New Spector Euro line - The Euro CST Series

[cetera]

3 minutes ago, Misdee said:

 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.

 

Because then noone would spend stupid money on a US custom shop one

 

[Misdee]

7 minutes ago, cetera said:

 

Because then noone would spend stupid money on a US custom shop one

 

I had suspected that might be something to do with it. 🙂

[Misdee]

I would be very interested to know if it's  easy to get a low action with these Euro CST NS2's, and  similar Spector basses.

 

It's a long time since I had a neck-thru bass, and obviously shimming isn't an option. Is the bridge sufficiently countersunk into the body and will the bridge saddles go down far enough? I like the strings to be low enough to buzz a bit without choking. A bass that won't adjust low enough isn't much use to me.

[Woodinblack]

Neither my Euro or my Euro RST had a problem getting the strings flat on the neck if you wanted it, but then tbh, none of my neck through basses have ever had a problem with that, maybe people don't put so much effort into it on bolt on necks because they figure you can always shim it!

[Sean]

On 18/07/2024 at 11:02, woolf said:

Oh dear - these require refinishing IMO

 

On 18/07/2024 at 10:32, cetera said:

Agreed. Disappointing....

 

Come on, guys. It was my first attempt at sunburst and we'd had a few ciders in the spray shop before getting the sprayguns out....

[patrikmarky]

On 18/12/2024 at 12:05, 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...

Always loved the Eddie Jackson tone ..🤟

[geofio]

Here is a small video I did, gives an idea of the tone of the bass.  

 

[cetera]

Nice! Very Geddy tone. What settings are you using on the bass/what preamp or processing are you using?

[geofio]

I used a bit of added high end on the bass itself, 1 o'clock on the bass just past the mid notch, rolled back slightly to the bridge pickup,  straight into my TC electronic BH550 I used one of their double tone downloads for the amp.

[Sean]

On 18/12/2024 at 16:16, Misdee said:

I would be very interested to know if it's  easy to get a low action with these Euro CST NS2's, and  similar Spector basses.

 

It's a long time since I had a neck-thru bass, and obviously shimming isn't an option. Is the bridge sufficiently countersunk into the body and will the bridge saddles go down far enough? I like the strings to be low enough to buzz a bit without choking. A bass that won't adjust low enough isn't much use to me.

I've just, this morning, set up a 2018 Euro LX 4. It arrived with me as it left the factory, with the factory-fitted strings (D'Addario unsilked rounds, probably stainless?), untouched. It's essentially NOS (new old stock). The action as it came was what I'd call medium-high, or kinda where I set it for players that like higher action, no rattles etc. Way too high for me.

 

It has been a while since I've had a Spector on the bench and it was an absolute joy.

 

You can take the action as low as you like, no limits. It's the lowest of all my basses now and it's not rattling. It could go a bit lower but that would be beyond where I like it. The build quality and design of these is absolutely top tier and the ease of set up is reflected in that.

 

 

 

Edited January 4 by Sean

[geofio]

I play low action on all my basses and the CST was easy to get really low, could go lower if I wanted to, right now it plays perfect just the right amount of fret grind.

[Misdee]

On 04/01/2025 at 17:41, Sean said:

I've just, this morning, set up a 2018 Euro LX 4. It arrived with me as it left the factory, with the factory-fitted strings (D'Addario unsilked rounds, probably stainless?), untouched. It's essentially NOS (new old stock). The action as it came was what I'd call medium-high, or kinda where I set it for players that like higher action, no rattles etc. Way too high for me.

 

It has been a while since I've had a Spector on the bench and it was an absolute joy.

 

You can take the action as low as you like, no limits. It's the lowest of all my basses now and it's not rattling. It could go a bit lower but that would be beyond where I like it. The build quality and design of these is absolutely top tier and the ease of set up is reflected in that.

 

 

 

Thanks for the info Sean, that's good to know.  In my experience, if a bass is easy to set up to begin with then it bodes well for how enjoyable it's going to be in the longer term.  Top quality basses usually require very little adjustments to make them play well, generally speaking.

[Sean]

On 05/01/2025 at 21:04, geofio said:

I play low action on all my basses and the CST was easy to get really low, could go lower if I wanted to, right now it plays perfect just the right amount of fret grind.

