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Spector or Warwick

#41
namraj said:
but warwicks and spectors wood vary, in fact the thred started with the possiblity of a maple warwick or a zebreano spector, both are availible wood on the other manufactures, and the maple warwicks are very bright, and the mids just cut through like knife through hot butter etc...
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The zebrano Spector is just a fancy laminate top and its mostly there for looks. Under the hood, its the same as other Euro Spectors. The Zebrano top has a minimal, if any, effect on tone.

And, I am not saying that Warwicks don't cut through a mix, they do. I actually love the sound of Warwicks in other people's hands. But, whenever I play one, they always have too much muddy low end and even when I cut the lows, they have a dark tonality that I can't get rid of. Streamers, Thumbs, 'Vettes...all of them. I don't know if its the body wood, or the MECs, but its probably a combination of many factors. The only exception is the passive, ash-bodied Corvettes I've played were nice.

You are obviously a Warwick fan, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, they aren't perfect and they aren't for everyone. I've tried to like several with no success. Every Spector I've played in the Euro line sounded great to me. But, they both have distinct tonality that belongs to them. Spectors sound like Spectors and Warwicks sound like Warwicks IMO. Even if they are made of the same body wood, they still sound very different IMO.
 
#42
The_Owl said:
- Do you worship the ground your luthier walks on?
- Are you a Nashville or NYC session bassist?
- Do you constantly point out that "Leo got it right the first time, but Roger improved it"?
- Do you play modern country?
- Do you go to church every Sunday?
- Are you 40+ years old?
- Do you use "hi-fi" as a negative term?
- Can you not play slap without a pickguard?
- Do you have a mullet, cowboy hat, or a crazy teenage haircut despite being +40?

If you can answer Yes to any of those questions, you should probably get a Sadowsky.

SEE HOW SILLY AND UNNECESSARY THIS IS?!
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+100
 
#43
First of all, let me say that I used to have a Spector Euro LX and I have several different Warwicks currently.

Here's my 2 cents: I prefer Warwicks. I think they're made better and sound better. Anyone who thinks a Spector can cut through a mix better than a 'Wick is insane unless you're definition of cutting is by using a lot of high-end, treble bite. If you're talking cutting through the use of growly midrange, Warwick wins hands down. Most 'Wicks and the Euros have a similar feel (long thicker-than-Fender necks). They're both great basses but also very, very different in the tone department.

Also, IMO, nothing in the Spector line compares to the quality of Warwicks until you get into the Euro LX series, including Rebops.
 
#44
my 1 cent(newbie with no talent so my opinion is devalued)?
sting played a beautiful pearl white 4 string spector in the early years.
rhonda whats her name played a warwick (corvette i think) for prince.
had the opportunity to buy it, paralysis through analysis.
which sound do you like?
i have a korean spector 5 i like the low and mid but not the high. might just be strings.
the only thing that sounded better ( after 5 months of going to shops and trying basses. nobody had warwicks to play)
was a pedulla 5 string that was $3500
 
#46
The_Owl said:
- Do you worship the ground your luthier walks on?
- Are you a Nashville or NYC session bassist?
- Do you constantly point out that "Leo got it right the first time, but Roger improved it"?
- Do you play modern country?
- Do you go to church every Sunday?
- Are you 40+ years old?
- Do you use "hi-fi" as a negative term?
- Can you not play slap without a pickguard?
- Do you have a mullet, cowboy hat, or a crazy teenage haircut despite being +40?

If you can answer Yes to any of those questions, you should probably get a Sadowsky.

SEE HOW SILLY AND UNNECESSARY THIS IS?!

Oh, and to add something to the topic, I like both Spectors and Warwicks (obviously), but I find Spectors too harsh in the treble for my taste.

Both sound very distinctive and unique, but I prefer the beefier (to me) low end of Warwicks. And I have big hands, so their necks are perfect for me.
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- Are you a Nashville or NYC session bassist? No, I'm an Ohio gigging bassist.
- Do you constantly point out that "Leo got it right the first time, but Roger improved it"? Well, I've never said that, but come to think of it, it's pretty true
- Do you play modern country? Nope, mostly classic rock
- Do you go to church every Sunday? I should, but I don't
- Are you 40+ years old? Yeah, 43
- Do you use "hi-fi" as a negative term? Definitely
- Can you not play slap without a pickguard? I can't slap with a pickguard either
- Do you have a mullet, cowboy hat, or a crazy teenage haircut despite being +40? No mullet, no cowboy hat, no crazy teenage haircut. I just have the standard old dago 'fro.

Nice try, but mine was actually much funnier, and much more true. Lighten up Francis, I was just joking.
 
#47
I'm in love with the Warwick $$, which is very midrangy and could definitely cut through the mix if thats what you're looking for. Maybe it's the pickups/electronics, because I haven't played too many 'vette STD's.

I've played some Spectors and they didn't do it for me. If anything, THEY'RE the cold, sterile sounding bass when put next to the warm growl of a Warwick (especially a Thumb). Granted, the MEC pickups aren't anything great, but if you bought the 'wick and threw some active EMG's in there you'd have one hell of a bass.
 
