Misdee Posted July 18 Share Posted July 18 I should have known it was too good to be true. Just when I thought I had found the perfect way to dip my toe into the world of Spector basses and live out my darkest 1980's hair metal fantasies. The finishes on the CST basses in the shops are nowhere near what is on the promotional instruments. I will just have to wait and see if Spector responds by improving the finishes, but I doubt they will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 I am yet to see one, so what is the issue with the finishes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldon Tyrell Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 1 minute ago, BassApprentice said: I am yet to see one, so what is the issue with the finishes? The issue is the huge gap between what Korg advertises ("Each Euro CST instrument is meticulously crafted using premium materials, featuring a striking, highly figured Poplar Burl top, a resonant European Ash body, and a 3-piece North American Maple neck paired with an Ebony fingerboard) and what they actually ask retailers to sell: 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassApprentice Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 Ah, yes - that will do it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldon Tyrell Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 It reminds me of the scene from "Falling Down" when William Foster wants to order breakfast but has to order from the lunch menu instead. He eventually goes for the WhammyBurger because it looks great on the display board, only to be disappointed by what he gets instead 🙂 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 On 16/07/2024 at 22:17, NancyJohnson said: I have hands like shovels; in truth I struggle with ukeleles, but beyond that I'm fine. What I don't get is people will go, 'Tsk! 1.64" nut, no good for me!', but in truth, unless you're playing a bass with a non-tapering neck (viz. Rickenbacker 1 & 11/16"), what happens when you get up the dusty end where it's half inch plus wider? Hand positioning is completely different when at the dusty end compared to when stretched out near the headstock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris2112 Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 On 18/07/2024 at 09:58, Bigwan said: Hmm, liked the look of these, but some of the CST models Bass Direct have just received have the WORST burst paint job I think I've ever seen... They look really shonky. I'll admit, I quite like a natural finish poplar burl if the piece is nice and it has a gloss coat to make it look glassy and 'pop'. I really don't think it takes colour that well at the best of times, but these two examples above are particularly poor. Over time we've seen more and more poplar tops because it's a cheaper wood. I do still think that when I see it on ever-pricier basses. I also remember a few years ago when a customer was in dispute with Kiesel because he had been sold a guitar with a blueburst finish over poplar burl that looked pretty rich in the colour-graded photos but was pretty washed out and you looked at it and Kiesel blamed the wood. I've heard other luthiers also saying that burled poplar can be hit and miss as to how well it takes colour. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 On 18/07/2024 at 09:58, Bigwan said: Hmm, liked the look of these, but some of the CST models Bass Direct have just received have the WORST burst paint job I think I've ever seen... It's like the tan someone gets if they fall asleep reading and the book finishes up covering their stomach. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldon Tyrell Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 On 18/07/2024 at 09:58, Bigwan said: Hmm, liked the look of these, but some of the CST models Bass Direct have just received have the WORST burst paint job I think I've ever seen... SOLD! Well, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Or, less poetically, what do we know? 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattbass6 Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 3 hours ago, Eldon Tyrell said: SOLD! Well, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Or, less poetically, what do we know? 😉 Oh they really do look awful. Can’t get my head around the paint job/finishing. It looks like someone started something and then changed their mind half way through. Hey, if it makes someone happy, then Spector have done their job, but if that turned up on my doorstep, it would go straight back. I hope they play/sound better than they look, which I’m positive they do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted July 24 Share Posted July 24 I've been doing a bit of research and I have good news in so much as there seems to be a lot of variation in the finishes of the individual basses. Sweetwater have got a few blackburst ones in stock and they are all different. One looks like the one at Bass Direct, the others look more like the images that Spector have been disseminating. The downside to that is those inconsistencies mean if you want to buy one you then have to find one with a finish that matches your preference. Not just the right finish but also the right rendition of that finish. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bagsieblue Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 Yep - massive variation in the attractiveness of the finishes. Waiting patiently for one to crop up with actual photographs and looking fairly attractive too on one of the burst options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geofio Posted December 17 Share Posted December 17 I have the natural poplar burl finish, I like it, the bass is probably the best sounding bass I have owned, It is one of those basses you can't stop playing , it feels so good to play, that custom dark glass preamp is really good sounding, perfect with the EMG X P/J pickups. I love it. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted December 17 Author Share Posted December 17 Love the inlays on that ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted December 17 Share Posted December 17 (edited) That is indeed a stunning bass. (I would've stuck with the original Spector knobs, but that's just me.) Isn't it great on those rare occasions when you buy a bass on spec and it exceeds your best expectations in every way! These basses cost sensible money, too, considering the features and build quality.Top quality hardware ect. From what you say, it seems like the new Legacy preamp is a triumph in terms of getting closer to the authentic HazLabs tone. I love classic Spector sounds that I associate with American rock of the '80's and '90's, I shy away from a lot of boutique-style basses nowadays because most of them sound too polite for my taste, but that's a criticism that could never be levelled at these Spector basses. Edited December 17 by Misdee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted December 17 Author Share Posted December 17 10 minutes ago, Misdee said: From what you say, it seems like the new Legacy preamp is a triumph in terms of getting closer to the authentic HazLabs tone. I love classic Spector sounds that I associate with American rock of the '80's and '90's, I shy away from a lot of boutique-style basses nowadays because most of them sound too polite for my taste, but that's a criticism that could never be levelled at these Spector basses. I recommend that you check out the HAZardLAMPS pedal! https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/lhz-hl-1-hazard-lamps-pedal/ https://lhzpreampshop.com/products/hazardlamps It wakes up my passive basses (P basses never sounded so good!) and if I set my non-Haz preamp loaded Spectors (EMG BTS, Aguilar OBP, Tonepump) to flat position and engage the pedal it gets them VERY close to the Haz sound! 