Id really like to have some more options with spectors as well....different pups, wood choices, body shaped etc. Id love to get a Euro 5 with a maple board
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Spector vs warwick
- Thread starter txthrashking
- Start date
Id really like to have some more options with spectors as well....different pups, wood choices, body shaped etc. Id love to get a Euro 5 with a maple board
worshiprocker
Tonepump Junkie
- Aug 12, 2011
- 4,683
- 1,782
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- Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses
You can this year!! well at least the maple fretboard...
And for the record... Inez's streamer has EMGs (he is an endorsed artist)..... same design same wood same electronics... its probably going to sound the same (or close)....
and ya Spector doesn't pay their artists or give away any basses.... they may not pay full retail but they pay...
worshiprocker
Tonepump Junkie
- Aug 12, 2011
- 4,683
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- Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses
umm.. you sir must be mistaken.... The newer US basses have a thicker neck but the 3 NS basses I have owned all play fast and have thin necks....
I play metal and I choose Warwick. I tried a Spector years ago and just couldn't get used to the thick neck. The tone was great, but it just didn't feel right. My 'vette has a nice thin all wenge neck, very easy to play when you have short fat fingers like mine. It's very similar to an Ibanez or Jackson neck, but it plays much better and feels like heaven. Worth noting, I find the MEC p'ups to be crap. I swapped in a set of Bartolini's and I couldn't be happier.
Means2nEnd
Supporting Member
I have been watching and reading Spector and Warwick comparison and lawsuit threads and I have always stayed away. I love both Spector and Warwicks. I have owned over 6 Spectors and still have two one being an SSD and I love them. I am however more partial to Warwicks in general and I have owned over 12 and still have 5. These basses are so completely different in tone they would be hard for me to compare. Really depends on what you find comfortable and what tone you like. I play too hard and dig in too much it is a bad habit of mine from practicing for the last 25+ years or so without and amp in my bedroom whiles the misses falls asleep. So for me I have found EMG DC40s to break up a little tone wise and for me I am not able to control it as much as I would like to. I have changed preamps with them from all the EMG preamps to the Tonepump and even Bartolini and Aguilar but I am not suited for them. That being said the EMG P/J set up is one of my favorite tones in the world. I have my main bass a Warwick Streamer stage 2 equipped with EMG active jazz pickups and a Seymour Duncan 3 way preamp and is light years better in tone now than it was with the MEC tronics. But thats for me. Necks on Warwicks vary so much I have had extremely thin (too thin) necks on Warwick basses and have in general had more fat necks on my Spectors but they were always more comfortable on the fatty side. The NT necks on Warwicks are my favorite necks in the world I love the raw wood feel too. I have also had way more build quality problems from Warwick by far. Frozen truss rods, banana necks, splitting wood joints etc... But still I prefer them tone wise feel wise and I have always had warrantee work done without issue when needed. When Danna B Goods was the US distributer I had no problems getting them to stand behind any issue. I still deal with Danna today and he is a great guy in my opinion. Also the Warwick is going to have 17mm spacing unless its a broad neck at 20mm and thats just crazy wide. So if you like the 18mm or wider spacing you will find the Warwick too cramped and tight. There is just so much to consider in the two you would have to own both and actually gig with each of them to figure it all out. I cant so I have both and love them both but in the end I am a Warwick guy 90% of the time.
I try and stay far away from the politics of things I play bass not lawyer. I have been sued and went through 3 years of hell and I feel terrible for anyone or any company to go through it. My old company sued me and lost. They were wrong and it came out in the wash. I was not there or read all the fine print of the contracts between Spector and Warwick but to hear a company from outside the US agreed on paper to pay royalties and now isnt even though through the letter of the law possibly written here in the US or at least agreed upon here and was gone through the US judicial system sounds like one of two things have happened. Either Warwick got out of the contract legally (maybe not morally but legally they are two different things) or the authority of Spector felt it not worth perusing it over and over again in court. So either somebody gave up even though they are right or they lost period. These are pretty big companies and there is a lot of money involved and although I tend to think Spector was wronged even as a Warwick fan I am sure if it is so black and white Warwick would be cutting checks especially since the US courts would lean towards defending a US company. Dont want to open a can of worms but the can is open and the same guys keep kicking the can and dumping it on Warwick maybe rightfully so or maybe not but I just cant help asking why they dont bitch about everyone copying Fender body shapes? Yes Fender did try and take it through the courts and the only thing they could legally defend is the shape of their headstock. So now what the Coda is ok from Spector even though it is clearly a Fender copy for the most part? Im sure Fender would have loved to collect royalties over the years from everyone who uses their designs of everything from pickups, body styles, and hell even tone including from Spector for the Coda. Fender lost but we revere so many rip off companies and individual builders who everyday protected by the law rip Fender off. But hey thats ok right even though Fender doesnt think so? There are companies in the music business and everywhere else using others ideas and designs. That is the biggest theft of all time. Enough of that stuff its all bad karma just add opinions. The Spector design is my favorite and the best body design I have ever played or held I give Spector that for sure.
