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Spector, Schecter, and Squire predicament

C

Colty

Mar 6, 2011
33
0
Logan, Utah
www.facebook.com
#1
I currently own a Schecter Stiletto Studio-5 and I'm fairly satisfied with it but if I keep it I'll want to replace both the pickups and electronics because they just don't do it for me. I figure by replacing with mid-high quality electronics I'll be spending $200-400. Over time this isn't an issue but as a starving college student money can definitely be an issue. Another issue with this choice is that I'm beginning to get fed up with the string spacing, and what I think is a lack of midrange. Originally I enjoyed but as I've been progressing I'm starting to notice it's holding me back. Putting a couple hundred into a bass I don't like the feel of isn't high on my list...

Another option I've come across is a Spector Legend 5 Classic in my local craiglist. I've played a couple low end Spectors (I can't remember the model) and they have all sounded pretty good to me and have been very playable. The guy selling it has it listed at $230 but said he is flexible because of the crack and how badly he needs money, which brings me to the next point, the crack. He made the crack sound as though it would be small but sent a picture and its pretty huge (as shown in the picture). Does this crack look it will be a structural problem or just and issue with the finish or something? I would possibly put a new preamp and pickups in this too, but if the cracks going to be an issue I don't want to spend a bunch in electronics. Also if I bought this I could try the SSD's and see if they give me a bit more mids in my Schecter.

GEDC1553-1.gif


My other option is selling my Schecter to get a Squier. I originally thought pretty lowly of this brand but after joining this forum and trying some Squiers that I hadn't tried in years, I became a fan of Squier. I would plan on buying the Deluxe Active V, and modding it in the future as needed.

I will try all of these basses out in person, but If you were in my situation would you keep the Schecter and modify it later, buy the Spector regardless of crack, or start over new with the Squier and modify it later?

Thanks,
Colty
 
#5
A Spector OUGHT to cost a lot more than what that guy is asking. He is asking a low price because he knows it's a messed-up bass. I would steer clear.

In fact, if you're open to getting a Squier, forget Craigslist entirely. Modern era Squiers are great... if you bought a Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified, it would last you the whole way through college, no problem. If a Deluxe Active V is that good, then you're golden. I would forget this damaged thing from CL and go try out some Squiers live and in person. You might like one so much that you make it your main bass and put off your Schecter mods until later when you have more money. (Whether or not you should sell the Schecter is personal and I can't decide that for you... unless you HAVE to have the money you'd get by selling it, I'd say hang onto it just in case you feel like playing it down the road.)
 
#6
So i started leaning towards the squier or just keeping the schecter for now and then i came home and he said he'd sell the spector for $100. My cousin is on his way to becoming a luthier so I'm going to send him the body to see what he thinks of the damages, and if they are too bad to fix then I'm going to have him build me a new body.

Worst case scenario i can try the SSD's in my schecter i suppose.

thank you for the responses
 
#7
Dude, I wouldn't even consider buying that bass with the crack in it. Get a Squire. Many TB'ers are happying with their Squires. I checked out a Suqire today at BestBuy and it had very nice, smooth fit and finish. All the frets were smooth and even, it felt very comfortable. Looks really nice too!

Anyway, out of the choices you listed, I get a Squire (a new one) and walk away from that crazy cracked bass.
 
#9
He came down in price AGAIN? He knows he's selling something that anybody would send back if they got it in the mail. I hope your cousin knows his stuff... otherwise, you'll be out a hundy and you'll feel foolish. I personally have no clue how to fix such a problem.

Anyway, good luck :) If you wind up with a player on your hands, it'll be awesome.
 
#10
nocontrols said:
A Spector OUGHT to cost a lot more than what that guy is asking. He is asking a low price because he knows it's a messed-up bass. I would steer clear.

In fact, if you're open to getting a Squier, forget Craigslist entirely. Modern era Squiers are great... if you bought a Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified, it would last you the whole way through college, no problem. If a Deluxe Active V is that good, then you're golden. I would forget this damaged thing from CL and go try out some Squiers live and in person. You might like one so much that you make it your main bass and put off your Schecter mods until later when you have more money. (Whether or not you should sell the Schecter is personal and I can't decide that for you... unless you HAVE to have the money you'd get by selling it, I'd say hang onto it just in case you feel like playing it down the road.)
Click to expand...

That is a reasonable price for a Spector Legend, they are the imported models previously made in Indonesia and Korea.

I would take the Squier of the 3.
 