 

Look how the light catches the inlays! 🤤

[Sean]

On 17/12/2024 at 09:16, 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!

@cetera Having that grind in other basses is something that appeals to me.

 

What would be your recommendation on how to get a flat setting o. Non-Haz Spectors?

I'm running one current Tonepump (Euro LX) at about 50% on the adjustment and B + T full up.

 

The other will be the non-adjustable Tonepump.

 

For me, the pedal means I can keep both basses stock and also get some Haz magic with other basses. P with flats, anyone?

 

 

[cetera]

1 hour ago, Sean said:

@cetera Having that grind in other basses is something that appeals to me.

 

What would be your recommendation on how to get a flat setting o. Non-Haz Spectors?

I'm running one current Tonepump (Euro LX) at about 50% on the adjustment and B + T full up.

 

The other will be the non-adjustable Tonepump.

 

For me, the pedal means I can keep both basses stock and also get some Haz magic with other basses. P with flats, anyone?

 

On a Tonepump I'd roll the adjustment wheel back to approx 40%.

 

On the front control knobs, you'll find that with bass at approx 15% and treble at approx 40% it will be around 'flat'. The pedal should then get the optimum flat signal to add the Haz goodness to.

 

The non-adjustable TP should have the front control knobs set the same, but you will find the bass much louder/more distorted so I'd swap that pre out completely if I were you, unless you want to run your volume lower on the bass.

Edited January 31 by cetera

[Sean]

4 hours ago, cetera said:

 

On a Tonepump I'd roll the adjustment wheel back to approx 40%.

 

On the front control knobs, you'll find that with bass at approx 15% and treble at approx 40% it will be around 'flat'. The pedal should then get the optimum flat signal to add the Haz goodness to.

 

The non-adjustable TP should have the front control knobs set the same, but you will find the bass much louder/more distorted so I'd swap that pre out completely if I were you, unless you want to run your volume lower on the bass.

 

That's really useful, thanks.

 

As far replacing the pre in the Euro, my obvious options are one of the Mikalik BP4s, which will be a switch to an adjustable current spec Tonepump @ £110 shipped. That would then level the playing field with both the Euro and Euro LX having the same preamp. Or, and this is probably the weird option that would negate the need for the pedal with the Euro, install an LHZ-03. Hmmm. And then getting the pedal anyway for everything else.

 

I also have a question on the LHZ-03 product info that I just don't understand. It says, and I quote,

 

"If you have a 20-year-old Spector NS2A, Euro, or ReBop and are ready to upgrade the stock EMG pickups and TonePump preamp to get that signature NS2 sound, all you need are a set of active EMG PJ pickups and this preamp!"

 

Surely if you have any early Euro ('03), you already have active US-spec EMGs?

Is this info relating to the NS2A or Rebop mentioned? Do they not have full fat EMGs? Or am I missing something?

 

Thanks.

 

I went down the ACG/East route in the distant past and swapped Tonepumps out for the filter/sweep ACG units in 2 Euro LXs. Never again. Too complicated and although there are some amazing tones in there, they're a nightmare to use on the fly.

 

Edited January 31 by Sean

[cetera]

1 minute ago, Sean said:

 

That's really useful, thanks.

 

As far replacing the pre in the Euro, my obvious options are one of the Mikalik BP4s, which will be a switch to an adjustable current spec Tonepump @ £110 shipped. That would then level the playing field with both the Euro and Euro LX having the same preamp. Or, and this is probably the weird option that would negate the need for the pedal with the Euro, install an LHZ-03. Hmmm. And then getting the pedal anyway for everything else.

 

I also have a question on the LHZ-03 product info that I just don't understand. It says, and I quote,

 

"If you have a 20-year-old Spector NS2A, Euro, or ReBop and are ready to upgrade the stock EMG pickups and TonePump preamp to get that signature NS2 sound, all you need are a set of active EMG PJ pickups and this preamp!"

 

Surely if you have any early Euro ('03), you already have active US-spec EMGs?

Is this info relating to the NS2A or Rebop mentioned? Do they not have full fat EMGs? Or am I missing something?

 

Thanks.

