What to upgrade on Spector?

[mattsk42]

You can vote on more than one, but explain why you voted for any of them.

It's a 5 string OLP Spector.
Basically, I'm ok with the sound, but it just doesn't sound like a big boy Spector. The playability is good enough, so here's my question...

Is there a way to (really) cheaply upgrade the pickups and/or preamp for this bass to make it sound at least ReBop-esque if not very similar?

 

[FunkMetalBass]

Pickups and preamp. It's like running a small, dinky practice amp through a small, dinky 8" speaker. Chances are, you hate both, and upgrading each individually will have only a minor effect.

 

[mmbongo]

+1. Preamp and pickups.

 

[nussy the whale]

A big part of the Spector sound comes from those EMGs and the Spector "Tone-pump" circuit.

 

[mattsk42]

Looking like preamp and pickups so far...

Has anyone actually done this before?

 

[Dave W]

A big part of the Spector sound comes from those EMGs and the Haz Lab circuit.

Fixed

 

[troubleboy]

Active EMG pickups and preamp definitely. Made as well get a brass nut too while you're at it too. Check out the Spector Club threads. There's lot's of info and comparisons of the different combinations of pickups and preamps Spector has offered over the years.

 

[DaniKettu]

I would definitely put aguilar preamp to it. The more expensive spectors have it and they sound great. Emg pickups maybe dc40 and you have match made in heaven.

 

[mmbongo]

I would definitely put aguilar preamp to it. The more expensive spectors have it and they sound great. Emg pickups maybe dc40 and you have match made in heaven.

Aguilar + Bartolini = sweet.

My USA Spector came with an Aguilar and active EMG pickup...replaced it with a Bart with great results. Same basic sound, but with none of the drawbacks of active pickups (ie..works with pedals now!)

 

[darkstorm]

The tonesuck preamp is the worse part of those imo. The emg designed pups are actually pretty good if you like crunchy voice. Id replace just the preamp and see if that does the trick.

 

[I-play-bass]

EMG DC40's and an Aguilar OBP-2. That's what my Spector Euro had, and it was enormous.

 

[garmenteros]

Pickups and preamp... I agree with others that only changing one will still chain you down to the weakest link in the electronics.