#11
That Spector looks to have been dropped from a decent height. It might be worth the $100 you'd spend to get it though. Like you said, at the very least the electronics are worth at least that much. If you want to go the fast route, get a new Squire. If you want a project, get the Spector and do the swap with the Schecter innards. BTW, I have the same Schecter and I have plenty of mid-range. Then again, I've heard that many people just don't like the EMG/HZ pups in them. What kind of amp/effects (if any) are you using?
 
#14
I have the same Studio 5 and I don't like the tone either. In my case it sounds too midrangey in an offensive way. The bass eq gets too boomy when turned up and the treble is extremely high freq and doesn't have much effect.
I have an Aguilar OPB3 on the way and I want to get some SGD pups too but I'll wait to see what the OPB sounds like.

I found that playing with the setup has a major effect on the sound. Mine was set up badly in the factory. I just did some more tweaking last night and it's almost sounding passable now (I also fixed a buzz in my quad that I thought was the bass) but the upgrade is on the way.
 
#15
alec said:
I have the same Studio 5 and I don't like the tone either. In my case it sounds too midrangey in an offensive way. The bass eq gets too boomy when turned up and the treble is extremely high freq and doesn't have much effect.
I have an Aguilar OPB3 on the way and I want to get some SGD pups too but I'll wait to see what the OPB sounds like.

I found that playing with the setup has a major effect on the sound. Mine was set up badly in the factory. I just did some more tweaking last night and it's almost sounding passable now (I also fixed a buzz in my quad that I thought was the bass) but the upgrade is on the way.
Click to expand...

yeah I'm not sure the problem for me is actually too few mids but it might be the overbearing boomyness I've been getting lately now that I got a mesa m6 carbine (loving it)

almightycrunch said:
Hell $100.00 bucks? I have half a mind to buy it just to have the template to build a replacement body for it out of a nice chunk to wood????????
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Yeah I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy it as soon as my B200 sells and if the neck is as bad as it looks I'm going to have him build me a new body. Even if that gets screwed up I'm at least giving my cousin some practice/business.

JC Dillon said:
That Spector looks to have been dropped from a decent height. It might be worth the $100 you'd spend to get it though. Like you said, at the very least the electronics are worth at least that much. If you want to go the fast route, get a new Squire. If you want a project, get the Spector and do the swap with the Schecter innards. BTW, I have the same Schecter and I have plenty of mid-range. Then again, I've heard that many people just don't like the EMG/HZ pups in them. What kind of amp/effects (if any) are you using?
Click to expand...

Yeah I wouldnt doubt a huge drop. I've never actually seen that bad of a crack until this haha. I'm not in a terrible hurry so I'll probably hassle with the Spector, but if that goes south I'm well on my way to the modified Squire niche group haha. I currently run through a pitchblack, boss cmb-3, big muff pi, steel leather, and lmb-3 through the mesa m6 2x12 combo.

nocontrols said:
He came down in price AGAIN? He knows he's selling something that anybody would send back if they got it in the mail. I hope your cousin knows his stuff... otherwise, you'll be out a hundy and you'll feel foolish. I personally have no clue how to fix such a problem.

Anyway, good luck :) If you wind up with a player on your hands, it'll be awesome.
Click to expand...

Oddly enough I started watching this bass a couple months back and it had origionally been listed for 450. Yeah if i didnt know him I'd probably just through some epoxy overtop of the crack and play it til it breaks beyond repair (if it's not already there), but I dont know much about luthier business either. I'm pretty excited to see how it turns out

totallyfrozen said:
Dude, I wouldn't even consider buying that bass with the crack in it. Get a Squire. Many TB'ers are happying with their Squires. I checked out a Suqire today at BestBuy and it had very nice, smooth fit and finish. All the frets were smooth and even, it felt very comfortable. Looks really nice too!

Anyway, out of the choices you listed, I get a Squier (a new one) and walk away from that crazy cracked bass.
Click to expand...

Haha that's definitely crossed my mind and a very fair opinion. The squires definitely my plan if/when the Spector situation fails. I'm hoping that my local shop gets the squier in that i'm looking at but its probably not that likely unless i put money down on it. Maybe if i wait long enough squier will put out a vintage reissue 5 string edition.... I can only hope haha
 
#16
Theres a new twist to my predicament... I'm about to have enough money to pull the trigger on the spector, then I checked my classifieds and theres another $100 bass. This one is an OLP MM3. This seems like a decent option for a cheap bass to modify, but how do they hold up? Are there any red flags regarding this bass?

I'm hoping to make a trip to try out all these options but I can never get too many opinions.
 
#20
I doubt that's anything more than a crack in the finish. it goes right through the wing joint. If it was a structural issue, the wing joint would have come apart. For $100, I'd be all over it if that's the only issue.
 

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