Spector Q4 fixer-up

[Rich]

Arrived in need of a bridge saddle (in truth, a whole new bridge wouldn't hurt... see below), strings and a proper clean-up, and those tuners want straightening too.

A few hours later, the hardware's off and it's an awful lot cleaner, and the battery (which was dated 2009 ) is in the bin, and now it's got me thinking... do I stick with black bridge & tuners, or change? Don't want chrome, but maybe nickel? Or even gold, for a bit of a JPS Lotus vibe? There's a black bridge in the mail, but I can always return it and get a different one.

Edited March 4, 2023 by Rich

[Owen]

Gold would be pretty funky.

[PaulThePlug]

I'd stick with black, otherwise it's tuners, knobs, strap pins...

Plus Gold Hardware and Silver Frets 'n Strings make my teeth itch...

[songofthewind]

Keep the black.

[Dov65]

Black & gold hardware 👍. Where did you order the bridge from ? I’ve got a lovely Kramer Forum III that I’m going to throw some money at, at some point….it shares the same bridge as the Spector Legend.

[Rich]

@Dov65 here 'tis. 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/371949328025?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=009VOmD9RYS&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=P69nGy5vTbG&var=640897915997&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

[Cato]

I feel it needs something to break up the monotony unless you like the stealth look.

 

I wouldn't normally go for gold hardware, but a black bass is the exception, I reckon a gold bridge and maybe tuners would really suit it.

[Rich]

16 minutes ago, Cato said:

I feel it needs something to break up the monotony unless you like the stealth look.

 

 

Yes, this is what I was thinking. I'm not big on the stealth thing TBH. Like you, I'm not normally much of a fan of gold, but it does go really well with some colours -- for me, red and black are the two that it really suits.

[Rich]

This, I like.

[neepheid]

5 hours ago, Rich said:

Arrived in need of a bridge saddle (in truth, a whole new bridge wouldn't hurt... see below), strings and a proper clean-up, and those tuners want straightening too.

A few hours later, the hardware's off and it's an awful lot cleaner, and the battery (which was dated 2009 ) is in the bin, and now it's got me thinking... do I stick with black bridge & tuners, or change? Don't want chrome, but maybe nickel? Or even gold, for a bit of a JPS Lotus vibe? There's a black bridge in the mail, but I can always return it and get a different one.

 

 

It's what all the cool kids are doing.  Well, it's what I'm in the process of doing to my black Epiphone Les Paul.  I blame Squier for that black and gold Precision they put out recently.

[Cosmo Valdemar]

Very cool but not a Legend! Different body shape.

I'm assuming it's a Q4 if it's a bolt-on, hard to tell from the pic.

 

[Rich]

On 21/02/2023 at 12:28, Rich said:

There's a black bridge in the mail, but I can always return it and get a different one.

 

Deed is done... black bridge on its way back and a gold one on order.

[Rich]

23 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Very cool but not a Legend! Different body shape.

I'm assuming it's a Q4 if it's a bolt-on, hard to tell from the pic.

 

It is indeed a bolt-on. Ta for the correction  

[Rich]

I think this has decided it. Gold it is.

 

 

[Paul S]

How about gold strings?  I had (briefly) a Yamaha BB5000 that was black with gold hardware and a set of Optima gold strings looked proper posh.

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, Paul S said:

How about gold strings?  I had (briefly) a Yamaha BB5000 that was black with gold hardware and a set of Optima gold strings looked proper posh.

 

I just about spat my tea out at the price of 'em!

[Dov65]

That’s better 👍, what else you doing to it ?

[Paul S]

3 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

I just about spat my tea out at the price of 'em!

 

Compared to how much the Yammy was - I imported it from Japan - it was small beans.

 

Then, of course, once it arived I didn't like it.   

[Rich]

9 minutes ago, neepheid said:

 

I just about spat my tea out at the price of 'em!

I've just seen the price of them, and am going to go & make a coffee specifically to spit out

Joking aside, I'm an Elixir fan so I'm used to spending big money on strings (albeit only every 18 months or so!). I've no doubt they'd look amazing, but I'll stick with my regular Elixirs I think. I've a part worn set I'll throw onto it for the time being.

 

[Rich]

11 minutes ago, Dov65 said:

That’s better 👍, what else you doing to it ?

Gold bridge, subtle black EMG control knobs as per the top range Spectors, and other little details - gold screws for the TRC and back plate, etc. And a good elbow-grease going-over with T-cut and polish.

[Dov65]

Try 👇 instead of T-Cut, excellent stuff. I used it with a cheap & cheerful machine polisher from Argos. Think you can buy Spector crowns too

[Rich]

How it started vs. how it's going...

 

[fleabag]

What about yer knobs ?

 

 

[neepheid]

48 minutes ago, fleabag said:

What about yer knobs ?

 

 

 

Bit route one, innit?

[neepheid]

56 minutes ago, Rich said:

How it started vs. how it's going...

 

 

Looking good. An effect I hope to replicate on my Les Paul, albeit going from chrome to gold 

Edited February 28, 2023 by neepheid