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Spector tone

A

Aharon

Jan 23, 2008
128
0
#1
So I love the spector tone, but I think they look ugly as hell and the price tag is a little steep over here in the U.K also.

My resources are an EMG35dc and a BQC preamp kicking around in addition to about £500-900 cash.

I just got rid of my stingray in search for something more aggressive and dirty sounding and spector have caught my ear, but definately not my eye (or my wallet).

Any suggestions for alternatives? That large chunky spector bridge is surely a huge part of that sound.

Aharon
 
#2
i seriously cant wrap my head around how someone can think any spectors are ugly...the rex is the only possibility of that. i think theyre absolutely gorgeous and love mine to death. on that note any how....i guess get a bass that you like the shape of and throw those pickups and pre in there???idk..i mean spectors sound like spectors and theres no changing that fact and most owners will tell you that. i mean you didnt really leave the "question" open for a real answer....if you want the spector tone get a spector. no one says you have to get the usa versions. i think the legends are awesome, thats what i have and wouldnt trade it at all.
 
#4
wow! spectors ugly?

with the parts you've got a schecter stiletto will sound really nice - just packed mine up a couple hours ago (35dc@bridge/35cs@neck/bqs preamp)

looks more angry than a spector, sounds about 85% as pleasing as my NS-2a (which makes it very good, yet not great like a spector)
 
#7
Na....you can jerk that Tone Pump outta there and replace it with just about any preamp...or no preamp for that matter, and its still gonna sound like a Spector...I have Spectors of all different breeds, and regardless if its a tonepump, or an EMG pre, or no pre...they all have THAT sound.
jhopf124 said:
good luck, the tone pump onboard eq is what gives a spector that great sound along with the tone woods. but without that preamp its going to be hard.
Click to expand...
 
#8
I gotta agree with the previous posters- I have 2 Spectors, and I think they look awesome. That being said, to each his own- if you don't like the look, then don't get one. You need a bass that will call you to play it from across the room. However, you absolutely cannot get the spector sound just from the pickups. I would say try something with a P-J configuration- it will give you that dirty sound, and it can be found for less, but won't quite be the same.
 
#9
i am assuming that you are going for a spector euro lx sound where anything with p/j emgs (active) and an alder body might be able to get you close but if you can get that tone pump eq somewhere you can get even closer.
 
#10
I personally think Spector makes some of the nicest looking basses out there. If you've never played one strapped on, IMO you should. I find the design to be very comfortable to play, and I absolutely love the Spector growl.

Watch for a used Czech-made "CRFM" model. They're the forerunner of the Euro Series. My NS4CRFM came with an EMG BTS eq circuit stock.
 
#11
Aharon said:
So I love the spector tone, but I think they look ugly as hell and the price tag is a little steep over here in the U.K also.

My resources are an EMG35dc and a BQC preamp kicking around in addition to about £500-900 cash.

I just got rid of my stingray in search for something more aggressive and dirty sounding and spector have caught my ear, but definately not my eye (or my wallet).

Any suggestions for alternatives? That large chunky spector bridge is surely a huge part of that sound.

Aharon
Click to expand...

You poor git. I just sold my Spector Zebop this month for less than £400. It'll cost you £940 or more to get one new after the recent rise in Spector prices.

You telling me this is ugly?

Link Removed
 
#12
I used to hate the look of warwicks....then I heard one, and bought one. Then I bought a Spector, which I thought was kinda ugly too, but it soon grew on me! They are an odd shape, but that shape is there for a reason, and you won't find a comfier bass.
 
#13
I play two Euro 4LX, a Cherry and an Ultra Amber and I think they're the coolest looking basses in the world.
The first player I noticed using one was probably Sting in the Police and liked the look but preferred his earlier, less processed p-bass/SVT tone better. Then in the early 90's I started seeing them again with Living Colour, Alice In Chains, Pantera ... and was knocked out by that awesome grindy tone (and great look).
I love everything about my Euro 4LX basses and think they look cool as hell.
For basses that sound similar, there's an old 80's Charvel with a PJ setup that sounded similar and growly. I don't know the model or if they had a preamp but I'll bet they did. It's funny, a few notable Spector players (Mike Starr, Rex Brown) used these basses before they switched to Spectors.

