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Thoughts on Spector Coda 5/ Coda 5 Deluxe

K

kicklock

Jan 22, 2009
101
25
#1
Hi', Fellow TBers,

I am thinking of getting a Spector Coda 5, or a Coda 5 Deluxe.
(1) Does anybody have experience playing or owning one of these basses ?
(2) I am getting a great trade on a Mike Lull 5 string jazz, and I own a Sadowsky 5 string jazz. Anyone comparisons between the Coda 5, and these two ?

NOTE: I prefer jazz basses, so you guys can feel free to compare any other jazzers in your comments. And thanks in advance.

Kicklock.:help:
 
#2
I played one at Bass Northwest. It's all that. I couldn't put it down. And, it was black/tort/rosewood, which is exactly what I'd get if I ever bought one. Didn't have the cash, though. KILLER bass. I haven't played a lot of boutique Jazz 5-strings, but after playing the Coda I'm not sure I'd bother.
 
#3
Dave Siff said:
I played one at Bass Northwest. It's all that. I couldn't put it down. And, it was black/tort/rosewood, which is exactly what I'd get if I ever bought one. Didn't have the cash, though. KILLER bass. I haven't played a lot of boutique Jazz 5-strings, but after playing the Coda I'm not sure I'd bother.
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Thanks, man. Do you recall if you tried both pickups together, and then each soloed ? Why I ask is because I mostly use the bridge pickup, and I know that on some single coil pickup'ed basses, it's said that there's noise when the bridge p'up is soloed. If this happened, then I may need to ask about upgrading to humcancelling p'ups ( ? ).:)
 
#5
Well, it sounds like you'll get a Coda 5 as soon as you can, and I hope that that will indeed be soon for you. Your enthusiasm definitely is a help as I think things over :bassist:Appreciate all the views I can get on this bass, thanks.
 
#7
All single coils hum when solo'd. All.

With the coda I found it to feel more like a Spector than a j bass, fwiw.

If you want a great j that comes stock with great hum canceling pickups, you can also look at sadowsky metros and custom shop fenders in the same price range. There's also the Carvin sb, lull, lakland, xotic. It's a dense segment.

You should at least TRY a metro first. To me that's the gold standard unless you need a true vintage tone, in which case fender and lakland are the best.
 
#9
pickles said:
All single coils hum when solo'd. All.

With the coda I found it to feel more like a Spector than a j bass, fwiw.

If you want a great j that comes stock with great hum canceling pickups, you can also look at sadowsky metros and custom shop fenders in the same price range. There's also the Carvin sb, lull, lakland, xotic. It's a dense segment.

You should at least TRY a metro first. To me that's the gold standard unless you need a true vintage tone, in which case fender and lakland are the best.
Click to expand...

Pickles, I have two Sadowsky's, a 4, and 5, and they are excellent. It's just that I'm getting this great offer on the Coda 5 that I can't pass up without serious thought. Also, you talked about the Carvin SB 5. Have you played one ? Any thoughts ? Thanks for your input - it will help :D
 
#10
kicklock said:
Pickles, I have two Sadowsky's, a 4, and 5, and they are excellent. It's just that I'm getting this great offer on the Coda 5 that I can't pass up without serious thought. Also, you talked about the Carvin SB 5. Have you played one ? Any thoughts ? Thanks for your input - it will help :D
Click to expand...

Fwiw I have two sadowskys and sold a coda. I also sold half a dozen sadowskys though! Codas are nice, there are just tons of choices. If you can get a deal then why not. The Aguilar pickups and pre are not my favorite personally. High quality but kind of dry. I have no tried the carvins or xotics, just going on rep with those. For me sadowsky, lakland, and **gasp** fender are the top of the heap for Js.
 
#11
pickles said:
Fwiw I have two sadowskys and sold a coda. I also sold half a dozen sadowskys though! Codas are nice, there are just tons of choices. If you can get a deal then why not. The Aguilar pickups and pre are not my favorite personally. High quality but kind of dry. I have no tried the carvins or xotics, just going on rep with those. For me sadowsky, lakland, and **gasp** fender are the top of the heap for Js.
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Righhht... that issue of tone choices. Personally I prefer a good jazz bass with a FEW easily accesible tonal options. I recall trying a Spector NS ( I think ) series once, and I had issues with the amount of tiny variations I got by turning those little knobs. Great bass, though. I will try the bass when it comes, and also, keep reading TB for useful opinions like yours. :)
 
#14
kicklock said:
Anyone can tell the of the differences between the Coda 5, and the Coda 5 Deluxe models ? :confused:
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The differences are more cosmetic than anything.

Both feature the same neck profile and electronics. Aguilar OBP-2 and Aguilar 60's J-Pups. Both are wired to be active (tone controlled by the Aguilar OBP-2) or passive (where the Aguilar OBP-2 is bypassed).

