Spector Legend Series

[songwriter21]

I'm sure you've already made up your mind by now, but if you haven't, then there is one bass that you still NEED to try. I'm guessing you are a 4-stringer, and not 5 or 6? THE ABSOLUTE BEST BASS OUT THERE FOR THE MONEY IS FENDER'S JAZZ 24. But, don't buy one at Guitar Center-they don't really take good care of there stuff, even if it is new.

This is, singlehandedly, the most responsive and vicious sounding 4-string on the market. It's such a no-brainer, too, considering the $600 you MIGHT pay for a new one, if not less. I can't believe this gem hasn't gained as much praise as it should've already. I've had a Modulus Q5, and this thing beats it-especially with some LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels on my baby. Try one-they're fantastic.

 

[Tristan]

I have to admit I've never played any spector but I would watch out for EMG-HZs

what do you mean by watch out? will they crap out on me, a tonality issue, both??

I dont know of reliability issues but they're just not great pups. "Watch out" might have been a bit heavy-handed

 

[mrpackerguy]

I just bought a Legend 5 here from the GFS to get me through until my Stingray 5 comes in December. This is the Legend with the soap bar bridge pickup and the J style neck pickup with the active 3 band preamp.

My experience is a little different - I was pleasantly surprised.

First, it looks nice. Not super fabulous. Not crappy. Nice. I cured most of the low output by raising the pickups; they were too low. Also the bridge adjusted pretty well to my string height preference. The neck has not needed adjustment.

Admittedly, the preamp is not all that great, maybe due to the EMG pickups. My Kern preamp was able to tame it, though. There is a real fine line from thin-trebly to boomy. However, after playing around with it for a while and with plenty of mids from the Legend's preamp, and my Kern...problem solved.

It's got a very comfortable neck. And the 35" scale gives a great low B which is real tight and defined. String spacing is very comfortable for my smaller hands. Tuners are rock solid. Neck is solid. All in all, a very good buy and has a nice feel, not at all a cheap feel. I might even hang on to it after my Sting Ray comes.

 

[Mr-Bassman]

I'll ditto a lot of mrpacks comments. I also have a 2005 legend 5 with the j/soap pups and 3 band preamp. I believe they went to a 2band tonepump eq and changed pickups on the new legends, not sure how much the sound has changed. It's bright on it's own but really cuts in a live band setting. DR lowriders really took a lot of clank out of it for me. It's still a really bright hi-fi instument. I have a Washburn that has a really warm and dark sound. night and day between these 2 basses but nice to have the varied choice of weapons.

 

[Yell03SpecV]

I would like to offer you some input baout the Legend AND the ReBop, being an owner of both. I have an early 2006 Legend 4, which has the P/J and EMG preamp, and a Mid-2006 ReBop with the TonePump, and EMG-HZ soaps.

I'll list a few pros and cons for you.
Legend Pro -- Awesome slap tone
Legend Con -- If you like to scoop the mids out, you better have a reasonably good EQ.

ReBop Pro -- Sustain equal to the Euro LXs I have played
ReBop Con -- Control cavity cover still a bitch to remove and replace in a hurry. Spector take note.

Legend Pro -- 400 dollars.
Legend Con -- Needed setup, factory action was extremely high
Legend Pro -- Plays as good as a top-dollar Ibanez/Fender after setup

ReBop Pro -- Excellent fret edge finishing
ReBop Con -- Crappy Volume/EQ knobs.
ReBop Pro -- Offers an amazing array of tonal variance.
ReBop Pro -- Everything else, including the ridiculously low price tag.

Legend Con -- Seemingly laggy tuners
Legend Pro -- P pickups have awesome low freq. reproduction.
Legend Con -- Fret edge finishing could have been better.

Both Pro -- Excellent factory support on ANY issue, whatsoever. PJ Rubal has personally replied to my emails and/or called me within 14 hours each time, and usually just for quick questions.
Both Con -- Your guitarist constantly wants to try playing them. Keep stun gun handy.

Overall, the ReBop is the way to go if you have the money. I could yammer on and on about how I love both, but the above is what I could pull off the top of my head for now.

Good luck!

 

[yellofury]

I'll ditto a lot of mrpacks comments. I also have a 2005 legend 5 with the j/soap pups and 3 band preamp. I believe they went to a 2band tonepump eq and changed pickups on the new legends, not sure how much the sound has changed. It's bright on it's own but really cuts in a live band setting. DR lowriders really took a lot of clank out of it for me. It's still a really bright hi-fi instument. I have a Washburn that has a really warm and dark sound. night and day between these 2 basses but nice to have the varied choice of weapons.

new Legends have dual soapbars and all black hardware
active tonepump jr preamp
and
the controls are bridge volume. neck volume,bass, and treble

seems they took out the midrange control and the stacked bass/treble for some reason

 

[Warpeg]

When I received my Legend 4, the Hz pickups and preamp were horrifying. They were noisey, clanky-sounding, and low-output. I slapped in a set of P/J EMG's (active) and the BQC preamp. It is now an amazing tone machine. For those of you that have this model, it's worth looking into upgrading from the factory electronics!

 

[Bloodfist]

I gotta agree with the pick ups being crap. I have a Legend 4 bubinga top, and a Rebop. The legend 4's volume is so dramaticaly low compared to the rebop that I only use it as a back up bass now. I'm switching out the pups soon though, other than that it's a great bass.