Active Bass Recommendations - Possibly a Spector?

[Jonesy]

Well, GAS being GAS and all.......

 

I think it may be time for a change in the stable and I've got a hankering for something active and modern sounding/looking. All of my basses have been traditional looking and passive and I've got a bit of a GAS driven inclination to try something new. I've just got a hold of a fretless Aria SB1000 and (although it's not really modern in the whole grand scheme of things) I'm starting to change my mind on active basses, so am on the look out for something active. Problem is I've never really looked into brands like Ibanez, Warwick, Spector, even Music Man etc because I've always thought they weren't for me, so I know nout about them. And this is where you guys come in 😃

 

So, I'm asking the collective brain of BC to help me find a new bass.

 

Budget wise I'd say somewhere in-between £300-800

Happy to go 2nd hand

Zero preference on pups/preamp

4 strings

Fretted 

Ideally it won't look like a P bass

 

In my head I'm thinking of a Spector, but don't really know enough about their product range to know what to look out for and what's the best bet when looking for budget vs features etc. Is the performer line worth looking at - I know it doesn't have the reverse P's and will have a cheaper preamp etc. The Legend line has some older models that are classic and customs, newer ones have reverse P's - any recommendations there?

 

Happy to look outside of Spector's too, so feel free to chuck some recommendations my way!

 

[tauzero]

Preferences for neck profile, through neck or bolt-on? Push the boat out and go headless? There's Cort and Hohner as well as your list, and you might even find a Shuker at a bargain price.

[Jonesy]

1 hour ago, tauzero said:

Preferences for neck profile, through neck or bolt-on? Push the boat out and go headless? There's Cort and Hohner as well as your list, and you might even find a Shuker at a bargain price.

 

I don't really have any preference when it comes how the neck is attached.

 

I'm fairly flexible on profile too, not to fussed on radius. I'm happy on my Jazz with its 38mm neck and Rick with its 44mm neck. If it is on the chunkier side at the nut then ideally it'd be slimmer back to front, rather than a baseball bat, just to keep things manageable. 

 

In an ideal world the neck will be glossed or painted, but it's not a deal breaker.

 

I've seen a Fender Player Plus PJ, which very much looks like a P bass, but is acceptable as it's a metallic snot green. No idea what they're like though and I've read mixed things.

I've also seen a Sterling 34 in seafoam sparkle that is pretty tempting.

 

 

 

Headless might be a bit too far, one step at a time, eh? 

Edited yesterday at 15:44 by Jonesy

[Lozz196]

Do Yamaha BBs look too Precisiony, if not def worth checking out.

[merello]

I had a Spector Legend....for the price it played well and sounded great live!

[ezbass]

Secondhand, Ibanez SR Premiums come in at the top end of your budget, but are a lot of bass for your money. 

Edited 23 hours ago by ezbass

[Misdee]

A  used Yamaha 1024/X isn't active but it's within your budget if you can find one and it sounds modern, not much like a Fender at all. It really does have the thickness of tone that the best active basses have, too. It will certainly challenge something like an SB1000 for that in-your-face upfront bass sound that was so popular at one time.

 

I suppose nowadays when  bass players refer to "modern" basses it's a bit complicated because what that mainly means is what used to be modern back in the old days, that being the late 1970's to the late 1990's. I've been getting into that sound again recently. It's long overdue a revival. In modern times ie post millennium traditional "retro"style basses and tones have dominated. Modern basses have been considered old-fashioned, if that makes sense.

Edited 22 hours ago by Misdee

[Machines]

What exactly is it in the active sound you want ? An active Fender Jazz and something like a Spector with EMG humbuckers will sound very different.

[lemmywinks]

Ideally you need to play a lot of basses to nail down what will suit you.

 

I would add MTD Kingston Z series, high end Ibanez (pref with Nordstrands) and German Warwicks to your list, all of which can be had used for your budget.

[Jonesy]

11 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Do Yamaha BBs look too Precisiony, if not def worth checking out.

 

Yammy's are OK to look at, my brain will just have to get over the fact that they also make calculators and boat engines!

