Warwick/Spector... Beauty or Blasphemy? Take the Poll

[xhawk5]

Hi all.
Ok... I love the look, sound and feel of a Spector NS type bass. I've had over a dozen or so. But everytime I end up selling em because of the fret-reach, you know what I'm talking about. Plus my plucking hand falls too far towards the bridge. Thin tone unless I'm paying close attention. The bass just sits too far left

About 6 months ago I was about to buy another Euro but thought, what about a Streamer? There has always been similarities between the two.

I did some checking. Looking, measuring, tonal differences, etc. I've never had a Streamer, plenty of other Warwicks, and have always likes the similarities to a Spector.

I found a '94 BO Streamer that was pretty beat. Fortunately the luthier I got it from did an AWESOME brass fret job and replaced the truss rod. The job is PERFECT, no kidding! But the body left a lot to be desired with a few other things.

Well, here we are in Dec and I just finished 'my' reconditioning. I left the deeper digs for character.
I have a set of EMGX to install with a BQC pre this week. Might consider a US Haz too but the EMG pups are going in.
It plays like a pro-bass should. I took great care to set it up right. It's
fantastic and yes, I prefer the punch of a Bolt on.

So... What do yáll think of the Spector Crown inlays? Beauty or Blasphemy?

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I’d peel them. I see those and instantly think Spector. Like you, I LOVED my Spector but could not bond with how it sat and its fret reach. Same goes for my 1990 Streamer :/

 

[xhawk5]

I’d peel them. I see those and instantly think Spector. Like you, I LOVED my Spector but could not bond with how it sat and its fret reach. Same goes for my 1990 Streamer :/

Oh man, same w/your Streamer? I found this one to sit back some, putting it in a closer proximity for my hands. Fits perfectly.

 

[cmcbass]

Nice bass. I also enjoy spector and Warwick basses. Never understood the whole rivalry thing between fans of each brand. People saying things like, "nice spector!" sarcastically when you've posted a streamer photo.
I personally favor a fretboard with no inlays. Looks cleaner to me. It's your bass though, and if you like them then keep them.

 

[Thundar]

It looks good with the Spector stickers, but ultimately I think on that bass I'd prefer the fretboard clean with no markers

 

[Relayer71]

Blasphemy!

Ok, maybe it's not that serious. But why take a signature characteristic of one brand to use for another?

Warwick has it's own thing going, so leave it alone. Or if you must put markers on, put plain dot markers.

Of course, it's your bass and if it makes you happy, go for it. But I wouldn't.

 

[Relayer71]

Nice bass. I also enjoy spector and Warwick basses. Never understood the whole rivalry thing between fans of each brand. People saying things like, "nice spector!" sarcastically when you've posted a streamer photo.

Not to beat a dead horse, and only bringing this up in case you really don't know the reason why...

They are compared because Warwick started out as a Spector copy - there were some legal issues, then there was some settlement to pay Spector, then they weren't paid, then back to court it went. Something like that.

Suffice to say, Warwick made enough changes from the original over the years to be it's own thing, but you can still see a similarity in general body shape, so there's that. And of course, some people incorrectly think it's the other way around, that Spector copied Warwick so that gets the Spector fans worked up.

As for the OP, clean fretboard looks great as is, you don't need no stinkin' markers!

 

[JimiLL]

And now Spector copies fender so who really cares

 

[Tanner5382]

Looks way better without them.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I like the stickers. Keep them. The only way I would consider it "wrong" in any way is if Spector claims the inlay design as a trademark and I can't find that mentioned anywhere. PRS, for example does claim a trademark on the birds in flight inlay on their guitars.

 

[Ggaa]

I'd rather mine have glow in the dark side markers than fretboard markers.

 

[DWBass]

Not a fan of stick on's!

 

[avi]

I'm not a fan of stickers on instruments. Kind of fakey. Warwicks are too nice for fakey. Those stickers are for peeps who can't swing the $$$ basses. (Which I have been most of my life)
Stickers are best for cases I think.
As for Spector/Warwick. I have owned both. Currently have 2 Warwicks (Corvette and an FNA-also owned a Thumb b/o). I had no problem owning an NS2a without inlays. I had a Legend without them as well. My NS2 had them (and a kahler!). I can say the inlays did not change the sound or playability of that bass at all. So...

 

[Jrussblues]

If you like or need the stickers then keep them. If you don’t then get rid of them. Who cares what us hacks on tb have to say about your preferences.

 

[Jrussblues]

Nice bass. I also enjoy spector and Warwick basses. Never understood the whole rivalry thing between fans of each brand. People saying things like, "nice spector!" sarcastically when you've posted a streamer photo.
I personally favor a fretboard with no inlays. Looks cleaner to me. It's your bass though, and if you like them then keep them.

To me the basses sound 0 alike, I didn’t realize this was even a thing.

 

[IamGroot]

Warwick Basses are designed by German Engineers and are perfect. Alterations are uncessesary.

Alteration of Warwick Basses has been known to cause profound regret, losss of libido and gassy bloating.

 

[two fingers]

Man, if they make YOU grin, rock 'em. Great looking bass either way.

 

[TheReceder]

I'm the kind of guy that likes to stir things up, so I'd smile and leave them on till they wear out.

 

[r_bnks]

Warwick Basses are designed by German Engineers and are perfect. Alterations are uncessesary.

Alteration of Warwick Basses has been known to cause profound regret, losss of libido and gassy bloating.

That so called perfect Warwick design started as a Spector copy and they were required to pay lincensing fees...

 

[Chrisk-K]

Warwick basses don’t need freaking inlays.