Spector fans!?!

[three]

28 minutes ago, Mudpup said:

That's interesting...I thought it was just me.  I went from Schaller locks on all basses to just the normal buttons and rubber washers on everything and they all felt more comfortable on the strap. You wouldn't think it would make much difference would you? It seemed to change the pressure points over my shoulder and tuck the bass back into me a bit. That's on all 3 - a Spector Pulse 2, a Warwick Proline and a Zon Sonus

Agreed - I remember posting a fairly lengthy contribution on just this issue around five or six years ago - I find that Schallers permit my basses to subtly tip forward a little, creating a bit of an uncomfortable angle between chest and the top edge of the bass.  I jettisoned straplocks in favour of rubber washers years ago. 

[Paulhauser]

Well, we are all different, aren't we? I have Schallers on all my Spectors which were / are used for hundreds of gigs and they (Schallers) plus the same leather straps on each keep them in the position I like (see profile pic)  

53 minutes ago, Mudpup said:

That's interesting...I thought it was just me.  I went from Schaller locks on all basses to just the normal buttons and rubber washers on everything and they all felt more comfortable on the strap. You wouldn't think it would make much difference would you? It seemed to change the pressure points over my shoulder and tuck the bass back into me a bit. That's on all 3 - a Spector Pulse 2, a Warwick Proline and a Zon Sonus

 

21 minutes ago, three said:

Agreed - I remember posting a fairly lengthy contribution on just this issue around five or six years ago - I find that Schallers permit my basses to subtly tip forward a little, creating a bit of an uncomfortable angle between chest and the top

edge of the bass.  I jettisoned straplocks in favour of rubber washers years ago. 

[Sean]

10 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

Well, we are all different, aren't we? I have Schallers on all my Spectors which were / are used for hundreds of gigs and they (Schallers) plus the same leather straps on each keep them in the position I like (see profile pic)  

 

I've just gone back to Schallers on my Spectors; all with 4" padded leather straps. At <4kg each they are super comfy. The new type Schaller with the hex drive screws and locking security rings are 1000× more secure than rubber washers and there is less chance of smacking your bass on something when removing them too (don't ask).

 

On my Yams and Valenti I have the D'Addario clips, again, much better then the rubber washers. These live at home mostly so the straps are permanently on. With the Spectors, because of the placement of the strap buttons, the straps stay on when they're in transit in the Mono gig bag.

 

I had a Dunlop strap lock disintegrate on me at a wedding gig sound check in 2009. I gaffer taped it for the gig and haven't gone near those

Edited May 1 by Sean

[three]

14 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

Well, we are all different, aren't we? I have Schallers on all my Spectors which were / are used for hundreds of gigs and they (Schallers) plus the same leather straps on each keep them in the position I like (see profile pic)  

 

We are! A combination of the height at which I wear the bass and my own physiology I suspect, but Schallers just don’t work for me.  I tried the newer version but with the same result. Both my Shortys have Dunlop Dual pins. For security, I double over the ends of the Comfort Strapp, then add the rubber washer. This prevents any forward swivel and provides a bit of solidity and stability. I still have Schallers on the ‘bic shorties but only play seated - strap balance is a joke (again, preference and physiology - I’m sure they’re fine for many players).  Here’s the Shortys - a rare day of strong sunshine up here

Edited May 1 by three

[three]

16 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

Couldn't agree more. 

I'm not big on mods but if you have a man for the job it can be fun and the three I made done turned out great 

 

My first Spector was done in '16 , a LX5 trans black originally, the controls moved to the cavity cover and the whole thing was refinished to a violet sort of color, highgloss on the body, oil finish on the neck. Played many gigs and even today on of the first bass I grab for practice or writing. 

 

 

The second was a pre-LX Euro5 natural, didn't do anything to the controls (East deluxe) but swapped the PUs to a 40P and J plus shaved the neck which was beefier originally than the LX

 

 

The 3rd one was a blue SSD NS-4CR in boring blue that became classic white. I sold this long ago as 4 stringers weren't much use for me but with the full maple wings and super quiet Noll electronics it sounded massive. 

I don't think I have a pic at hand but you get the idea, a white NS Spector with dot inlays. 

 

The thing about refinish and mods is that you should do it only if the basses are keepers as they affect resale value (eventhough I received several offers for the pink and the purple)

The pink and the purple have hundreds of gigs in them and keep counting and I love what was done to them even after 8-9 years. But these kinda things are not for everyone and to this day these are the only instruments of mine that were modified (apart from a pu or preamp swap) 

Absolutely love that violet - could I ask who performed the respray?

[Paulhauser]

9 hours ago, three said:

Absolutely love that violet - could I ask who performed the respray?

It was done in Hungary by Boldogh guitars. (The others too)

[attackbass]

Got the standard 45-125 Super Brights on my LT5 now! I love these strings, very much more flexible and respond better to how you're playing to what I was using. 

 

They've completely opened up the sound on my Spector. The bass now sings, where it sounded a bit stiff and dead. The B string is so clear and articulate now. 

 

Easier on the hands too, which I suppose is from not having to pull the sound out of the bass so much!

[ern500evo]

Picked my Euro LX from the tech this morning. LHZ-03 preamp installed and some luminlay fret markers installed too. Only played it briefly through my headphone amp, but the LHZ sounds fab! Have to wait about a week to hear it cranked through my GK amp, but I think I’m going to be impressed 😊

[Sean]

5 hours ago, ern500evo said:

Picked my Euro LX from the tech this morning. LHZ-03 preamp installed and some luminlay fret markers installed too. Only played it briefly through my headphone amp, but the LHZ sounds fab! Have to wait about a week to hear it cranked through my GK amp, but I think I’m going to be impressed 😊

What does an LHZ installation cost?