Warwick is one of the more original design oriented mass produced companies I think. They have so many options to choose from including EMG, Bartolini, MEC, neck profiles, finishes, wood choices etc I am a lefty and like that other than artist models I can pretty much order anything my gassing heart desires. I own all Euro Spectors of course since Spector refuses to make a USA Spector lefty. Shame really I would own several.
I am open to hearing more about the Spector/Warwick issue. As I said Im not an authority on it and dont claim to be I just find it annoying and frankly a turn off seeing it and hearing it all the time even if it is correct in some or even all ways. . OK so now the knives are going to fly my way I guess and I could write down the guys that will be throwing them. Its cool I hope I learn something from it. Im still going to play Warwick because I dont own either company nor am I endorsed by anyone for anything and I like Warwick better for my playing only.
I try and stay far away from the politics of things I play bass not lawyer. I have been sued and went through 3 years of hell and I feel terrible for anyone or any company to go through it. My old company sued me and lost. They were wrong and it came out in the wash. I was not there or read all the fine print of the contracts between Spector and Warwick but to hear a company from outside the US agreed on paper to pay royalties and now isnt even though through the letter of the law possibly written here in the US or at least agreed upon here and was gone through the US judicial system sounds like one of two things have happened. Either Warwick got out of the contract legally (maybe not morally but legally they are two different things) or the authority of Spector felt it not worth perusing it over and over again in court. So either somebody gave up even though they are right or they lost period. These are pretty big companies and there is a lot of money involved and although I tend to think Spector was wronged even as a Warwick fan I am sure if it is so black and white Warwick would be cutting checks especially since the US courts would lean towards defending a US company. Dont want to open a can of worms but the can is open and the same guys keep kicking the can and dumping it on Warwick maybe rightfully so or maybe not but I just cant help asking why they dont bitch about everyone copying Fender body shapes? Yes Fender did try and take it through the courts and the only thing they could legally defend is the shape of their headstock. So now what the Coda is ok from Spector even though it is clearly a Fender copy for the most part? Im sure Fender would have loved to collect royalties over the years from everyone who uses their designs of everything from pickups, body styles, and hell even tone including from Spector for the Coda. Fender lost but we revere so many rip off companies and individual builders who everyday protected by the law rip Fender off. But hey thats ok right even though Fender doesnt think so? There are companies in the music business and everywhere else using others ideas and designs. That is the biggest theft of all time. Enough of that stuff its all bad karma just add opinions. The Spector design is my favorite and the best body design I have ever played or held I give Spector that for sure.
Warwick is one of the more original design oriented mass produced companies I think. They have so many options to choose from including EMG, Bartolini, MEC, neck profiles, finishes, wood choices etc I am a lefty and like that other than artist models I can pretty much order anything my gassing heart desires. I own all Euro Spectors of course since Spector refuses to make a USA Spector lefty. Shame really I would own several.
I am open to hearing more about the Spector/Warwick issue. As I said Im not an authority on it and dont claim to be I just find it annoying and frankly a turn off seeing it and hearing it all the time even if it is correct in some or even all ways. . OK so now the knives are going to fly my way I guess and I could write down the guys that will be throwing them. Its cool I hope I learn something from it. Im still going to play Warwick because I dont own either company nor am I endorsed by anyone for anything and I like Warwick better for my playing only.
To my hands, the NS-5 necks are every bit as substantial as a Warwick neck, arguably moreso. Having owned both an NS-5H2 and XL at the same time as my Thumb NT5 and SSII, to my hands the Spector necks were/are a tad chunkier.
I haven't found that the neck on my Euro 5LX is too big at all, I find that it fits perfectly in my (not so big hands). I'm able to reach the low B very easily, and it sounds great as always.
worshiprocker
Tonepump Junkie
- Aug 12, 2011
- 4,683
- 1,782
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- Endorsing Artist: Spector Basses
yes in fact if it is built to Gibson spec then there would be a royalty agreement.... the original streamers were the same specs.. they aren't anymore... lets just drop it
This is a questions between a Warwick Corvette and a Spector Forte X.... two completely different basses.... Judging on the OP's comments I would say get the corvette. I think you could get the tone you would be happy with from either. Personally I prefer Spectors.
