Spector fans!?!

[bigbottomend]

11 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

I'm loving the Euro 4 LX but struggling to get the best out of it with the band. We're playing alt rock, inspired by Teenage Fanclub so fairly chilled out. I'm running straight in to an Ashdown ABM 600 but having to cut the high mids and treble and play with quite a light touch to tone stop it sounding too aggressive. 

Any tips for getting a bit of character back in my tone while sounding good with relatively clean guitars?

It more than likely has a tonepump preamp inside, turn the level down to just under half way.

[SteveXFR]

47 minutes ago, bigbottomend said:

It more than likely has a tonepump preamp inside, turn the level down to just under half way.

 

It does indeed have a tone pump. I'll give that a try.

[bigbottomend]

11 hours ago, SteveXFR said:

 

It does indeed have a tone pump. I'll give that a try.

I vaugely now remember taking mine down to 1/4 to get a much cleaner tone.  Eventually swapped it to a LHZ pre though for the HAZ tone. 

[Paulhauser]

@SteveXFR as said above dialing back on the output might help.

Also try to play with the treble a bit. While technically the tonepump isn't a boost only setup, it doesn't have a center detent so the best bet is to dial back to "zero" , counterclockwise and start from there to see (hear) what you like.  

Eventually Spectors have their own sound and that either fits to the music you play or not. 

[Sean]

@SteveXFR 

I've replaced all the preamps in mine with LHZ-03.

 

When gigging I run everything turned up full except on a couple of songs (Under Pressure and Bohemian Rhapsody) where I roll the treble to halfway. I'm never chasing a tone, never have to worry about trying to be like a safecracker getting the knob to the exact right spot. 

 

For me, Spectors are a one trick pony, it's the best trick in the world and the pony has wings. That's what I want; repeatable, reliable tone that is always there. I found that I'd get a useable tone from a TP but would lose it if the knobs got moved. The way I run now makes it easy to check the knob position on the fly. And the LHZ has centre detents making it easy when I do need to adjust.  

 

 

Edited August 2 by Sean

[ern500evo]

The LHZ is such a great upgrade. Well worth the money and it brings the bass to life 

[attackbass]

After crippling shoulder pain after a wedding gig last Thursday where I used my Spector followed by a festival last night where I used my Stingray 5 where I felt absolutely fine after the gig I think it's time to accept defeat and acknowledge by body doesn't like how the bass hangs when standing up.

 

It's an incredible bass, sounds amazing, plays amazing and I love the design of the basses from the body shape to the bridge and headstock design.

 

Thinking I'll probably put it in a case and leave it there as a studio tool thought it pains me to have such a great instrument not being used!

 

 

[Sean]

It's a quirky geometry, for sure. Wearing it much lower on the strap helps some. 

 

I struggle with how people manage the Euro X shape or Explorer/Flying-vee shapes. 

[Eldon Tyrell]

29 minutes ago, Sean said:

It's a quirky geometry, for sure. Wearing it much lower on the strap helps some. 

 

I struggle with how people manage the Euro X shape or Explorer/Flying-vee shapes. 

Just hang it really loooow

 

[attackbass]

Ha. Yeah I did start to wear it pretty low which helped my right arm but absolutely destroyed my left shoulder! Can't seem to win! 

[SteveXFR]

Yesterday I tuned my Euro LX4 down to C with a set of .110 - .55 strings. Played in to Reaper through my Two Notes Revolt on the Marshall (dirt) channel its sounding really very close to Rex Brown's tone in the last two Pantera records. It sounds awesome. 

I was surprised by this considering Rex used Ampegs and Ive not got a  Haz preamp yet

[Jack]

7 minutes ago, SteveXFR said:

Yesterday I tuned my Euro LX4 down to C with a set of .110 - .55 strings. Played in to Reaper through my Two Notes Revolt on the Marshall (dirt) channel its sounding really very close to Rex Brown's tone in the last two Pantera records. It sounds awesome. 

I was surprised by this considering Rex used Ampegs and Ive not got a  Haz preamp yet

Spectors have a lot of their own personality, not surprised it sounded right despite the (slightly) different amp. 

[Paulhauser]

Found this new dealer exclusive shell pink Euro Classic 4 and 5, seems like they have a regular classic version and one with the roasted neck (check the paint / natural finish transition at the heel) Some German and Japaneese dealers have them, though I have no idea about worldwide availability or exclusivity.

Cool color and I must say it is a great time to be a Spector aficionado, even if my wallet does not think so. 

[attackbass]

After a good 3 weeks or so of not playing my Spector and instesd my Fenders, Musicman and Alpher my arms and shoulder are pain free which gives me a pretty clear indication that unfortunately, despite my love for Spectors they are not suited to me as a gigging instrument.