 

I haven't got anything against the Precision shape, it's just bonus points will be awarded for something that didn't look too traditional. 

 

I'd look at the Player Plus PJ and Charvel San Dimas, although from reading around I'd be better off with a Sire. Only issue there is their PJ's look fairly trad  and no funky colours are available.

 

11 hours ago, merello said:

I had a Spector Legend....for the price it played well and sounded great live!

 

Ah cool! Which one did you have? I'm trying to figure out what the best ones in this series are. Some seem to come with Bart's and different preamps etc. Are the early ones made on Korea? Do you know if they're any better?

 

11 hours ago, Misdee said:

A  used Yamaha 1024/X isn't active but it's within your budget if you can find one and it sounds modern, not much like a Fender at all. It really does have the thickness of tone that the best active basses have, too. It will certainly challenge something like an SB1000 for that in-your-face upfront bass sound that was so popular at one time.

 

I suppose nowadays when  bass players refer to "modern" basses it's a bit complicated because what that mainly means is what used to be modern back in the old days, that being the late 1970's to the late 1990's. I've been getting into that sound again recently. It's long overdue a revival. In modern times ie post millennium traditional "retro"style basses and tones have dominated. Modern basses have been considered old-fashioned, if that makes sense.

 

Yeah, completely agree there. Odd isn't it, when I say modern I mean something that sounds like it's 40 year old, not 70! 

 

11 hours ago, Machines said:

What exactly is it in the active sound you want ? An active Fender Jazz and something like a Spector with EMG humbuckers will sound very different.

 

Good point.

 

I suppose it started off the back of listening to Alice in Chains, Pantera and Fugazi - so Spector PJ or MM humbuckers are the general wheelhouse I'm after, although I'd be happy with other humbuckers. 

[Jonesy]

30 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

Ideally you need to play a lot of basses to nail down what will suit you.

 

I would add MTD Kingston Z series, high end Ibanez (pref with Nordstrands) and German Warwicks to your list, all of which can be had used for your budget.

 

Very true, the problem is I have no idea where to start! Thanks for those suggestions, I'll check them out 😃

 

[ezbass]

Just did a search on the GG website with your price range. These are obviously new, but the brands/models that stood out the most often were: Ibanez SRs, Yamaha TRBXs and SBMM Ray4s. These were all new of course, but they seem to have active offerings throughout that price range. 
 

I’ve never tried a Spector, but would really to, especially after watching this video:

Maybe that might help deciding if that’s the active tone you’re looking for, or maybe this one for the ‘Ray, same format, different bass.

 

 

[lemmywinks]

A used Spector NS Pulse might be your best bet if you want a "proper" specced Spector within budget. Reverse P at the neck, EMGs and the Tonepump pre, made in Korea still I think.

[Jonesy]

I've seen that Spector video loads and would be lying if I said it's not partially responsible for said GAS attack! 

 

The only issue is I'm not sure how close the Spectors within my budget will sound to the full fat USA ones. So, I guess my question to any Spector aficionados is - what's the model to look out for within my budget that sounds the best/most like the US ones?  

[lemmywinks]

Add a bit to your budget and you could order this today:

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/spector-ns-pulse-ii-4-black-stain-matte/

[Jonesy]

9 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

A used Spector NS Pulse might be your best bet if you want a "proper" specced Spector within budget. Reverse P at the neck, EMGs and the Tonepump pre, made in Korea still I think.

 

Ah, I think you answered my question as I was typing it! If a Pulse II is the sweet spot for best value/most spector sounding out of the non US models then I'll keep an eye out.

 

What's the difference between the Pulse I and II? They both look to have the same pups, pre amp and woods for the body, neck and fingerboard. Is it just the finish and QM top? 

 

 

6 minutes ago, lemmywinks said:

Add a bit to your budget and you could order this today:

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/spector-ns-pulse-ii-4-black-stain-matte/

 

That does look pretty - have added it to the list!

