Al Krow

Yup understood - I had the Yammy set on solo P (as I mentioned in my post above) and agreed that P+J definitely has a different tonal flavour.

I've actually only got one bass with a PJ config which is my Yamaha BB1025 and it's purely passive. Just been A/Bing them: I can get decently close to the "sweetness" of the solo P on the Yammy, with the Spector set with solo neck J on max with a bit of bridge J blended in (it's actually at 8/10 setting on the bridge, but that's because the blend only really kicks in at 7/10 to impact the tone of the other pup). So, yes, it's decently close and probably not worth getting another bass on that basis - but I'd very be interested in getting @Paulhauser and @cetera's take on this too.

Cheers for that. I'm going to pass on the Classic if it's JJ as I'm finding that the single / double coil + blend on my twin humbucker Euro 5LX is providing me with a superb range of usable tones, as well as just being a beautifully thought through design. I get a JJ option in that already when setting both pups to single coil (and they are very crisp and precise in that mode). I think my better route is get a vgc used Euro 5LX and swap out the neck pup for a P if needed. Wanted ad is already up! 😊

Haha, I think you mean it's very very full, in fact as full as full can be, but you're not selling! 😎

Phew, it's missing a thumb-rest string 😁

Aha! Or you could just get an HX Effects...😁 But more seriously: if cost is a factor, then the other thing to weigh in the mix is the QC will be developing its software portfolio of patches and ironing out wrinkles over the next 12 to 18 months and prices are unlikely to increase following release. Helix was launched on 11 June 2015 - nearly 6 years back, so the product is now becoming very well refined, even if the hardware is starting to show its age in terms of the DSP being made available by the competition e.g. the Hotone at the Stomp price point and the QC well above it. But an itch is an itch!

Did you ever consider getting the HX Effects, Jim?

Woody - there are plenty of UK manufacturers who provide great after sales service e.g. Chris at Smoothhound. Thomann are excellent no question, but I've not had any issues with any of the UK online sellers I've used over the years (Andertons, GuitarGuitar, PMT, G4M etc). In fact, the only one I know where we have both had a poor experience was Bax. Long gone are the days when if you bought a British Leyland or a Jag you would be expecting the wheels to be coming off.

Jim - the Hotone is not going to be in the same league as the Quad Cortex, but it is going to be much friendlier on the wallet! I'm keeping my eye on developments on their new offering, which might be of interest to you also given our shared admiration for Zoom multifxs.

Stew - where are HB basses made? I had assumed in a relatively cheap manufacturing territory such as China.

Calling @stewblack...😁

Yeah - those Sad knobs are just the ticket!

Nice - and a very tasteful finish. Are those standard 'Berg knobs?

All true! Plus I love having the option of bridge pup grit, particularly for low B string work, so I've steered clear of solo P pup basses.

Well if you're anything like the rest of us, I would be incredibly foolish to bet against that! Don't worry, if you check the OP to this thread there's plenty of space to add additional BBs if your collection grows 😉 What is slightly intriguing is the preponderance of BB owners with names / avatars beginning with M, which you're definitely a mirror of...

Congrats! The PH is definitely proving to be a MASSIVE hit with BC'ers. I'll add you to the "wall of shame"