 

I went down the ACG/East route in the distant past and swapped Tonepumps out for the filter/sweep ACG units in 2 Euro LXs. Never again. Too complicated and although there are some amazing tones in there, they're a nightmare to use on the fly.

 

 

I think that's just poorly worded. If you have active EMG PJ or soapbars you don't need to change them. If you have Hz pickups or the old Spector pickups (in the NS2A) then you would want to upgrade to full active EMG versions.

 

Tbh, there's no harm in swapping your non-adjustable TP out to either an undjustable version, an EMG BTS or go the whole hog and get a LHZ-03/04 pre. The pedal is useful for non LHZ basses so it will still get used and it makes P basses etc sound awesome!

 

I have many Spectors with various preamps (Hazlab, EMG, Aguilar, Tonepump AND Darkglass). I use the pedal to give the non-Haz ones a more similar Haz tone across the board....

[Sean]

Yes, makes sense to me that it's just poorly worded now.

 

I'll wait until this Euro lands next week and see what's in there. The seller said it's all original. If it is, I'll fit an LHZ-03. I used to have an original Haz in a parts box somewhere but probably sold it 🙄

 

Probably worth doing some A/B sound comparisons with it before and after too.

[Eldon Tyrell]

26 minutes ago, Sean said:

 

 

I'll wait until this Euro lands next week and see what's in there. The seller said it's all original. If it is, I'll fit an LHZ-03. I used to have an original Haz in a parts box somewhere but probably sold it 🙄

 

 

 

Is your new Spector a 2003 Euro 4 in amber by any chance, listed recently on Ebay?

[Sean]

Could be 😉

Why?

[Eldon Tyrell]

5 minutes ago, Sean said:

Could be 😉

Why?

Because I missed out three times on this bass, first time two years ago and now twice within two weeks.

This is a killer bass and I am sure you will love it. Congrats 👍

[Sean]

2 minutes ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

Because I missed out three times on this bass, first time two years ago and now twice within two weeks.

This is a killer bass and I am sure you will love it. Congrats 👍

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.

[Eldon Tyrell]

4 minutes ago, Sean said:

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.

Nope, never played it but judging by the photos and Andy's description (see link below), it sounds like the real deal. Back in April 2023, I sent him an email asking about the neck shape. I then went to work and by the time and I cam home, the bass had sold 😞

It then re-appeared two weeks ago on Ebay and I contacted the seller who was the guy who bought from Andy. I bid for it, but was outbid 😞  

This week, the seller then reached out to me saying that the buyer was a scammer and the bass was back up on Ebay. Unfortunately, I could not afford the asking price 😞  

Interestingly, both Andy and the guy on Ebay sold it as "European alder body and is topped off with a stunning flamed maple top". However, it has solid maple wings, which, at least for me, is an important part of the Spector recipe (together with neck-thru design, active EMGs and the Haz preamp (or clone or Haz pedal)).

 

https://www.andybaxterbass.com/products/2003-spector-euro-4-amber 

 

 

[Sean]

@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.

[bagsieblue]

17 hours ago, Eldon Tyrell said:

Nope, never played it but judging by the photos and Andy's description (see link below), it sounds like the real deal. Back in April 2023, I sent him an email asking about the neck shape. I then went to work and by the time and I cam home, the bass had sold 😞

It then re-appeared two weeks ago on Ebay and I contacted the seller who was the guy who bought from Andy. I bid for it, but was outbid 😞  

This week, the seller then reached out to me saying that the buyer was a scammer and the bass was back up on Ebay. Unfortunately, I could not afford the asking price 😞  

Interestingly, both Andy and the guy on Ebay sold it as "European alder body and is topped off with a stunning flamed maple top". However, it has solid maple wings, which, at least for me, is an important part of the Spector recipe (together with neck-thru design, active EMGs and the Haz preamp (or clone or Haz pedal)).

 

https://www.andybaxterbass.com/products/2003-spector-euro-4-amber 

 

 

 

The eBay seller isnt the guy who bough from Andy Baxter -I did.

It is solid maple indeed.

I bought it but we had a lot of back and forth on the preamp and pots which weren't working as they should.

I pointed him in the direction of Michalik (Mr Tonepump) so get the correct parts identified.