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Warwick V Spector

M

Morgan Colgrave

Jun 19, 2019
28
19
#1
Looking at a couple of used basses close to me.

1. Czech Made NS-2J-CR (very early rebop style) with EMG Active Jazz Pickups.

2. German Made Warwick Proline Corvette with the MEC Jazz Style PU's

The warwick is a touch more expensive, both are around 2002/3 models and come with hard case. Am I right in thinking these are both about the same quality, value?? And should just choose which I like best, or is one head and shoulder better than the other?

Opinions please :)
 
#6
I'd go for the Spector if I wanted a hot J that doesn't look like a J... but I never actually want that.

I'd go for that Warwick if I wanted the Warwick sound and was willing to sacrifice on ergonomics... i really love the Warwick sound and look. I mildly dislike that abrupt shift from arm carve to body top on the lower tier Vettes- my preference is the Thumb till I can get my hands on a Fortress to try out.

For me, Warwick > Spector

Take that all with a grain of something granular: I'm mostly pretty happy with a pair of basic Fender Ps (one w/rounds, the other with flats) 99% of the time.

In all honesty, due to ex-Thumb-user Nephylim's reviews, unless I get a screaming good deal on a BO Thumb 5, my next non-Fender is probably gonna be a Dingwall.
 
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#7
Nice. Interesting to hear your perspective. I've never heard that argument of ergonomics on the Corvette.
MattZilla said:
I'd go for the Spector if I wanted a hot J that doesn't look like a J... but I never actually want that.

I'd go for that Warwick if I wanted the Warwick sound and was willing to sacrifice on ergonomics... i really love the Warwick sound and look. I mildly dislike that abrupt shift from arm carve to body top on the lower tier Vettes- my preference is the Thumb till I can get my hands on a Fortress to try out.

For me, Warwick > Spector

Take that all with a grain of something granular: I'm mostly pretty happy with a pair of basic Fender Ps (one w/rounds, the other with flats) 99% of the time.

In all honesty, due to ex-Thumb-user Nephylim's reviews, unless I get a screaming good deal on a BO Thumb 5, my next non-Fender is probably gonna be a Dingwall.
Click to expand...
 
#8
Morgan Colgrave said:
Nice. Interesting to hear your perspective. I've never heard that argument of ergonomics on the Corvette.
Click to expand...
neither had/have I. Just to drool for a sec after hitting this thread, I googled "Warwick Fortress" and the second one that pops up is an Ocean Blue One on Reverb and it appears to also have an abrupt plane shift, however it's crease seems to be at an angle less obtuse than the Vette's. Maybe less uncomfortable?

The Vette was fine at certain strap heights: 1) slung low as heck 2) hiked up on my chest. Maybe I'm a princess sensitive enough to feel a pea under a stack of mattresses.

I do miss the sound at least at home.
 
#9
MattZilla said:
I'd go for the Spector if I wanted a hot J that doesn't look like a J... but I never actually want that.

I'd go for that Warwick if I wanted the Warwick sound and was willing to sacrifice on ergonomics... i really love the Warwick sound and look. I mildly dislike that abrupt shift from arm carve to body top on the lower tier Vettes- my preference is the Thumb till I can get my hands on a Fortress to try out.

For me, Warwick > Spector

Take that all with a grain of something granular: I'm mostly pretty happy with a pair of basic Fender Ps (one w/rounds, the other with flats) 99% of the time.

In all honesty, due to ex-Thumb-user Nephylim's reviews, unless I get a screaming good deal on a BO Thumb 5, my next non-Fender is probably gonna be a Dingwall.
Click to expand...
Yeah I've had a few vettes and three thumb basses. My first Warwick was a FNA corvette.
2C17A11F-76BD-4031-9D34-2B431CEA4DEB.jpeg
After that the other corvettes I had were mainly just less expensive backups for my thumb basses that I played for 15 years.
B702A8DB-37BD-423D-9DE2-79DD8578C4A5.jpeg
AEEFB57C-65F5-499D-977C-E3917231AC0F.jpeg
9BCA186C-F44F-4DFF-BA56-C04BBEFF74C4.jpeg

I do prefer my dingwall though. I've had it longer now than any bass I've owned in years and I don't plan on ever selling it. I'm gonna play it until the paint wears off and then keep on playing it. My last thumb bass only stayed around for a year. I'd buy another Dingwall but I can only play one at a time and I have two daughters that I love to spoil now.
788E785A-7D2A-4683-AEED-EA2B13B0D48B.jpeg


As for the OP I'd honestly probably give the Spector a shot between these two. Corvettes have some things about them that I find annoying. For one they have an odd balance bottom to top when hanging on a strap when you play standing up. I didn't like how the body would flop around when I was slapping and playing double stops in particular. Also the electronics and tuners in Warwicks are kind of garbage considering their price range. The electronics sound good but literally every single Warwick I had ended up in a shop at some point for electronics work. Sometimes pre amp issues and every single one had to have the output jack replaced. The tuner thing is almost mind boggling. I much prefer the hipshot tuners on my Dingwall. I remember when I thought it was odd that people would upgrade tuners. My thinking was would it really make an improvement because considering the price of Warwicks you'd think they'd use good stuff but it turned out at the time I just didn't realize that there are better tuners out there.
 