#48
namraj said:
-How does the build quality differ between the two?
warwicks are built like tanks, but prettier
-How does the spector play versus the warwick (which was poorly set up when I played it).
Warwicks have amazing necks every one of them, spectors feel flat to me
-What are the tonal differences?
both will cut through the mix, but warwicks do everything just with alittle EQ tweeking
-How do the MEC pickups compare to the EMG HZ's?
MEC's sound good, and are realiable, EMG's are boring
-I've heard about neck dive in the warwick thumbs, how do these models fair?
Deffently no neck dive on a vette or streamer, and the thumb dive is corrected by a good strap
-Which would better suit the style of my band? (the link's in my sig) - why not get a maple streamer, its like a compramise between a vette and a spector, and off ebay you could pick one up for a similar price.
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+1!

I agree with everything here except maybe that Warwicks can do anything with EQ. It's true they can get pretty darn close but they always seem to have that distinctive warwick growl. Yeah, you can get a jazz tone...with growl; P tone...with growl; MM tone (pretty close)...WITH GROWL. Not a bad thing, I love the Warwick growl, but it can't do everything perfectly. I don't think any bass can.

Yeah, EMG's are great and all but the MEC's just bring out something in Warwicks. I'd probably stick with the MEC's in the 'Wick. With EMG's all you're hearing is the EMG+preamp tone and not the bass itself.
 
#49
Boy, I didn't know my question would lead to cyber fisticuffs :hiding:

I'm still on the fence about this. I thought I was settled on the Spector but I still have the Warwick in the back of my mind. I think theres only one way to settle this. I'm getting one of these.

Invalid Link Removed

But seriously, can I go wrong either way? I have a Squier VM Jazz right now so either way, I'm going to be taking a huge step up in quality. I just want the bass I get to be a reliable workhorse that is easy to play and has a nice full tone that doesn't get lost in the mix.
 
#51
Awesome! Pink basses rule.

OK, my actual serious opinion is, that I'd go with the Spector. I won't list the reasons I don't like Warwicks (which have nothing to do with nu metal), because someone will get their panties all imbedded in their butt crack, but I prefer the sound, feel, look, and tone of the Spector. Just my opinion.
 
#52
reverb508 said:
Boy, I didn't know my question would lead to cyber fisticuffs :hiding:

I'm still on the fence about this. I thought I was settled on the Spector but I still have the Warwick in the back of my mind. I think theres only one way to settle this. I'm getting one of these.

Invalid Link Removed

But seriously, can I go wrong either way? I have a Squier VM Jazz right now so either way, I'm going to be taking a huge step up in quality. I just want the bass I get to be a reliable workhorse that is easy to play and has a nice full tone that doesn't get lost in the mix.
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Choose based on looks, if you can't decide on anything else. Do you want the fancy schmancy high gloss look of the Spector, or the more natural, raw, but less flashy look of the Warwick?
 
#53
namraj said:
also nu metal warwick? ha, warwicks are the most versitile basses i've ever played, just cos theyre played in nu metal dusnt meen that they are nu metal basses. Cos u no that jack bruce his nu metal is bangin' o and that jonas helbourg, damn! lol, i have a friend hoo wont let me record on his tracks with my warwick cos it sounds "too jazzy", but i find i can get pretty much any sound i want out of it.
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Jonas Hellborg's bass is miles away from everything else that Warwick build. It's price tag is also exorbitant. Apologies for my late reply though, I was too busy laughing at your attempt at typing coherently.
 
#55
Never had that problem. The body seams where the 3 pieces of body wood are laminated are starting to show on my 'vette but that's just because of the less-humid atmosphere here. In the summer it's all good. Warwicks are built like tanks.
 
#57
cheezewiz said:
Do you have full sleeve tats?
Do you have a beard that you braid?
Do you wear shorts that reach half way between your knee and ankle?
Do you rarely shower?
Do you have a tough nickname, like "Meat", or "Fang"?
Does your singer sound like the Cookie Monster?
Do you overuse the word "growl"?


If you can answer no to any of these, then you want the Spector, not the Warwick. If you answer yes to all questions, then get the Warwick.
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hahahaha!!!
I would add - do you wear your bass bellow your genital area and play with the pick and through some OD pedal?
 
#58
FOr what I hear A Streamer is the deal... The corvettes, thumbs... all are different creature that the streamers. I have a (* LX and it willl cut through any mix. and it is damn pretty. the prettest bass I have ever seen or played. Got a credit card that day just to be with her. it's wood that will determine the sound... Bubinga, maple, wenge... Know what wood you want these are "Wood" basses. Similar necks I believe. But in the end your going to chose between right and right. I would see if $280 bucks would get me a VM Squire Fretless Jazz on the side. Every bassest should own a fretless and these are too much good for the buck!!!!
 
#59
Hehe, my advise, get the Streamer :D A spector body with warwick woods and construction! :P Or the Rebop with the zebrawood nat.oil finish which looks like a "wooden" warwick but is a spector.

None of these brands will let u down imo, so choose smth u like visually. Keep in mind that high gloss finish needs minimal care while natural oil finish needs waxing etc..
 

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