 

I'll probably be listing it on here regrettably when I get a chance and maybe look for a Fender P bass V. 

[Sean]

That pink one is lovely. I'd love a 4 with non-X JJ pickups. You know, just to have something different 😉

[Eldon Tyrell]

2 minutes ago, Sean said:

That pink one is lovely. I'd love a 4 with non-X JJ pickups. You know, just to have something different 😉

Agree. The back of the headstock looks very different too. Never seen something like that. Check it out:

 

 

[Paulhauser]

3 hours ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

Agree. The back of the headstock looks very different too. Never seen something like that. Check it out:

 

 

Yeah, wondering myself, too... what's that, a prototype that got away maybe?

 

Edited August 30 by Paulhauser
inserted pic 2x

[Paulhauser]

Also some new RST Zebra limited ones

 

 

[attackbass]

I've done it. I've listed my LT5 in the for sale section. I picked it up and played it for a bit before I took the photos and thought this is a great bass I should keep bit common sense had prevailed and it's gone up

[bassofdeath]

I've been on a bit of a journey with my Euro. 

I have taken the tonepump out and added an LHZ3 in. I took the pair of EMG TWs out and added in a EMG 40p5 and a 40J, essentially trying to turn a 5 string euro into a classic split p + J 1980s NS.

Only issue has been...EMG.

The first attempt had a p5 where the width of the magnets didn't cover the G. As such the G is weak sounding and bad to play. I tried a second EMGP5...same problem.

Have any of you experienced this?

 

The other issue is that the 40J is....quiet. notably less output than the 40P5. I'm not running a blend pot. It's two seperate volumes. But I'm having to ballpark a blend by rolling off the p5 because it just bullies the J. And I hate doing that. Just feels like it's not working as it was meant to. 

Have any of you experienced a quiet J? I've had two of them. Both quiet.

 

Lastly, I'm abandoning the P5 and trying the six string 40p. This might cover the G. I am taking a risk that the A will get caught between two rails and be weak. But we will see - it can only be as bad as the 40p5 farce.

Have any of you ever tried this out?

 

Overall, I've tried to mod a Euro and I'm on the verge of cathartically defenestrating the entire thing. I didn't care for the sound of a satin finished Euro maple fretboard with the tonepump and TWs. I'm chasing the classic Spector tone. Trying to undercut the US model because I can't afford one brand new (£6500+). 

I'm running out of ideas. I've seen a bit of chat from some of you LHZ modders and I wonder if you have any tips because so far I'm feeling like I have botched this 'un.

 

Anyway. Tinketytonk.

Edited 5 hours ago by bassofdeath

[Sean]

2 hours ago, bassofdeath said:

I've been on a bit of a journey with my Euro. 

I have taken the tonepump out and added an LHZ3 in. I took the pair of EMG TWs out and added in a EMG 40p5 and a 40J, essentially trying to turn a 5 string euro into a classic split p + J 1980s NS.

Only issue has been...EMG.

The first attempt had a p5 where the width of the magnets didn't cover the G. As such the G is weak sounding and bad to play. I tried a second EMGP5...same problem.

Have any of you experienced this?

 

The other issue is that the 40J is....quiet. notably less output than the 40P5. I'm not running a blend pot. It's two seperate volumes. But I'm having to ballpark a blend by rolling off the p5 because it just bullies the J. And I hate doing that. Just feels like it's not working as it was meant to. 

Have any of you experienced a quiet J? I've had two of them. Both quiet.

 

Lastly, I'm abandoning the P5 and trying the six string 40p. This might cover the G. I am taking a risk that the A will get caught between two rails and be weak. But we will see - it can only be as bad as the 40p5 farce.

Have any of you ever tried this out?

 

Overall, I've tried to mod a Euro and I'm on the verge of cathartically defenestrating the entire thing. I didn't care for the sound of a satin finished Euro maple fretboard with the tonepump and TWs. I'm chasing the classic Spector tone. Trying to undercut the US model because I can't afford one brand new (£6500+). 

I'm running out of ideas. I've seen a bit of chat from some of you LHZ modders and I wonder if you have any tips because so far I'm feeling like I have botched this 'un.

 

Anyway. Tinketytonk.

Are you able to attend either the SW or SE Bass Bashes?

 

I'm holding back from asking questions or providing solutions without having seen/played the bass. 

 

I have a Euro LX 5 that has those pickups and an LHZ-03 and it's perfect. 

 

I understand that there were some faulty pickups out there at some point and that there's nothing wrong with the design of the pickups, just some mis-builds.