Spector release new 'Icon' series of basses

[cetera]

I'm guessing that these will replace the Pulse II basses, which appear to have ceased production....

 

 

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https://bassmagazine.com/spector-introduces-the-ns-icon-bolt-on-series/

[RussFM]

With the NS name and inlays I thought they were US made at first, and wondered why they didn't have the usual deep neck pocket. Makes sense now, they're more like the old Legend construction (I never played a Pulse). They look great and no need for inlay stickers! I'll have to try one out.

 

The Frank Bello had Icon in the name too, is that how they're identifying the 'budget' range now?

[Cosmo Valdemar]

Hooray! They look like Spectors!

[Jonesy]

Those are really cool. I really like the inlays and gloss finish on the entry level model. 

 

I wonder how the aguilar pre amp and pups compare to the EMGs in the Pulse.

 

Fingers crossed they'll be a raft of 2nd hand Pulse sales for me to choose from soon 😄 

[JohnDaBass]

It would be great to include a short scale version of the new Icon bolt on range.

[NancyJohnson]

I've loved the Spectors I've owned (four) and I still own a EuroX, but my fear for Spector is that their business model is fast aping Fender and it's diluting its position in the marketplace ('Coming May 2027, the Fender Vintera III range, exactly the same as the Vintera I, but now it's III, innit?').  While I appreciate over the years there's been the occasional movement away from the NS body line, the market just seems to be saturated with variations on (more or less) the same design with models suffixed with LT/LX/LE, offered in different colours, pickup and preamp configurations.  

 

Obviously I realise that (like Fender) the company needs to continually mix things up to keep the range fresh and to stay in business, but as Gary says these new models are possibly just replacements for a discounted line...how different are they from these and ultimately does it make any difference?

[PRSMike]

If you watch the video carefully they show 3-D images of a neck through. If you look even closer there is a Blue one that has EMG pickups. This is all at the beginning where they talk about the ICON lineup. Since the Ethos has also been discontinued I suspect that soon there will be a neck through, EMG pickups aquiped ICON out soon. And there is no blue ICON Bolt on but there was a blue one sitting there during the video. I hope so since it will be an immediate purchase for me. 

[crazycloud]

Spectors are NT and have EMGs - all else seems wrong to me. 

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5 hours ago, PRSMike said:

If you watch the video carefully they show 3-D images of a neck through. If you look even closer there is a Blue one that has EMG pickups. This is all at the beginning where they talk about the ICON lineup. Since the Ethos has also been discontinued I suspect that soon there will be a neck through, EMG pickups aquiped ICON out soon. And there is no blue ICON Bolt on but there was a blue one sitting there during the video. I hope so since it will be an immediate purchase for me. 

The 3D images are of the US custom shop as he discusses using the same dimensions/shaping. The blue one is a US custom shop. You can tell by the bridge, pickups, figuring, matching headstock and inlays.