Spector Legend 5 Standard Pickups and Preamp suggestions

[libekgz]

I am looking for pickup and preamp suggestions for my New Spector Legend 5 Standard. Came back to bass after 15 years.
My initial thoughts were to go standard with EMG 40DC and BTS or BQC preamp. I asked around in Facebook groups and got only confused now. What tone I enjoyed was the sound from Alejandra Villarreal of The Warning.
I believe she is using DCX, no idea about the preamp.
I am still learning what tone I want to have on my Spector.

 

[libekgz]

I am looking for pickup and preamp suggestions for my New Spector Legend 5 Standard. Came back to bass after 15 years.
My initial thoughts were to go standard with EMG 40DC and BTS or BQC preamp. I asked around in Facebook groups and got only confused now. What tone I enjoyed was the sound from Alejandra Villarreal of The Warning.
I believe she is using DCX, no idea about the preamp.
I am still learning what tone I want to have on my Spector.

I know so many asked about it but still I would really appreciate guidance!

 

[ctmullins]

I’m quite sure that a lot of Ale’s tone comes from her downstream gear, and not the bass itself.

The DC and the CS are rather similar, with the DC having a bit more high-frequency “bite”. And with the solderless connectors, they are very easy to swap if you want to try something different.

Between the BTS and the BQS, the obvious difference is the mid control that the BQS includes. Some people find this indispensable, but I am not one of them. The other choices in your poll also look like good options. And most onboard preamps are fairly neutral, and don’t (shouldn’t) add much “color” to your tone.

My best advice is to get any of those options, spend time practicing and performing, then you’ll have your own ideas about what you like and don’t like!

 

[libekgz]

I’m quite sure that a lot of Ale’s tone comes from her downstream gear, and not the bass itself.

The DC and the CS are rather similar, with the DC having a bit more high-frequency “bite”. And with the solderless connectors, they are very easy to swap if you want to try something different.

Between the BTS and the BQS, the obvious difference is the mid control that the BQS includes. Some people find this indispensable, but I am not one of them. The other choices in your poll also look like good options. And most onboard preamps are fairly neutral, and don’t (shouldn’t) add much “color” to your tone.

My best advice is to get any of those options, spend time practicing and performing, then you’ll have your own ideas about what you like and don’t like!

Thank you so much! What do you think of trying LHZ instead of BTS?

 

[ctmullins]

Thank you so much! What do you think of trying LHZ instead of BTS?

No idea. Didn't even know they existed! Lots of people seem to like the HAZ though; maybe someone else with experience will drop in....

 

[libekgz]

No idea. Didn't even know they existed! Lots of people seem to like the HAZ though; maybe someone else with experience will drop in....

LHZ is a HAZ clone from LHZpreamps.com – HazLabs clone preamps for Spector basses