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Which Spector to get??

J

jkkkjkhk

Feb 22, 2010
294
137
Orange County, CA
#1
I picked up a used Legend 4 the other day and I was greatly impressed. Now I'm gas-ing for a euro. I'm selling a little gear to fund it but I'm not sure which model to pick. I want the PJ pups and a 4 string. Finish isn't too important.

I'm seeing the newer Euro 4LX is maple top, walnut slice, alder back and has the tonepump with the same pups as the USA.

The older SSD era has the NS4CR which is all maple and has a EMG preamp. The two I'm looking at are a NS4CR with dot inlays for $1000, and a Euro 4LX for $1200. I'll try to talk down both but which one is more more like a USA?
I like the tones of Rex Brown (later), Jason Newsted (black album era), and Mike Starr (early Alice In Chains) which all happen to be Spectors.

How different is the tonepump from the Hazlabs? Would the EMG preamp get closer? How about the difference in woods?

http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/index.cfm?page=2&srch&q=spector&distance=100&sort=0&dir=desc

The Euro is black cherry and on the second page towards the bottom, the NS4CR is a sunburst-ish and on the first page towards the middle.
Used good ones seem to go incredibly quickly. I can find like 3 on CL nationally and they all want a ton for a beat up one.

Which would you go for?

Thanks in advance
 
#2
I own both a Euro and an SSD era w/ dot inlays. They are both great. My euro is a bit different in that it is unfinished, but I don't know how much that affects tone. They both sound great. The Euro w/ the tonepump is actually my preferred one, although many don't care for the tonepump. It is boost only (SSD has boost and cut), but I generally play it flat or barely boosted bass. The SSD is brighter IMO, although it might be from the wood (which I'm not sure of). The SSD is not Hazlab but EMG, BTW.

You can't go wrong here. Honestly the Euro gets the Mike Starr sound dead on. The SSD is more Rex Brown. The difference is very subtle, and honestly in the mix I'm not sure if there's a huge difference. Similarly, the difference between these and the USA models is subtle, but there. The USA models I've played (and not owned, for the record) were less cutting in the treble and upper mids, maybe a little more balanced overall.

If I had to sell one, it would be the SSD, but I'd be sad. The fact is Spector really doesn't make a poor bass, particularly in the models you are looking at. The Spector sound (reverse P/J, EMG pups) is just awesome for cutting through a wall of guitars, almost to a fault- you won't "sit in the mix" anymore!

Long story short, you can't go wrong here. All things being equal, if you can deal with the dot inlays over the oval crown inlays, I'd get the SSD just because it's cheaper.
 
#3
I paid $700 for my Euro 4 (not LX, the earlier model) with the tonepump. It's got solid maple wings, and was in nice shape (some wear and tear on the finish, but nothing of consequence).

I swapped out the tonepump with an MM114 Haz Lab clone, but I'm contemplating going back to the tp. I actually liked it alot, it added a delicious grind to my tone.

I also own an NS5CRFM with an EMG BQC pre, but I'm getting rid of it. Not loving it.

The Euro 4 will join my in my grave, though. I love the playability and the tone. I would seriously consider going for a Euro 4 over a Euro 4 LX.
 
#4
I paid $900 for my 2009 LX4 including a Spector case. I love the natural fish. It's a piece of art! I thought about installing a 3 band EMG preamp but I'm happy with the TP. I don't want a preamp to color the pure, magical tone of my LX4.
 
#5
Orph said:
I paid $700 for my Euro 4 (not LX, the earlier model) with the tonepump. It's got solid maple wings, and was in nice shape (some wear and tear on the finish, but nothing of consequence).

I swapped out the tonepump with an MM114 Haz Lab clone, but I'm contemplating going back to the tp. I actually liked it alot, it added a delicious grind to my tone.

I also own an NS5CRFM with an EMG BQC pre, but I'm getting rid of it. Not loving it.

The Euro 4 will join my in my grave, though. I love the playability and the tone. I would seriously consider going for a Euro 4 over a Euro 4 LX.
Click to expand...

My next question was actually going to be a Euro4 vs a Euro4LX. I decided against the SSD since it was so much older, and yes the dot inlays bugged me.:hiding:
I'm talking to a guy who has a 02 Euro4 for $900. It's all maple, has the aguilar ODP1 (whatever it's called) preamp instead of the tonepump. It's blue burst instead of the black cherry on the LX. Both have HS cases but the LX is at guitar center so shipping is cheaper and paying is easier. Plus they said it was near perfect condition. The Euro4 is a private party so shipping will cost more and paypal likes to mess with me. If I could knock the LX down to $1000 would it be worth the extra $100, or should I go for the Euro4?

Thanks for the replies
 
#6
Orph said:
The Euro 4 will join my in my grave, though. I love the playability and the tone. I would seriously consider going for a Euro 4 over a Euro 4 LX.
Click to expand...
Absolutely.
After playing/owning various Spectors over 20+ years, my Euro4 is my #1, even over my US NS2.

