Spector Euro RST

[Dr. Cheese]

I was at Guitar Center today because someone was kind enough to give me a GC gift certificate. Before I picked up a strap and a cable, I checked this bass. I am a Spector fan and this bass confirmed my pro Spector bias.

 

[scuzzy]

If I was playing long gigs, this would be in my arsenal.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If I was playing long gigs, this would be in my arsenal.

If money were no object, I would own one just because it is a cool bass.

 

[pb9717]

Paulonia/Empresswood. Hard Pass.

Had the RST4 2 summers ago, stupid light, but between the Aguilar electrics and the ultra light body, I could not get a tone I liked from it. Since then I’ve owned other makes/models made from that wood with similar experiences. Also, its a very soft wood and the strap buttons stripped out requiring additional wood be inserted and glued in.

YMMV but after a longer term ownership, you may find it a similar experience, but yes….its very pretty.

 

[Bass Viking]

Sounding good Doc! I have a 4 string RST. It plays great, even better than my Euro CST (and that's saying a lot). Some don't care for the tone. Personally, I like it and my other Spector provides an alternative sonically.

One thing I don't like about the RST is the 2 volumes controls rather than a volume/blend setup. It's a pain in the ass to use! But it is what it is and some people prefer it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Sounding good Doc! I have a 4 string RST. It plays great, even better than my Euro CST (and that's saying a lot). Some don't care for the tone. Personally, I like it and my other Spector provides an alternative sonically.

One thing I don't like about the RST is the 2 volumes controls rather than a volume/blend setup. It's a pain in the ass to use! But it is what it is and some people prefer it.

Spector really sticks to a formula, like Sadowsky and the backwards pots and boost only preamp.

 

[Bass Viking]

I was all set to have my tech install an active/passive switch but then he got out of the business.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I was all set to have my tech install an active/passive switch but then he got out of the business.

I hope you find someone else you trust.

 

[Bass Viking]

I hope you find someone else you trust.

Thanks. I can tackle basic stuff myself e.g. soldering but stuff like fretwork forget it!

 

[Dincrest]

Question (more for curiosity) for anyone who's gigged with that RST bass.

How does that bass balance on a strap when you're standing up?

The idea of a lightweight bass for gigging sounds great (especially these ones, given how good they seem to sound; more robust than you'd expect for a bass with those lightweight woods), but a danger with those is that they kinda neck dive and/or balance too horizontally. (I like my neck to be at around a 45-degree angle while strapped on standing). And on some Spectors I've played, first position feels like a miles-away reach for me (despite having long orangutan arms), so how does it feel on the RSTs?

These basses seem really cool and look very unique, but I don't see many (if any) videos, photos, or anecdotes about how they feel/balanced while standing up, especially on gigs. Most reviews and stuff have players sitting down.

Please and thank you for any info.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Thanks. I can tackle basic stuff myself e.g. soldering but stuff like fretwork forget it!

We’re opposites. I trust myself with minor fretwork over soldering.

 

[VeryTallBassist]

Paulonia/Empresswood. Hard Pass.

Had the RST4 2 summers ago, stupid light, but between the Aguilar electrics and the ultra light body, I could not get a tone I liked from it. Since then I’ve owned other makes/models made from that wood with similar experiences. Also, its a very soft wood and the strap buttons stripped out requiring additional wood be inserted and glued in.

YMMV but after a longer term ownership, you may find it a similar experience, but yes….its very pretty.

View attachment 7531676

I dropped EMG E5Ws and a 3-band LHZ Haz clone in mine and it's fantastic.

 

[joeLowB]

I was at Guitar Center today because someone was kind enough to give me a GC gift certificate. Before I picked up a strap and a cable, I checked this bass. I am a Spector fan and this bass confirmed my pro Spector bias.

I can add no perspective of this bass, Doc, but, man, it's fun listening to you noodle extemporaneously.

Thanks for this treat at the end of a less-than-enjoyable day!

.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I can add no perspective of this bass, Doc, but, man, it's fun listening to you noodle extemporaneously.

Thanks for this treat at the end of a less-than-enjoyable day!

.

I’m happy that you enjoyed the video.

 

[crazycloud]

It sounded (and looked) very good Doc, and it's really the first time I've liked the Aguilar PUs. If I owned it I'd be very tempted to do what @VeryTallBassist did and add some EMGs and an LHZ.

 

[nolenuttt]

Nice noodling, good Doctor…Have a Euro CST incoming….

I was at Guitar Center today because someone was kind enough to give me a GC gift certificate. Before I picked up a strap and a cable, I checked this bass. I am a Spector fan and this bass confirmed my pro Spector bias.

 

[pb9717]

Question (more for curiosity) for anyone who's gigged with that RST bass.

How does that bass balance on a strap when you're standing up?

The idea of a lightweight bass for gigging sounds great (especially these ones, given how good they seem to sound; more robust than you'd expect for a bass with those lightweight woods), but a danger with those is that they kinda neck dive and/or balance too horizontally. (I like my neck to be at around a 45-degree angle while strapped on standing). And on some Spectors I've played, first position feels like a miles-away reach for me (despite having long orangutan arms), so how does it feel on the RSTs?

These basses seem really cool and look very unique, but I don't see many (if any) videos, photos, or anecdotes about how they feel/balanced while standing up, especially on gigs. Most reviews and stuff have players sitting down.

Please and thank you for any info.

I gigged for about 4 months with the RST4 in 2024. No issue with neck dive. Feels great on the strap. But it was a 4 string. The 5 string spector (all NS Style models) is 35” scale with the bridge several inches towards the headstock vs an FSO. This put the nut in the next room. The reach is noticeable, especially for the shorter arm’d. To some it exacerbates the 35” reach making it more uncomfortable than other 35” scale instruments.

 

[Dincrest]

Thanks @pb9717

I felt the same way about a 5-string ReBop I used to have. 35" scale + horizontal balance + the neck jutting out too far to the left made first position feel miles away.

So it's cool to hear that 4-string Spectors fare better in that regard.