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USA vs Euro Spector

#44
jarrhead said:
I'll refinish it when I have the funds to cherryburst like my Lakland. :bassist:

Gonna talk to my dad about getting that.
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Errrrr...I just read your about my age (i'm 15) and the bass your considering is..12lbs, and if your built anything like I am that's a bit to heavey to be playing standing up. But hey! maybe your way stronger than I am lol. I couldn't play with that thing standing up.
 
#45
splitcoilsenior said:
Errrrr...I just read your about my age (i'm 15) and the bass your considering is..12lbs, and if your built anything like I am that's a bit to heavey to be playing standing up. But hey! maybe your way stronger than I am lol. I couldn't play with that thing standing up.
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My bass is 10 pounds and I play it six hours at a time.

I also have an awesome strap. With padding and it's thick. ;)
 
#48
jarrhead said:
Living Room Jammin'! :bassist:
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I remember when I used to jam for like 2 hours straight. But my Line 6 Lowdown 15w is so terrible I can't stand playing out of it for more than....maybe 3 songs.

I actually just called GC support and I will be getting $150 "GC dollars" because I had the extended warranty and it was my second Lowdown 15w that has broken. And I keep to keep the peice of crap instead of sending it in! I don't know if I should get an Aguilar OPB 3, or EMG DC 35's for my Schecter.
 
#51
I had an natural, oil finished Czech 4 before I moved to a Modulus Q5 and I did replace the Spector pickups and controls with EMG active pickups and it remains today one of the best sounding basses I have ever owned and I still miss it. I was initially reluctant to but an import Spector but those days are over. And the folks at Spector treated me like gold. I have always wanted a US Spector but I just don't know how much better it could realistically be from what I had. It was that good.
 
#53
I have two Euro 5LX's and a NS5XL. The NS5XL has a thinner neck than the Euro and in my opinion, sounds little more balanced. The lows seem to be tighter and the high end is clearer. Otherwise, nearly both instruments are sounding alike and the differences are not worth mentioning. It might be the Pau Ferro fretboard and Walnut back on my NS5XL doing the majority of the tone diffference though.

I have talked to PJ Rubal over at Spector and told me one thing to keep in mind. The body woods are controlling the tone the most. With the all Maple winged bodies; you are going to get clearer highs and more low end - less midrange. With Walnut or Alder body woods, you get more midrange, but still good low end and highs. The maple tops are adding a little extra high end and the Buckeye Burl/Water-Cured Redwood tops are not adding anything sonically - on those models, the Walnut body is doing most of the work with the maple-neck.

The Tone Pump on the Euro's, for me anyway, is a pain to use. I seem to distort the bass or the pre-amp inputs on nearly everything I play with. I don't boost at all either. The Spector Pre-amp is available on the site for $200 instead of the $300 at the moment, but my order is currently backordered - darn! Still, the Spector Pre-amp on Euro basses makes all of them sound cleaner, better highs, clearer lows and the thick midrange is still present. I can't distort the sound anymore and the signal is just right for every amp I use it on. I highly recommend the upgrade.

The Euro is a good bass and the American version is a good bass too. The Euro's and the Americans have the same pickups for the most part. The Americans look nicer - but that is about it. Maybe a little more refined with the tone overall, but not a huge deal breaker. The tops on the American series basses have more figuring and generally look "cooler".
 
#54
jarrhead said:
Got it for $350 how can it possibly be an upgrade? His interview on The Great Misdirect DVD said he's had the bass since he was 16, a USA Spector. Since it's used on Colors and TGM, he would have changed less than a year ago.
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I didnt say he 2000/5 was an upgrade :scowl: and yes he has a new bass...

check out his side project Orbs with Ellyllon from cradle of filth(formerly in Abigail Williams). Link Removed

click "recording feb 2009" in the photo albums... "new spector bass"
 
#57
splitcoilsenior said:
I actually just called GC support and I will be getting $150 "GC dollars" because I had the extended warranty and it was my second Lowdown 15w that has broken. And I keep to keep the peice of crap instead of sending it in! I don't know if I should get an Aguilar OPB 3, or EMG DC 35's for my Schecter.
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Get the EMG's and just wire them Volume and Volume on your bass. Active EQ on a bass can be easily overshadowed for a decent amp head. Although, I never really liked Shecters and upgrading the pickups does not necessarily make the bass sound better. The bass will still sound like it does because of the construction - you may gain some options with tones, but it will not make water into wine.
 
#58
jarrhead said:
Nino, do you know how hard it would be to find the pickups and pre from a USA?

And is the growl from the electronics or different construction/woods, etc?
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Hey Jarrhead. Running into you again.

The pickups you can certainly upgrade to. Just Good ol' EMG's if things haven't changed since I got my US Spector (DC's I think (?), mine was made in 98).

The preamp is a different story from what I remember. I was under the impression you could not simply buy the USA preamp. You can get it one of two ways: 1) you buy a USA Spector 2) You need a replacement for a USA Spector and go through an authorized dealer by swapping the defective pre for a new one.

This is what I was told around 99-00 as a measure to "protect", so to speak, one of the unique aspects of owning a US model and obviously paying quite a bit more. Similar to the idea that you can't buy a Wal preamp separate from the bass. Just check with a dealer and see what's up. If you can swap or find one on Ebay (which would be a longshot) then go for it. Gearhead seems to be saying you can buy whatever is now used on the US models so it sounds like things have changed in the last decade since I looked.

As for your original question... I would say go for the Euro but I don't think they sound or feel the same as a US. Not sure how to quantify it but the US models sound like a Spector and the Euro's are a little different. The Euro's have a more generic, albeit excellent, tone. From your other thread and what you say you are going for tone-wise, is the Euro going to satisfy you if it nails the look but not the tone? I don't know but you sounded pretty resolute that you wanted a very particular tone from the BTBAM bassist. By the way, I lot of folks are saying the US necks are thinner than the Euro's. I don't know. Keep in mind my US is over a decade old (when they were still 34 inch scale) and maybe they have made some changes but that neck is not exactly trim! If the Euro is clunkier I could not tell.

I think the Euro's are very well made, sound great, and an excellent value. That being said, after playing the "real thing" for over a decade there is a difference in look, tone, and feel. You are not paying a few thousand more just because of higher US labor costs.

Keep in mind I didn't pay a cent for my US 6 so this isn't an attempt for me to feel better about spending a lot more on a US vs. Euro. :p

It's a lot of money either way. If you have any questions feel free to PM me.
 
#59
DAN STILL USES HIS AMBER BURST USA

If you have them as a friend on myspace
Link Removed

The new spector must be for Orbs. BTBAM he is still using the old one.

This was at 9PM EST last night on The Daily Habit on FuelTV - an action sports channel
 

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