The Coda-4 and Coda-5 Standard models are your front-routed, pickup guard designed "classic" J model. Classic bridge and 4 control knobs. With the bass and treble controls for the OBP-2 being stacked.

The Coda-4 and Coda-5 Deluxe models are rear-routed (with no pickguard) AAAA figured maple topped modern styled J-basses with Hipshot Type A bridges and 5 control knobs, where the stacked bass and treble controls on the Classic model are broken out into individual pots.

Both are now available with premium Birdseye Maple fingerboards and you can now order them with the famous Spector Crown Inlays, in Mother-of-Pearl, Abalone or Black Mother-of-Pearl.

I'm not a huge J-bass fan. Basically because I'm spoiled by the comfortable small-body feel of the Spector NS-Bass... I just ordered an NS-2 with dual J pups... LOL. But the Coda Deluxe models... although many J purists don't care for the fancy tops and rear routing, I find the new Coda Deluxe models a very fitting addition to Spector's lineup. They are without question, Spector-ish in their build and appearance. And to me, Stuart's basses and guitars always have amazing wood finishes.

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The first two Coda-Deluxe models sitting in my office (with my NS-2 in the front) before BPL 2011 last October.

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I like the Sherwood Green Coda-Classic/Standard with the Crown MOP neck inlays. It is a really sharp bass.
 
#16
millsbass5 said:
I'd like to see the Coda with Spector's concave NS-style shape integrated into a J-style body. That would really put Spector's stamp on their Jazz-style basses. Opinions?
Click to expand...

Originally when PJ Rubal approached Stuart about doing a bass like the Coda that was the plan. Stuart is the one that wanted to do a "homage" to the great basses of his youth. And to him, the 1962 J-Bass is the pinnacle of the design (mainly because of the neck). So that's what he shot for...

He also wanted to find a way to eliminate dead notes by using different woods (rock maple and pau ferro) plus the stainless trusses, to make the necks more rigid... shifting the frequencies in the wood that cause dead notes. Which he did.

I too would love to see a curved Coda.

I own a near-vintage SSD B.O.B. bass. It's the precursor to the Coda. And it's body, although not curved, is highly carved and contoured for comfort.

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#18
JPSBassist,

Thanks so very much for your input, and the great pic's :D Do you have any pic's of the Coda standard in lake placid blue with tortoise pickguard, and maple fingerboard ? Also, I noticed the sherwood green bass, but since Spector doesn't advertise colors other than Creme ( Oly' white ?), Blue, Tangerine, and Black via the website, what's the deal with these other colors on the standard line ? Can we order other colors on the standard line ? Extra cost ? And what about the fancy inlays on the standard ? Thanks.
 
#19
JPSBassist said:
Originally when PJ Rubal approached Stuart about doing a bass like the Coda that was the plan. Stuart is the one that wanted to do a "homage" to the great basses of his youth. And to him, the 1962 J-Bass is the pinnacle of the design (mainly because of the neck). So that's what he shot for...

He also wanted to find a way to eliminate dead notes by using different woods (rock maple and pau ferro) plus the stainless trusses, to make the necks more rigid... shifting the frequencies in the wood that cause dead notes. Which he did.

I too would love to see a curved Coda.

I own a near-vintage SSD B.O.B. bass. It's the precursor to the Coda. And it's body, although not curved, is highly carved and contoured for comfort.

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Click to expand...



I'm curious. Does your dad play bass? I mean after all,your initials are PJ........:D:hiding:
 
#20
kicklock said:
JPSBassist,

Thanks so very much for your input, and the great pic's :D Do you have any pic's of the Coda standard in lake placid blue with tortoise pickguard, and maple fingerboard ? Also, I noticed the sherwood green bass, but since Spector doesn't advertise colors other than Creme ( Oly' white ?), Blue, Tangerine, and Black via the website, what's the deal with these other colors on the standard line ? Can we order other colors on the standard line ? Extra cost ? And what about the fancy inlays on the standard ? Thanks.
Click to expand...

You're most welcome.

And these are great questions.

I have photos of the electric blue standard. But Lake Placid Blue is not something I've seen.

The Sherwood Green is a custom color Stuart wanted to try. I think it looks amazing, especially with the crown inlays in the neck.

I'm sure you could ask about custom colors. They are usually pretty good about trying to accommodate people's wishes if it's a custom order.

And yes, the maple fingerboard with either black MOP or abalone inlays is available for the standard. And obviously you can get a pau-ferro fingerboard with the Crown Inlays like on the Sherwood Green model.

I have no idea what these upgrades cost. I just take the photos and update the website. Contact PJ Rubal at Spector if you'd like specifics. He's the guy that makes the decisions about this stuff.

His email is [email protected] Tell him you talked to Patrick on TB. If you've never spoken with him you'll find he's very nice and helpful. So please drop him a line.
 

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