- Aug 5, 2005
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I don't think Gibson has a copyright on the Thunderbird body design. Also, the Spector balances WAY better.
I went the other way - sold my Spector 5ers, and ended up with EBMM 5ers - no regrets here, either...
- georgestrings
I had a Corvette Active 5 German - the neck was too bricky. The MECs were weak. The tone was awesome! But, overall, wasn't for me.
So long as you're looking for a bass with two J pickups or two soapbars - then you will just have to play them. This thread could go for another 20 pages - but it's still up to you to play the basses and decide for yourself.
Resale value on the Corvettes are horrible, sometimes with Spector Euros it's almost as bad. If cost is the deal breaker, then the Vette might be your choice - $600 used. I've not see a used Forte X, but my 'guess' would be around $1500 used.
On a side note - I thought Fender got a little moola for every licensed Fender style body made by other luthiers, no? Everyone from SX to Atkinson to Spector to Sadowsky used the Fender style body design. But none of these companies claim their design on the body is 'original', AFAIK.
It's definitely more conspicuous when you rip off a new design with a curved body, and the same headstock - and call it your own. With the 'gumby' headstock and a little trimming here and there, WW is clear I think. But yeah, I used to think Streamers were Spectors - not until recently did I find out that some of the bass players owned Wicks.
Wick's other designs are cool though - don't know why WW had to rip off a contemporary design.
So long as you're looking for a bass with two J pickups or two soapbars - then you will just have to play them. This thread could go for another 20 pages - but it's still up to you to play the basses and decide for yourself.
Resale value on the Corvettes are horrible, sometimes with Spector Euros it's almost as bad. If cost is the deal breaker, then the Vette might be your choice - $600 used. I've not see a used Forte X, but my 'guess' would be around $1500 used.
On a side note - I thought Fender got a little moola for every licensed Fender style body made by other luthiers, no? Everyone from SX to Atkinson to Spector to Sadowsky used the Fender style body design. But none of these companies claim their design on the body is 'original', AFAIK.
It's definitely more conspicuous when you rip off a new design with a curved body, and the same headstock - and call it your own. With the 'gumby' headstock and a little trimming here and there, WW is clear I think. But yeah, I used to think Streamers were Spectors - not until recently did I find out that some of the bass players owned Wicks.
Wick's other designs are cool though - don't know why WW had to rip off a contemporary design.
CliffD said:
I always found the opposite to be true. Of all the Warwicks I have played, they tend to have thicker necks. I love both, however, and never have a problem playing necks with different sizes.
Spector. I've played a lot of brutal death metal with mine (among other styles) and it's always sounded perfect.
- Jun 5, 2008
- 216
- 65
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Spector, Godlyke, Hartke, Hipshot, & AMT Electronics
fuzzychaos said:
I have to say, every US Spector (Brooklyn, Kramer, & Woodstock) I have played has had a different neck. I have a very thin '87 fretless and my Forte X has a totally u shaped neck. My '87 & '88 are in between. As for pick ups, EMG has pick ups in the DC casings that are direct replacement pickups. Just unplug & swap. I did this from DCs to PJs, & I love them. If you want a thinner neck request it if you are ordering it. As for the whole "stealing" thin; I think it's obvious that Hans stole the NS design, but the courts have established that the only thing a manufacturer owns is the headstock. Let's just drop it already. The only people who should really be pissed are Stuart & Ned. Play the bass you want to play and stand by it. Everybody has an opinion, and they all stink! By the way, where is the original poster? And just curious, does anyone else have a Forte X?
To the original poster. You have a tough choice. Either would work. In my opinion. Get the less expensive option. Use savings for an awe inspiring rig. Not related to the original question but I own a Spector NS4CRFM and a Warwick Streamer Stage I. One is not better than the other. Different yes. Better no. For no good reason enjoy a pic of Emma Anzai. Very talented bassist that is not hard to look at.
+1 from another Corvette $$ 5 owner. Versatility is its strong suit:
-Active or true passive (as opposed to just flattening EQ)
-Switched coil humbuckers for serial, parallel or single-coil.
-I like it for recording better than my Lakland
-I for one really like the neck....I was a lousy baseball player, too!
-The wood in that 'wick is just solid as a rock...really imparts an awesome BOMP to the notes.