[2elliot]

On 08/05/2025 at 15:53, ern500evo said:

Picked my Euro LX from the tech this morning. LHZ-03 preamp installed and some luminlay fret markers installed too. Only played it briefly through my headphone amp, but the LHZ sounds fab! Have to wait about a week to hear it cranked through my GK amp, but I think I’m going to be impressed 😊

That is very cool!

[Sean]

On 08/05/2025 at 19:37, Sean said:

What does an LHZ installation cost?

Rough estimate?

[ern500evo]

Not sure, I just paid for install, a set up and the fret markers installed. The invoice wasn’t broken down 

[Bigwan]

Aw man that Spector Forte is back at BassBros again... Haunting me it is! Haunting me I tell you...

[Paulhauser]

On 28/04/2025 at 15:52, Eldon Tyrell said:

Thanks for asking, Paul. Well, looks like customs wondered whether or not the bass needed a CITES certificate. I was able to convince them that it did not need one. The bass is on the way to the local depot now and as soon as I have paid taxes and duties, it should get delivered. Probably on Wed or Thur. Then, after checking the neck shape, it will take me a few seconds to figure out whether I'll keep it or sell it here on via BD or BB. Nearly there (BTW, the bass arrived in the UK on the 7th!, that's THREE WEEKS AGO)!

Guess you already sold it 😉

[Eldon Tyrell]

2 hours ago, Paulhauser said:

Guess you already sold it 😉

It finally arrived on May 1st. Great looking and sounding bass.

I haven't sold it yet, but I am tempted. The neck is too chunky for my taste. Not as bad as some others I had, e.g a black LT with Fishman Fluence pickups.

I am telling myself that I will get used to it, but I just played my Euro Mike Starr signature that has a nice thin neck (probably modeled on Mike's Kramer era NS-2) and it felt sooo much better. 

 

[Eldon Tyrell]

My poorly taken photo does not do the bass justice. It looks much better in real life.

The Japanese retailer's photos capture the finish much better.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 18:51 by Eldon Tyrell

[Paulhauser]

@Eldon Tyrell that's a beauty, black cherry is one of the best finishes for me on a Spector, I had a Euro 5LX but foolishly sold it. 

Too bad about the neck profile but there's nothing you can do really other than selling it it. Once you play the Starr you'll always be reminded....

[Woodinblack]

Played my green one on saturday night and realised it is a better bass in natural light, because under green light it looks a bit sickly, whereas under sunlight it glows - should have swapped the order this weekend!

[Eldon Tyrell]

28 minutes ago, Paulhauser said:

@Eldon Tyrell that's a beauty, black cherry is one of the best finishes for me on a Spector, I had a Euro 5LX but foolishly sold it. 

Too bad about the neck profile but there's nothing you can do really other than selling it it. Once you play the Starr you'll always be reminded....

You are right. I need to find an Ian Hill model, the PJ version. That also visually goes well with the Mike Starr - Black and White, Yin and Yang, the dark side and the light side etc etc etc. 

[SteveXFR]

Hi everyone. I'm starting to look for a Spector, really wanting that classic Spector sound (Rex Brown, Mike Starr) and a decent quality model. Which would be the models to go for?

Is the Rebop any good? There seems to be quite a few for sale but I can't find much info about them. Should I spend the extra for an NS Pulse or Euro LX?

[ezbass]

28 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Hi everyone. I'm starting to look for a Spector, really wanting that classic Spector sound (Rex Brown, Mike Starr) and a decent quality model. Which would be the models to go for?

Is the Rebop any good? There seems to be quite a few for sale but I can't find much info about them. Should I spend the extra for an NS Pulse or Euro LX?

Old thread here about Rebops…

 

[Jonesy]

37 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Hi everyone. I'm starting to look for a Spector, really wanting that classic Spector sound (Rex Brown, Mike Starr) and a decent quality model. Which would be the models to go for?

Is the Rebop any good? There seems to be quite a few for sale but I can't find much info about them. Should I spend the extra for an NS Pulse or Euro LX?

 

I was asking a similar sort of thing in another thread recently and the general consensus seemed to be, if you want that Spector sound then a Pulse is a good mixture of price point/tone/quality. Especially if you whack a Haz preamp clone in it. I'm not sure what the differences are between the I and II apart from the finish and QMT though.

 

And no idea if it's worth paying extra for the Euro.

 

 

[cetera]

Pulse II is a great entry to Spectorland and THAT tone, especially if you upgrade the preamp.

If you can afford it and don't mind a slightly thicker neck then a Euro 4LX will get you there straight away. 👍

[SteveXFR]

2 hours ago, cetera said:

Pulse II is a great entry to Spectorland and THAT tone, especially if you upgrade the preamp.

If you can afford it and don't mind a slightly thicker neck then a Euro 4LX will get you there straight away. 👍

 

The Pulse does sound great in the videos I've seen. I think it would suit me better than the Ethos.

The Euro LX is pushing the budget a bit but definitely a possibility. 

I'm currently trying to decide whether to go 4 string and tune down to C# for the new band or just go 5 string. If I go 5 it'll avoid setup issues but the G string will probably never get used. There's also the multi scale Dimension 4 confusing matters.

[Woodinblack]

1 hour ago, SteveXFR said:

There's also the multi scale Dimension 4 confusing matters.

 

Well, it doesn't change much other than the length, you still have the 4/5 string issue.

Is the new band just C#? I joined a new band that does a lot of metal and they are all in different tunings, the 5 is essential for that. I use a drop D bass for 3 songs and a standard 5 for songs in E, Eb, C#, C and B, and then have to downtune, because someone always wants one song in A!