[Mudpup]

As luck would have it I just happen to have a Spector Pulse 2 with the LHZ Hazlab clone preamp sitting in the front room and we're overdue a visit....I'll bring it over 🙂

 

In fact I'll bring all 3 active basses over for you if you want - so thats a German Warwick Proline and my trusty old Zon. They're all different flavours of awesome activeness.

 

Add a Cort A4 Plus to your list as well - stunning bass for the money

[Jonesy]

6 minutes ago, Mudpup said:

As luck would have it I just happen to have a Spector Pulse 2 with the LHZ Hazlab clone preamp sitting in the front room and we're overdue a visit....I'll bring it over 🙂

 

In fact I'll bring all 3 active basses over for you if you want - so thats a German Warwick Proline and my trusty old Zon. They're all different flavours of awesome activeness.

 

Add a Cort A4 Plus to your list as well - stunning bass for the money

 

Ah, I thought only the Warwick and the Zon survived your cull! That sound like a plan, lemme know what biscuits you want and lets sort a date 😃

 

I almost gave you a shout about the Cort after you raving about it, then I saw in the classifieds that you moved it on and it has since changed hands again.

[Mudpup]

5 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

 

Ah, I thought only the Warwick and the Zon survived your cull! That sound like a plan, lemme know what biscuits you want and lets sort a date 😃

 

I almost gave you a shout about the Cort after you raving about it, then I saw in the classifieds that you moved it on and it has since changed hands again.

The chap who bought the Cort has it listed for sale on here now i think.....He's local to me. Ah just saw he's sold it already

Edited 8 hours ago by Mudpup

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, Mudpup said:

As luck would have it I just happen to have a Spector Pulse 2 with the LHZ Hazlab clone preamp sitting in the front room and we're overdue a visit....I'll bring it over 🙂

 

In fact I'll bring all 3 active basses over for you if you want - so thats a German Warwick Proline and my trusty old Zon. They're all different flavours of awesome activeness.

 

Add a Cort A4 Plus to your list as well - stunning bass for the money

The power of BC, top marks 👏👏👏.

 

2 hours ago, Jonesy said:

I've seen that Spector video loads and would be lying if I said it's not partially responsible for said GAS attack! 

Same here and I keep looking at this too, but the violet one 😍…

 

2 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

Add a bit to your budget and you could order this today:

https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/spector-ns-pulse-ii-4-black-stain-matte/

 

Edited 7 hours ago by ezbass

[cetera]

To double down on what some others have said re: Spector... 

The Pulse II is the best bang for your buck, sounding, feeling and playing Spector in your price range, especially if you can get a used one. Keep your eyes open and you should be able to grab a used one at the top of your budget! Otherwise you may be able to get a used Spector Ethos which is also excellent.

[Jack]

I liked my Spector Pulse so much that I recently sold my Spector Euro. Whenever I fancied playing a Spector it was always the Pulse and never the Euro. They really are excellent basses. So too was the Euro mind, just that I liked the P/J over the MM. FWIW I paid £500 for my Pulse in the correct ultra violet and I sold my Euro for £750, so there are Spectors out there in your price range.

Edited 5 hours ago by Jack

[cetera]

1 minute ago, Jack said:

I liked my Spector Pulse so much that I recently sold my Spector Euro. Whenever I fancied playing a Spector it was always the Pulse and never the Euro. They really are excellent basses. So too was the Euro mind, just that I liked the P/J over the MM. FWIW I paid £500 for my Pulse in the correct ultra violet and I sold my Euro for £750, so there are Spectors out there in your price range.

 

You sold a Euro for £750?!?!?!? 🤯

[HeadlessBassist]

I'm going to go left field with my usual reasonably priced choice. Slightly radical looks, great build quality, excellent balance, lovely clean sounding preamp, seven piece laminate neck, roasted maple fingerboard and serious playability for the money - Cort Artisan Space Bass 4. I've had both the 5 and the 4 now, and the 4-string version is still blowing me away with it's speedy neck'd playability and portability.

 

Oh, and you can have a brand new one for just over £600. What's not to like?

[PaulThePlug]

Don't 'spose your near Oxford?

Not mine... but likes an SR

https://ebay.us/m/vVPNU8