I've preached for a while now that, although not bad basses, the Euro LX series are not quite up to the same quality as the previous Czech series neck-thru's.
In order of quality (and I've owned all but an LX), low to high I would rate them:
Euro LX - SSD NSCR - Spector NSCR(FM) - Euro.

Mine is an early Euro4 that still has an Aguilar OBP-1 Pre. I like this pre, but find nothing wrong with either the Tone Pumps or EMG pre's.

My NS2 has the Haz-Lab which I find most similar to the EMG pre's.

Ironically, I may soon own a LX series as the only Czech neck-thru available/ever made in a 6 string is a Euro 6 LX.

Bottom line, I would take a Euro way over a Euro LX.
My 2 cents. :D

Here she is:
SpectorNS2CR1.jpg

SpectorNS2CR2.jpg

SpectorNS2CR3.jpg
 
#7
jkkkjkhk said:
My next question was actually going to be a Euro4 vs a Euro4LX. I decided against the SSD since it was so much older, and yes the dot inlays bugged me.:hiding:
I'm talking to a guy who has a 02 Euro4 for $900. It's all maple, has the aguilar ODP1 (whatever it's called) preamp instead of the tonepump. It's blue burst instead of the black cherry on the LX. Both have HS cases but the LX is at guitar center so shipping is cheaper and paying is easier. Plus they said it was near perfect condition. The Euro4 is a private party so shipping will cost more and paypal likes to mess with me. If I could knock the LX down to $1000 would it be worth the extra $100, or should I go for the Euro4?

Thanks for the replies
Click to expand...
See my previous post.
Get the Euro4. That's an excellent price if in that condition. w/Spector case would be over the top good.
Plus, although I'm fine with either, the Aguilar OBP-1 seems to be looked upon with more favor than the Tone Pump.
 
#11
PhatBasstard said:
Let's put it this way:
Assuming they are in good condition,
if you were "greatly impressed" with a Legend,
a Euro may put you in a coma. ;)
Click to expand...

I used to have an Aria Pro II Elite II, sold it to a guy on the dean forum (he's on here, don't remember name). I'm picking up another Aria Pro II SB R60 (Elite I) from a guy on here as well. How do those compare in quality? I know the sound is miles apart.

I'm kind of surprised how much you guys favor the Euro to the the LX. According to JPSBassist (name ???) he said the sandwich idea along with the tonepump was made to get the tone that much closer to the USA sound. He said the Euros were 70% build, 50% finish, and 70% sound of the USA's where the LX's were 80%, 70%, and 80%. What would you argue about that?
 
#13
jkkkjkhk said:
I'm kind of surprised how much you guys favor the Euro to the the LX. According to JPSBassist (name ???) he said the sandwich idea along with the tonepump was made to get the tone that much closer to the USA sound. He said the Euros were 70% build, 50% finish, and 70% sound of the USA's where the LX's were 80%, 70%, and 80%. What would you argue about that?
Click to expand...
I like JPS, but he works (does work?) for Spector now (read between the lines).

Sorry, but I couldn't dissagree with him more on the LX series.
I've played several and they are just not as substantial, solid, or fit and finished as well as their predecessors were.
They don't sing or sustain as well as their predecessors.
The laminates were a cost cutting measure, regardless of the company spin.
If they were such an improvement all the US neck throughs would be having them.

That being said, I would still take an LX over any other company's bass in the same price range. Spector is just that good.

FWIW, this is one of the few Spector things JPS and I disagree on. :D
Otherwise we are both big marks for Spector.
 
#14
ok, I understand he worked/works for spector. He wasn't knocking the Euro's just saying the LX's were better (which could still be a biased opinion). After talking to you guys I think I'll go with the Euro, the only thing that disappoints me is the color. I love red, the LX was red, the Euro is blue/purple. I really can't tell which it is. Is the pics it's a purple-ish burst but it's called blue.

Anything other than the bridge that needs upgrading? the OBP-1, is it good/better that the tonepump in your opinion?
 
#17
jkkkjkhk said:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Here it is, he's not completely sure if it's a Aguilar or a tonepump. I've never tried either so I'm not biased.
Click to expand...
Like I said, I have the Aguilar but have also used the Tone Pump with no problems.

I think one of the things that got the Tone Pump off on the wrong foot is that it's specs and settings/capabilities were incorrectly stated due to a miscommunication between Spector and the manufacturer.
Those stats have since been corrected.
Plus, early versions (like this Euro will probably have if not Aguilar) were super hot in output.
Newer versions have a trim pot that most users set at 50-60% to match the outputs of other basses.

Who said the bridge needs replacing?! :eyebrow:

$900 for that bass with the Spector case is an excellent price.
Is that going to be a shipped price? Even if you have to kick in another $70-80 for shipping, it's still pretty good.
I used to have an NS5CRFM in that exact color.
At the time they called it "Blue Stain".
 

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