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted December 17 Share Posted December 17 (edited) 33 minutes ago, cetera said: I recommend that you check out the HAZardLAMPS pedal! https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/lhz-hl-1-hazard-lamps-pedal/ https://lhzpreampshop.com/products/hazardlamps It wakes up my passive basses (P basses never sounded so good!) and if I set my non-Haz preamp loaded Spectors (EMG BTS, Aguilar OBP, Tonepump) to flat position and engage the pedal it gets them VERY close to the Haz sound! That's a very interesting pedal - I'm always on the lookout for a way to juice up my Fenders- but £285 is pretty pricey, it must be said.I could still see me buying one, though. I would hope the new preamp in the CST basses is close enough in itself, or at least sound pretty good in it's own right. Sooner or later someone will do a direct comparison, no doubt. I seem to remember the Zon bass I had back in the 1990's had a Haz preamp. Edited December 17 by Misdee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted December 17 Author Share Posted December 17 Fodera and Steinberger also had their own Haz-made versions (diff eq points etc). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted December 17 Share Posted December 17 58 minutes ago, cetera said: Fodera and Steinberger also had their own Haz-made versions (diff eq points etc). Early Ken Smith basses too I believe. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted December 17 Share Posted December 17 I would love a Spector PJ5, but I am so used to 19mm bridge spacing at the bridge I think it would feel very cramped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geofio Posted December 17 Share Posted December 17 Hi Cetera, I have seen the unit you are talking about at bass direct, to be honest between my dark glass BK7 mkII and my Dug Pinnick pre amp, I can get any tone I want to be honest , I have never struggled to find a tone I would use or need, I recently endeavoured into Head Rush territory, another additional tone manipulator lol, all good though, The head rush is great as you fire a mono signal in to record in stereo out it also lets you use any external preamp as part of the sound too, getting used to that unit, it is very convenient, there is a lot of weapons at your finger tips with that unit, plus it sounds pretty good via most basses, My Rics, The Spector, P bass etc, but the Spector is a stunning bass in every way I think. Once you splash the money for it you have it, no regrets , it is a really confident , well built , superb sounding instrument, but I wish Spector would supply a hard case as standard at that kind of money, very mean I think, that part annoyed me, there should be a case, all you get is a standard gig bag with Spector written on it , not good enough in my eyes. thanks to all for the comments. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted December 18 Share Posted December 18 21 hours ago, cetera said: I recommend that you check out the HAZardLAMPS pedal! https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/lhz-hl-1-hazard-lamps-pedal/ https://lhzpreampshop.com/products/hazardlamps It wakes up my passive basses (P basses never sounded so good!) and if I set my non-Haz preamp loaded Spectors (EMG BTS, Aguilar OBP, Tonepump) to flat position and engage the pedal it gets them VERY close to the Haz sound! I recently bought one of the HAZ clones advertised on the Spector fans FB page. I had planned to put it in my Euro 5, but you've got me thinking about mounting it in a pedal instead! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted December 18 Share Posted December 18 (edited) Regarding preamps, I have always thought that the Tech 21 Bass Driver di (or one of their similar offerings) would be the perfect compliment to that Spector tone. Talking of Tech 21, I seem to remember reading an interview with Geddy Lee some years ago when he was enthusing about some Spector basses he had at home that the company had sent him. I can envisage Spector and Geddy being a good fit for each other. I keep seeing YT video of Spector advocate and endorsee Ian Allison emphasising how the key to the classic Spector tone is boosting the treble on the HazLabs preamp but it just makes me wonder about how crucial a Haz pre is if you aren't a fan of such a bright and grindy top end. Edited December 18 by Misdee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cetera Posted December 18 Author Share Posted December 18 A Spector has a wealth of tones available, depending on your preference.... as with all (active) basses. The Haz has a particular tone quality where, when pushed hard, you get a level of saturation and dynamics which add growl and grind. This authoritative punch and ability to cut through a mix has become known as the Spector tone..... think Eddie Jackson (Queensryche) etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misdee Posted December 18 Share Posted December 18 (edited) 1 hour ago, cetera said: A Spector has a wealth of tones available, depending on your preference.... as with all (active) basses. The Haz has a particular tone quality where, when pushed hard, you get a level of saturation and dynamics which add growl and grind. This authoritative punch and ability to cut through a mix has become known as the Spector tone..... think Eddie Jackson (Queensryche) etc... Eddie Jackson certainly gets a fantastic tone on those classic Queensryche albums, so I can see why that sound would be the ideal. Lately I have been hankering for a bass that's unashamedly hifi with active electronics ect like the ones I used back in the 1980's and '90's. I think one of these Euro CST basses would be perfect for that niche, and so I can only hope that this new Legacy preamp lives up to it's promise and sounds at least similar to the proper HazLabs pre. If the Haz pre is so integral to the sound, I don't know why Spector don't just fit it to the Euro basses and charge another hundred quid or whatever extra it would cost for the genuine article. Edited December 18 by Misdee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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