Spector fans!?!

[Al Krow]

8 minutes ago, krispn said:

Bass direct or Anderton’s would be a good bet too

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.

[krispn]

Plus he’ll be knowledgeable about spec config etc 

Anothergo to option search YouTube for the spec. Someone is bound to have a video up if the spec you want is made. 

Edited February 13, 2021 by krispn

[OliverBlackman]

On 13/02/2021 at 10:48, Al Krow said:

 

Cue gratuitous pic of my solitary, but much appreciated, Spector...

Am I right that you have/ had one of the Nathan East Yamaha models? How does that compare to the Euro 5? The one at BD is a similar price to the Spector Euro classic.

[Al Krow]

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.

Edited February 14, 2021 by Al Krow

[cetera]

On 13/02/2021 at 10:48, Al Krow said:

@cetera would you mind just checking in the broom cupboard if one of your "40" Spectors has a P / humbucker config and is currently going spare? 😊.

 

Sorry, the cupboard is bare!

 

 

[Al Krow]

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

[cetera]

On 13/02/2021 at 12:38, OliverBlackman said:

Well that’s got my attention. Not played a Spector in a long time. I’ve always seen them as a basic looking Warwick and been put off by the 35” scale. Has anyone got a good Youtube example of how the Euro sounds?

 

Wrong way around. Warwick is a basic Spector

 

On 13/02/2021 at 16:02, Al Krow said:

According to the Spector website, these guys are the official UK dealer. Anyone had any dealings with them?

Barnes & Mullins

Grays Inn House, Unit 14 Mile Oak Industrial Estate Oswestry, Shropshire, SY10 8GA

+44 (0)1691 652449

https://www.bandm.co.uk/

[email protected] Their voicemail hasn't been updated since Christmas, which isn't particularly promising! I've also emailed them to see if they can shed any light on the reverse P+J pup config on the Euro 5 Classic.

 

I deal with them - Good guys and def worth an email. The 5er is def a JJ set up though. NOT a PJ.

If you want one, @krispn is right though.... Bass Direct are prob your best bet, followed by Andertons.....

[Al Krow]

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! 😊

[cetera]

7 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

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! 😊

 

Yep, the EMG P (in soapbar housing) in the neck....with a DC or similar in the bridge is a great set up!

[krispn]

I think that EMG soap bar P is a reverse P as I was thinking about a soap bar in my P bass (it’s got a large route for my pick up experiments!) but I settled on a traditional p pick but fitted as a reverse P as I found one I really liked. 
 

How does the current neck pick up in the Euro compare to your current basses with a p in the neck @Al Krow

Wpuls you say they’re more similar than different when comparing him bucker to single coil voicing?

Edited February 15, 2021 by krispn

[Paulhauser]

On 13/02/2021 at 11:48, Al Krow said:

Given how much I'm loving the Euro 5LX, finding one with a P / humbucker pup config would be a real treat to complement my existing twin humbucker.

This one I have has a 40PX at the neck position and a 40JX at the bridge. (Originally it cam with the stock 40DCs and I put in the new pickups))
I have a 40DC that I'm contemplating swapping with the J as that would have a more balanced output with the P. It is not a big issue but I had to lower the P considerably and raise the J so they have equal output. 

[Al Krow]

14 minutes ago, krispn said:

I think that EMG soap bar P is a reverse P as I was thinking about a soap bar in my P bass (it’s got a large route for my pick up experiments!) but I settled on a traditional p pick but fitted as a reverse P as I found one I really liked. 
 

How does the current neck pick up in the Euro compare to your current basses with a p in the neck @Al Krow

Wpuls you say they’re more similar than different when comparing him bucker to single coil voicing?

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.

[krispn]

I was thinking p in the neck rather than pj but I know you favour some bridge pick up blended in too. There’s that debae that a p pick up is a humbucker but a neck pick up will sound close enough with some eq for it to be passable! That’s what I’ve found anyway. 

[Paulhauser]

6 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

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

It sounds different, but if that's worth enough to get another bass is another question.

The idea with the pink one was that since it is a preLX Euro with maple wings I wanted to get the classic PJ sound Spector is known for in a 5 string version without going the custom USA way. It ended up sounding quite similar really and now that I have a 35" Euro Pl with maple wings and is tuned to BEAD I have a direct comparison. 

The pink sounds different than my other Euro with TW's and my NS-5XL with DC's. So for me its great having this.

One thing to look for when buying 40 sized P is that one should get the 40P5, not the 40P as the magnet bars are placed differently (the 40P is split in the middle and aimed for narrow spaced 6 string basses) And yes, @krispn they are reversed.

