that has been played that is really cool. There is something about wearing down part of a bass yourself that is cool. I HATE those reliced guitars and basses that come pre-worn in.

I mean Patrick, just think, you loved and played your bass so much you wore down BRASS! I think that is cool for what it's worth and look forward to a day when I wear down parts of my bass because think of the hours I put into doing it!

It's like when my Dad goes to car shows with his 1950 Mercury (Pic) he believes cars are meant to be driven, so after he usually wins every award there is, he gets in his car and drives past all the people putting their cars into trailers to be hauled back home to be put into storage until the next car show and drives his car home. Cool IMO.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more. I don't let grime or anything like that accumulate; I wipe down my bass every time and keep it clean. When I'm wiping it down, I get a smile on my face seeing that slight patina forming on the bridge, because it reminds me that me AND that bass have earned it, lol.

And the thought of a road-worn bass bought from the factory that way has never jived with me, although I know why they do at the custom shop level, but still wouldn't get one.

One wear pattern I don't want to see anytime soon is fret wear!
 
#132
chrisloe said:
I had an Ampeg with my Spectors back in "The Day". SVT with 2 8-10's, and yes, unbelievable sound. Probably on the top of my list, but being older with a worse back....

I know that is a little girl reason for not going Ampeg, I am still going to check them out, just want to see if there is anyway to get something close to that sound, just lighter and more convenient.
Click to expand...

Reading about your back here made me put an asterick on my Bass 400+ recommendation: it's heavy!

Mesa's other larger watt amps sound good in videos and get a lot of praise from the 400+ users who have both. These would be the Titan (discontinued I believe), Carbine 9, Carbine 6, and Big Block 750.
 
#133
madbassplaya said:
Be careful...you may not go back! If I had the cash, I'd splurge on Mesa or Aguilar! :)



I love this video. It's not of a Spector much less a bass but it's about Steve Morse' primary guitar and hot it looks after playing it over the years.

In the video he says: "I gotta be able to play the gig, or else my guitar is useless to me." Couldn't agree more Steve.

SMMM.gif
Click to expand...

I forgot about Aguilar! The Tonehammer amp just came out recently, been dying to try one.

Steve Morse is bad ass. I like a lot of Dixie Dregs stuff.
 
#135
stjohn1299 said:
Right now, my main setup is a Euro 4 thru a Mesa Bass 400+ into a Mesa Powerhouse 1000 (410 and 15 in one cab). It's a huge sound, but it's not hi fi. It's an old school hard rock sound. The amp can sound incredibly hi fi though. This is not the most portable rig on the planet, but I've done that route, and believe my tone rests in the older style equipment. Another note is the 400+ ONLY has 12 power tubes, lol.

I've also played the same Euro 4 thru an Ampeg SVT 4 Pro with an Eden 410 XLT. This was a great tone, albeit a higher fidelity one. The 4 was great, but doesn't quite have that Ampeg tone that you hear talked about. It is close though. The Eden cab was great, but I think the saying here is they don't build them like they used to.

Lastly, I've also played the Euro 4 thru a Genz Benz Shuttle 9, and a mix of different Avatar cabs (212 + 210, 410 +210, and lastly 410 +212). If you want clear, hi fi tone, something along this route is a good way to go. What this rig won't do is give you enough volume to sit where you want in a mix with a bashing drummer and two loud guitar amps. It will distort on you, and not in a good way. If you want lower volume, warm, but chrstalline type tone, it's a good setup. The 410 and the Shuttle 9 are now my practice setup.

That all being said, I guess, in my own tone travels, I found the light-weight, portable rig just did not deliver what I wanted to hear. It sounds good, don't get me wrong, but it just didn't wow me. As much as I am a drink-the-kool-aid Spector fanboy, I am equally a Mesa Bass amp and cab fanboy. Their cabs are build great and sound phenomenal...I have also heard a 410 and 610 live. I've only played or heard the Bass 400+, but, if I can keep it running, it is the sound in my head. Their other amps have great reputations as well.
Click to expand...

That's the thing, you know, until you own and use a great amp you don't know what you're missing. It's really not enough just to try it in the store. Until you play it with your band, you don't really know what it will sound like.
 
#136
Rockin Mike said:
That's the thing, you know, until you own and use a great amp you don't know what you're missing. It's really not enough just to try it in the store. Until you play it with your band, you don't really know what it will sound like.
Click to expand...

That's a great point. When I got the Genz and the different Avatar's, I tried them at home and got them dialed in. I couldn't wait to hear them with the band. At band practice, I had to push it a bit more, but it still sounded ok. When it came to how it sounded in a live setting with a band, it just didn't carry like I thought and hoped it would.

With the Mesa stuff, I was able to get a good home sound out of it too. Live, it killed. It was awesome. Point is, is it is much easier to get a good sound at home or in a store, but it's another thing all together playing live.
 
#140
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