Aharon said:
So I love the spector tone, but I think they look ugly as hell and the price tag is a little steep over here in the U.K also.

My resources are an EMG35dc and a BQC preamp kicking around in addition to about £500-900 cash.

I just got rid of my stingray in search for something more aggressive and dirty sounding and spector have caught my ear, but definately not my eye (or my wallet).

Any suggestions for alternatives? That large chunky spector bridge is surely a huge part of that sound.

Aharon
Click to expand...
 
#14
One of my main basses is a Schecter Studio5 with custom Kent Armstrong humbuckers wired Series/Parallel and an Aguilar OBP-3 3-band preamp. Black tuners, mono-string bridges, etc.

It completely nails the Spector/Warwick aggressive punchy vibe. But after being gutted it's essentially an all Mohogany Neckthrough bass with the above parts added. Very very good bones to start with.
 
#15
Aharon said:
So I love the spector tone, but I think they look ugly as hell and the price tag is a little steep over here in the U.K also.

My resources are an EMG35dc and a BQC preamp kicking around in addition to about £500-900 cash.

I just got rid of my stingray in search for something more aggressive and dirty sounding and spector have caught my ear, but definately not my eye (or my wallet).

Any suggestions for alternatives? That large chunky spector bridge is surely a huge part of that sound.

Aharon
Click to expand...

I kinda have the opposite opinion ... I think Spectors are beautiful but I don't really like their sound very much. They seem to sound sterile and lack personality.
 
#16
Ric5 said:
They seem to sound sterile and lack personality.
Click to expand...

:eyebrow: I've owned 3 Spectors and played a few besides the ones I've owned. I've only played 1 Legend and the rest were all Czech made. Every single one of them snarled like an angry pitbull. Loads of growl. I've never had an issue with Spectors lacking in the personality department. But I have experienced being let down by basses that others on TB rave about, so sometimes I guess its about the way the bass responds to a different set of hands.

OP, if you really like the Spector tone, you can probably grow to appreciate the looks. The way the bass is carved is done very much on purpose and is as functional as it is cosmetic. There are literally dozens of people on TB who hated the looks of the EBMM Bongo until they played one, but they grew to like it once they gave it a chance. Its nice to have an instrument that is beautiful, but ultimately it is the sound and playability that matter most in an instrument. You won't get the Spector sound in any other bass (but if you do, please let me know), so I would advise you to get one you can afford and see if the looks don't grow on you. Used Rebops and CRFMs are very affordable and excellent values in terms of what you get for your money. Otherwise, whatever bass you buy is probably just going to let you down in the end. You may like its looks better, but you won't be happy because it won't have the tone you seek.

FWIW, I didn't think they were ugly but I didn't care about the looks of Spectors until I played one. It was just a Legend, but it stayed with me for a while after I played it. Ever since then, I think Spectors are some of the most beautiful basses in the world. That is what turned me into the Spector-holic I am now. You should definitely not knock them until you play one. It might change your perception.
 
#19
Thanks for the replies.

I have played a spector, a friend of mine has one of the Czech NS neck thrus. Playability-wise it felt no better or worse than my old Stingray, but the sound was hands-down better.

As for the looks, they just arent very "rock n' roll". They look like a session musician instrument. Thats probably the best I can voice my subjective opinion. It's important to get an instrument you are happy with aesthetically. I dont want an instrument I wouldnt want to be seen with on stage with. The rex brown signature is the least disgusting body shape but the graphic doesnt do anything for me.

As for the tone, would anyone care to shed some light on the science behind it? My friends didnt have the tone pump and I think it was an alder body with a maple top. The maple top and large brass spector bridge must be a huge part of the sound, as they feature on most of the instruments. Possibly the lighter body too. It's definately built into the instrument though, it isnt pure EMG.
 
#20
Spector NS design ugly? Not to me! It's my favorite of all basses. However, it's interesting how Ned Steinberger's first brainchild is my favorite, yet his second is my least favorite. I don't like the look, feel or sound of the "berger" basses at all.

This is all so subjective, of course...
 

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