[Al Krow]

11 minutes ago, krispn said:

I was thinking p in the neck rather than pj but I know you favour some bridge pick up blended in too. There’s that debae that a p pick up is a humbucker but a neck pick up will sound close enough with some eq for it to be passable! That’s what I’ve found anyway. 

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.

Edited February 15, 2021 by Al Krow

[Al Krow]

PS @krispn a P pup can be a hum-cancelling in how it's coiled, agreed. 

But I've only known one person to refer to a P pup as a "humbucker", whereas the rest of us know and understand what we mean when we are referring to a classic dual coil humbucker vs a P or reverse P, in commonly understood bass parlance! 😁

[Al Krow]

PPS Gav - have you previously owned a Spector? If not, I can certainly recommend worth checking one out! 

[krispn]

It is hum cancelling. Single coil 51-54 style p pick ups weren’t by virtue of being single coil. Modern version of that early sc style can be hum cancelling in a similar way some j style pick up’s are stacked. 
There’s some great solderless kits out there from the likes of EMG or a Ki0g0n kit and it really allows one to tamper and experiment. It can be good fun. If you have a look you might find tie Spector has solderless connections so a neck pick up swap would be far more accessible than you think. Again the Spector experts will know better than me and may be able to shed some light I’d your keen to try out a neck p on your model. 

Edited February 15, 2021 by krispn

[krispn]

Here’s the you don’t own one pi55 off reply 😀

I’ve played them and the necks have been nice on one or two of the models I’ve tried. On some the spacing is too narrow for my preference but as we discussed previously it’s not really a sound I gravitate towards but I’d say that for active basses in general. Many of the bands I grew up listening to played Spector. Pantera, AiC (both bassists in fact), Skid Row Suicidal  Tendencies etc so I’m pretty aware of the trademark Spector tone! It’s hard to miss it on many rock albums!

[Cuzzie]

36 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

PS @krispn a P pup can be a hum-cancelling in how it's coiled, agreed. 

But I've only known one person to refer to a P pup as a "humbucker", whereas the rest of us know and understand what we mean when we are referring to a classic dual coil humbucker vs a P or reverse P, in commonly understood bass parlance! 😁

Pretty sure I am not alone, pretty sure you are referring to me, pretty sure I am correct in it’s nomenclature unless you can show me evidence otherwise?!

Hum Bucker - is bucking the hum (or cancelling) which was achieved by a split coil moving on from the single coil.

A P is a dual coil - split - a humbucker side by side is just that, and that gives you the option of running series/parallel/individual and is humbucking/cancelling. The split coil allows you to the EA-DG strings differently depending on ‘normal’ or reverse config, but some Humbuckers or soap bars also give you this split coil type option as well.

The Musicman Pick up or MM is not just for Musicman basses - it’s just been given that name - the original prototype Stingray was actually using a Split coil bass down by our Leo.

This is what I though is commonly understood information/chat, parlance is by far too complex a word for me to understand and clearly obfuscates the isuue discombobulates me.

So @Al Krow I am happy to be wrong, and if so point me in the direction to re-educate me, but I find knowing the stuff helps to make appropriate decisions and suggestions.

[Al Krow]

Had a quick and really helpful response from Barnes & Mullins on the Euro Classic:

"The Suggested Retail Price on the Spector Euro Classic 5 is £2459.00 and the delivery time at present is likely to be between 60 – 90 days. There does appear to be a typo on the Spector Website as it is only available in the J / J configuration."

They also mentioned that they are a wholesale distributor so would not be able to supply us directly and to go via stores such as https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Home.html or https://www.andertons.co.uk/

Well that's definitely put the P/J typo to bed!

PS Mark at BD has also now kindly replied and mentioned that they are offering 10% off RRP.

Edited February 15, 2021 by Al Krow

[Al Krow]

Not disputing that P pups are often hum cancelling and, indeed, some J pups are too.

But "Humbuckers" in common parlance IMO are usually thought of as describing the soap bar variety shown below.

 And a P pup is generally referred to as a P pup (or reverse-P as appropriate) to denote its configuration and not as a "Humbucker".

That's all 😉

Edited February 15, 2021 by Al Krow

[Cuzzie]

4 minutes ago, Al Krow said:

Not disputing that P pups are often hum cancelling and, indeed, some J pups are too.

But "Humbuckers" in common parlance IMO are usually thought of as describing the soap bar variety shown below.

 That's all 😉

Of course J’s can be stacked dual coil.

Glad to know the Fisher price picture guide to pick ups hasn’t refuted my claims

[ead]

Never seen a bass with any of those pickups.

[JohnDaBass]

Well here is my Spector Bitsa.

 

Hope I'm not intruding????