Sean

I think it's all down to the string gauge and construction. The BBP35 can give you a great B with the right string. If it's string tension on the 34" scale that concerns you, I can recommend D'Addario Chromes in 45-132. I had a 34" scale Squier Jazz strung BEAD and it was good, based on how the BBP35 is constructed, it would probably be even better with that .132 TI Jazz flats do a .136 @£40, that would be interesting.

I've recorded a few classic basslines with it with the Tonepump in there and also the same lines and settings with the 2018 Zebra that has the adjustable Tonepump. I'll record them with this HAZ-03 later and we'll be able to compare. I'll also weigh the two later.

The seller of the Euro neglected to show this chip... ...but it's just lacquer and the wood isn't damaged. Although, I will say that it's deeper than it looks in the photo. it didn't have this chip when it was at Andy Baxter's a couple of years ago. This will be a job for a day when I'm in the mood; there are jobs that I love doing, like soldering, wiring, fret work, set ups, cleaning but filling cracks or chips and then doing all the grades of wet and dry sanding is tedious. The frets are in pretty good condition, no rocking and although there are some slight flat spots, I'm not going to do a fret level and reprofile, it's not ready for that yet.

There's been another Spector that's come into the collection recently. It's been mentioned in other threads and it's a bass that has changed hands a few times in the last few years. It's a 2003 Euro 4 in Trans Amber. It needs some TLC like a fret polish, fingerboard clean and oil (done) and it needs new pickup screws and strap buttons but that's just cosmetics. I removed the original non-adjustable Tonepump preamp yesterday and replaced it with a Hazlabs LHZ-03 that you can see here. Installation was enjoyable, went to plan and it all worked perfectly first time. I like logging everything, so you can see I've logged the fitting date on the back of the cavity cover. I've also folded up that QA card with the serial number and put it in there. With higher end, older instruments I think it's important for future owners to know some of history of what they've got.

I fitted a Daddario nickel 0.135 to my BBP35 this morning. Wow, that extra 0.005 makes all the difference, it's fab. I'm struggling to understand why there isn't more love for the pickups in these instruments, I love them. They are very different to the previous generation but just a different flavour of very good.

I gigged an orange one regularly years ago. With a Gotoh bridge it was fantastic.

Well, I've put the HAZ-03 in my '03 Euro 4 today but before I restrung it I got called away to other duties...😉 Installation was easy for those comfortable with soldering and reading wiring diagrams. It's not a job for beginners. I've ordered new (gold) pickup screws as the existing ones are minging. The high frets have some areas of corrosion so need a full polish. So does the brass nut. I've cleaned the fretboard and given it some Crimson Guitars Fretboard Restorative (you really ought to buy some). I've recorded some standard bass lines with it (as it arrived, with the old Tone Pump) and will record the same lines with the same strings once it's all back in one piece. It's a peach but it's needed some therapy to get it to be the Spector it can be.

I'm glad I'm not alone with this; nice bloke doing good for the bass world, but it grates. There's something about that left hand technique that I can't watch either.

I'm 100% happy and sure the chip isn't related to the packaging. It was bubble wrapped inside the case.

Well, it arrived just now. I've not seen a bass packed like that before. The Parcelforce chap wasn't happy about it. It has picked up a laquer chip on the top edge at the 6th fret since it was at Andy's but it's a fill and polish job for a day when I'm in the mood. It probably deserves a NBD thread. We've well and truly hijacked this one 1

I've never finished one of his videos. I dunno what it is...

Argentinian rock band, Divididos have an incredible bassist in Diego Arnedo. I love all things Argentina and the music that comes out of this amazing country continues to inspire. Che. Qué onda.

I've ordered the Artec now. I've got loads of copper for shielding so will fully shield the cavity. Thanks very much.

Hi Folks I'm restoring an old bass (it's a hacked up early 80s BB400 from what I remember. It's routed for an MM and P. It has holes for 3 pots. I've got a budget of £80 max to get it up and running. I'm going to put in Warman pickups (£41.50 the pair), I've got loads of hardware, switches etc but need a preamp. I've looked at an Artec but they seem to be flat on 10 and just roll off frequency like filters from what I've read. Any recommendations for a 3 pot preamp at around £25? Thanks

That sounds pretty easy. Thanks. I haven't ordered it yet as I'm unsure what exactly is in this one until it arrives (it's not been despatched yet). If it's a new Mikalik Tonepump, I'll order the pedal, use Gary's advice on settings and I can use it with both Spectors and my other basses, if it's the old Tonepump, I'll swap it out for an LHZ-03.

So, do we know if it's a new Mikalik preamp in there or was it just a repair? Any ideas?

Did it all go to plan? Do you have any "handy hints" for the installation? I've downloaded the check list.

That's exactly what I'd have said. The Laney has to be experienced. All these big valve monsters have an almost living quality that differentiates them from anything else.

So, just to clarify, you pointed Andy in the direction of Mikalik? Was it all resolved by Andy and working in the end? Did you then sell it to the current seller?

~300 USA Spector instruments per year? I feel slightly ill having sold one in the past. I had no idea they were that thin on the ground 🤫

Yes, it could be but I'm not totally convinced based on this rough logic: We go from 2 blocks of maple to, let's say a sandwich of maple/walnut/alder, the walnut is the same density as the maple and it's 40% maple, 10% walnut, 50% alder roughly, I'm giving alder the benefit. Alder is 67% the density of maple. We've reduced 15% just on the wings. I reckon 6-8oz. Meanwhile US instruments are still being made with full maple. Is that 6-8oz worth it? I don't know but it does turn a 9lb 12oz bass into a 9lb 4oz bass. Is that going to meet whatever the business need was at the time? Can @cetera shed any light on why the change happened?

@Eldon Tyrell Wow! Andy's photos give it a completely different vibe, it looks stunning. It's nice to get a bit of its history.

Have you ever played it? Anything specific to report? I used to have a US NS5-XL and loved the solid maple wings and I played an 02ish Euro once that just spoke to me so was keen to fill that gap. This '03 seems like a bit of a case queen.