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#10
Nephilymbass said:
Yeah I've had a few vettes and three thumb basses. My first Warwick was a FNA corvette. View attachment 3454597 After that the other corvettes I had were mainly just less expensive backups for my thumb basses that I played for 15 years.
View attachment 3454596 View attachment 3454598 View attachment 3454599
I do prefer my dingwall though. I've had it longer now than any bass I've owned in years and I don't plan on ever selling it. I'm gonna play it until the paint wears off and then keep on playing it. My last thumb bass only stayed around for a year. I'd buy another Dingwall but I can only play one at a time and I have two daughters that I love to spoil now. View attachment 3454613

As for the OP I'd honestly probably give the Spector a shot between these two. Corvettes have some things about them that I find annoying. For one they have an odd balance bottom to top when hanging on a strap when you play standing up. I didn't like how the body would flop around when I was slapping and playing double stops in particular. Also the electronics and tuners in Warwicks are kind of garbage considering their price range. The electronics sound good but literally every single Warwick I had ended up in a shop at some point for electronics work. Sometimes pre amp issues and every single one had to have the output jack replaced. The tuner thing is almost mind boggling. I much prefer the hipshot tuners on my Dingwall. I remember when I thought it was odd that people would upgrade tuners. My thinking was would it really make an improvement because considering the price of Warwicks you'd think they'd use good stuff but it turned out at the time I just didn't realize that there are better tuners out there.
Click to expand...

A lot to get through there. BTW that Dingwall looks awesome!

I'm working with a budget so I have a narrow selection of basses locally. I get from yours the Warwick will probably sit a bit funny, and the electronics might be a bit flaky.

What is your experience with any Spectors?
 
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#11
Morgan Colgrave said:
A lot to get through there. BTW that Dingwall looks awesome!

I'm working with a budget so I have a narrow selection of basses locally. I get from yours the Warwick will probably sit a bit funny, and the electronics might be a bit flaky.

What is your experience with any Spectors?
Click to expand...
I don't have much experience with them aside from playing them in stores on several occasions over the years. If you were comparing a Spector to a Warwick streamer I'd probably recommend the Warwick but yeah I'm just not as big of fan of the corvettes after playing so many nice basses over the years.
 
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#12
Are you able to play either of these or will you be buying without trying??

Though I don't have experience with either of those two particular models (and I've only played one Warwick... liked it, forget which model), I'd probably go for the Spector based on the handling of a few dozen, of which there was only one lowest-end model that I wasn't happy with the sounds coming out of, assuming most other specs are equal.

Do you know which preamp is in that Spector?
 
#14
catcauphonic said:
Do you know which preamp is in that Spector?
Click to expand...

This is a great question. The Spector tone pump pre stinks (IMHO). The Warwick will have a bit of the earthy Warwick tone baked in, while the Spector is probably more of a well rounded sounding bass. The Spector also has the contoured body which is really comfortable (again, IMHO). You should play them and go with whichever feels right, I think they are probably comparable quality-wise.
 
#15
Just took a harder look at the pics. That Warwick has a ton of wear on it, the Spector looks in much better condition. The Warwick also has a pretty bland top (not typical, I've seen proline vettes with great figure in the maple).
warwick-8.jpg


Of these two, I'd lean towards the Spector
 
#18
Morgan Colgrave said:
Looking at a couple of used basses close to me.

1. Czech Made NS-2J-CR (very early rebop style) with EMG Active Jazz Pickups.

2. German Made Warwick Proline Corvette with the MEC Jazz Style PU's

The warwick is a touch more expensive, both are around 2002/3 models and come with hard case. Am I right in thinking these are both about the same quality, value?? And should just choose which I like best, or is one head and shoulder better than the other?

Opinions please :)
Click to expand...

Spector...

Good Luck!
 
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#19
catcauphonic said:
Are you able to play either of these or will you be buying without trying??

Though I don't have experience with either of those two particular models (and I've only played one Warwick... liked it, forget which model), I'd probably go for the Spector based on the handling of a few dozen, of which there was only one lowest-end model that I wasn't happy with the sounds coming out of, assuming most other specs are equal.

Do you know which preamp is in that Spector?
Click to expand...

catcauphonic said:
Did you take these photos??

If so, did you get a chance to play them?
Click to expand...

To answer these questions, They are both about an 60- 90 min drive in opposite directions each way from me (not much available in my immediate area). I'd like to hopefully narrow it down to the better bass (subjective I know, that's why I asked!)
 
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