Hi Oliver - that's a really good question! It's actually one I had given a fair bit of thought to previously - I posted this on the Yamaha thread a while back. Unlikely twins Two of my very favourite basses! IMO the Yamaha BB NE2 has taken more design cues from Spector than from any other of my basses including any of my other Yammys. In particular, they both have in common: sculpted backs making them very comfortable to wear; neck through; laminated necks – offer more stability and stiffness, reduces the likelihood of dead notes, improves tone evenness and response and improves resistance to warpage and twists; 3+2 headstock; purely active; seriously meaty low end; and 24 very accessible frets - even more so on the Yammy with its cut-away lower horn. The "extra" that the Yammy delivers is a 3 band EQ vs 2 band on the Spector and a Nathan East mid scoop, which I believe is centred at 2kHz, and which adds to its capability as a versatile tone monster. On the other hand the ability to obtain tonal precision by being able to select single or dual coil for either pup on Spector is an excellent feature, and being able to blend single / dual as well as single / single and dual / dual combinations of pups arguable provides an even greater range of desirable and very usable tones. Differences: obvious key one of pups - the Spector has its iconic EMGs whereas the Yammy features two Jazz-style, hum-cancelling, stacked Alnico V pickups; single bridge piece Spector vs individual bridge pieces on the NE2; 35" scale on the Spector vs 34" scale on the NE2; 17mm string spacing on the Spector vs 18mm on the NE2, but with a shallower taper on the Spector (down to 9.5mm at the nut vs 8.8mm for the NE2). In theory the individual bridge pieces should provide better isolation from vibrations on other strings, but I know some folk prefer single bridge pieces, and whilst a 35" scale should provide a slightly tighter low end, I think it's relatively marginal and I’m more familiar with 34" which is a very comfortable scale length for me, although I’m very much getting used to the Spector’s 35” which, combined with its slightly narrower string spacing and gentler taper, provides for a very well thought through fretboard playing experience. I was kinda gratified to read in this excellent review: Yamaha BBNE2 Nathan East Signature Model – MusicPlayers.com that their "evaluation short list" for the NE2 were the following: Spector Euro5 LX 5-String Electric Bass Guitar Warwick German Pro Series Streamer CV 5-String Electric Bass Guitar Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray 5 HH Neck Through 5-String Electric Bass ...so it appears that I'm in good company in wanting to put these two superb basses side by side! Both have pretty eye watering new prices although the NE2 is typically another £750 to £1,000 on top of the Spector - I was fortunate to get my NE2 in great condition used and my Spector new in a "sale". If I had to save just one 'in a fire'? Hmmm...tricky question! I guess I'd just be happy to still have either! But I'd probably, on balance (this week anyway!), be reaching for the flamed one to rescue from the flames.

Thanks gents, that's helpful. Your post on the variety of 'Berg pup options a while back was definitely a good one but I won't be rushing back to Delano's any time soon, though!

yeah fair point do any Sandberg VM pup / EQ combos come close to any of the above classic Fender P sounds? If so please spill the beans

Which pups / preamp combo would you say come closest to the classic Fender P sound?

Speaking of which, how close does the reverse P config on the Sandberg come to a classic Fender P bass sound? Couldn't really find a decent YT clip (in English) review of the VM5, but if you've come across one or got a recording yourself please do post a link.

I guess if you only think you bought it, then proper 'congratulations' should wait until we have some pics from you as proof! 😁

A bit hard on landlords: they are getting absolutely caned by their retail tenants foreclosing (Debenhams, House of Fraser, Arcadia etc.) and a lot of other tenants are using 'Administration' to renege on their leases. The biggest investors / landlords, by a very long way, in UK property assets are actually UK pension funds, who pay the pensions of millions of pensioners. Agreed on business rates - need to have a rebalancing of the tax regime away from business rates to taxing online platforms such as Amazon (being looked at carefully by a lot of governments at the moment). But even more important it needs Joe Public to want to buy stuff in stores rather than online; as you mention the decline of our town shopping centres is a direct consequence of some massive changes in consumer behaviour and the direction of travel is clear - there is going to be more online shopping in future, not less. The key has gotta be making shopping an 'experience' and a fun day out to make the travel & parking etc worthwhile. Town centres can still be cultural and entertainment hubs and, once Covid is sorted, the music industry has got a key part to play in keeping our town and city centres vibrant. For example, Wembley Boxpark combines food and beverage with live music at the heart of their shopping arena and my band has loved playing there. It's a model we could do well to encourage other venues to follow.

Particularly if live music is going to be happening again in out door pub venues by end of May Spring bank holiday! 😉

Good shout. I actually got my current Spector in an Anderton's sale but they've got very limited / non-existent stock of the Euro 5LX with EMGs / Classic and seem to only really be focussed on what they do have in stock from previous conversations with their team (fair enough I guess). But definitely might be worth me putting in a call to Mark at BD; he also has a fairly extensive stock of Spectors on his website including a Euro Classic 4 LH.